Why is it that so many hunters, magazine publications and websites (forums) do not show any love for bowhunting big bucks in October?.... It is always the rut, rut, rut... Why is October always ignored when it comes to hunting big bucks?
Because the rut is sexy...bucks running all over the place chasing does, responding to rattling and grunt tubes. All of the hunting videos we have purchased suddenly come to life in November, well because like I said, the chasing phase is sexy! The fact is that over the past 3-4 years I have seen barely any rutting behavior at all. In 2007and 2009 I did not witness one single act of chasing at all, and I hunted a lot. So I am starting to realize that my best chance of arrowing a good buck are actually in October. I have overlooked it for years but will not continue making the same mistake. I think having confidence to hunt October comes with strong scouting and knowing what is happening on your hunting lands come day one of the hunting season. One of my main goals for the season is to get within range of a 3.5+ year old buck by October 21st, an actual big buck sighting would feel great as well. I actually expect to get within range of one the first 10 days of the season. One can be an optomist can't they?
I think a majority of bow hunters fall into the trap of the mentality that there are only two good times to hunt mature bucks. #1 is the first week or two of the season and of course #2 is the rut. I believe a majority of bow hunters think of October as the time when the bucks adjust off their summer schedule and become much more nocturnal (which is true in most cases) or they think they just disappear off their property. Of course what actually is happening is their primary food source changed coupled with the fact of added hunting pressure and slightly additional testosterone and you get a buck that is hard(er) to hunt. The result is most hunters don't want to put more pressure on bucks they feel they can't get at anyway. VS is right that the rut is the sexy choice. I love to hunt anytime I can so don't really care if I see bucks or not. A doe will "trip my trigger" so to speak.
Good question....I have actually had more success on bucks during October than any other month. The rifle season starts early in Nov in MN which certainly doesn't help matters as far as killing a buck during the "rut".
here in eastern canada bow season starts october 1st rifle from mid october to mid november, needless to say we never get to hunt the rut. so our only advantage is to get out early before hunting pressure has them bedded down all day.
When I know I have a good buck on a property I have access to hunt, one of the last things I want to see is the rut... First couple days of November, maybe... Come middle of November chances are the buck I was after may not be on the land I have access to. Now I am hunting on land I HOPE there is a good buck using..... Rather than hunting land I KNOW he is using..... Give me October but if that doesn't pan out... I love the rut as well.... But to me big October bucks are special.... Not that November bucks aren't, they are just a different kind of special.
I agree Mr. BBK. October bucks are slightly more cool than November ones. It can be a nightmare knowing you have a good buck around and have the rut aproaching.
I've never seen any un-love for October.. so not sure what you speak of Scott.. The rut however.. as I know you know already.. just has one MAJOR advantage to any other period of the year... and that's a buck moving during daylight. The month of October is simply neglected IMO because of this reason... if I'm taking a week off.. I'm choosing the time the buck I'm after is on his feet most.. bottom line. I think if work wasn't an issue with so many hunters.. you would see more deer fall in October. Incidently.. I always thought the pre-rut was best for buck hunting (because of my strategies).. late October into early November version.. So whether you kill a deer in October.. November.. or January makes little difference to me. Whitetail don't care what month it is.. just that they lived another day.
Most hunters realize their best chance to kill A buck is during the rut. Unless you're chasing a particular buck, November is NOT over-rated. October doesn't get undue disrespect (IMO). It just pales in comparison to Nov. (for most hunters/most situations).
I am extremely excited to hunt October this year, more so than any other year probably. I am looking forward to trying out some new tactics this year in October and I expect to see bucks, even in mid-October. Months of scouting have given me confidence to hunt very specific spots give certain variables. Basically I am getting extremely aggressive and looking to kill a buck every single hunt.
October is a great time to catch a big buck pounding calories in preperation for the rut. I personally have had some of my nicest/oldest bucks to date fall in Oct. Well before any rut travels were in motion.
I am not saying people are throwing hate at October (well other than the "lull" hate I read every year) but it's not all that often that October tactics are discussed on here or any publications like rut tactics. Nice responce... I'd say spot on. That is the right outlook to have IMO... I would only suggest to be carefull with your aggressivness... If you beat up your better areas early, it will be a long season!
Buckeye, I have 45,000 acres of public land to cover in my attempts to KILL. I also have to compete with the other hunters, many days of the areas I want to hunt being closed, and all the other generalities you can think of when hunting public land. I have around 20 solid spots to hunt that I feel comfortable getting aggressive in, and I will go for broke nearly every hunt. I will leave 2-3 for early November unless I feel my best bet the next hunt is to go in and kill a buck in those spots. For years I was too passive, thinking that I could wait until the right time to go in for the better bucks. That philosophy has cost me for years. I finally opened up last year and started bouncing around and getting more aggressive during each hunt and it paid off by me seeing, getting within range, and killing more bucks that I saw does. I am going to continue on and go for it unless something tells me to slow down in a specific spot, then only to return at a later date. But hey, I am just experimenting and having fun with the whole process so sue me!
I prefer the october approach because the bucks are still in there bachelor groups, and seem to be hitting the food sources on a regular basis in daylight hours. Which i believe gives me the upper hand in trying to harvest a mature buck before they slip into that nocturnal state. which we all know they do. and we wait for him to make a mistake or to be on the lookout for a hot doe. which ever the case may be i still prefer the first week of october, its my personal choice.
It all depands on the pressure of where you hunt. Bucks in MI over 3.5 are pretty much nocturnel during Oct. Jeff hit it pretty well, the basic issue is it's harder in October where most hunters hunt. Your odds are better in Nov. Buck I shot last year, I shot on the fifth pass by, that is not going to happen in Oct. If you can keep the pressure off the buck, I agree Oct gives one a great chance.
For me it is a little different... I do not think I have ever saw a mature buck from stand the first week of the season... Maybe one, and that is a stretch... My best stretch of October is the 14th or so onto the end of the month.
I think it is because the leaves and grass are still up and you get busted easier! I have had good luck with getting some bucks to come in but have either made bad shots or no shot provided! Leaves make it really tough to shoot when the big boys dont give you any really easy shots.
To expound a little, Scott.....IMO, the #1 thing stopping more hunters from killing more quality Oct. bucks......is over-hunting. Maybe one big reason we kill more bucks in Nov.....is those bucks either don't know we've been all over that patch of woods (because they don't live there) - or, they're too love-struck to care.
Or Jeff, people are not hunting correctly. I think you have to figure that into the equation as well. If you do not know where the bucks live, then how in the heck can you really give yourself a legit shot the first 3 weeks of October? You have to find them and hunt them down, I am convinced of it. People hunt "rut" stands all year and do not focus on the small details to make it happen in October. I readily admit that has been me over the years. Well last year I slowly began to realize that and my mentality changed. October and it's challenges do not overwhelm me, I am hunting to kill each hunt. I am not going to be barging in and tearing up everything in sight when I hunt aggressively. It will be a calculated approach which gives me the best chance of killing a buck that day. Once November 10th or so hits it is a crapshoot where I hunt, the woods explode with hunters and the bucks are hard found. I have to strike when the iron is hot and that is from the first week of October to the first week of November.
Yeah, Brett....but the key is, you have 45K acres. For the avg. hunter, he's over-hunting his spots. I run and gun a lot. And, I'm still the poster-child for the affliction I describe......on roughly 300+acres. I have more acres I CAN hunt. I'm telling you the acreage I mostly hunt.
