Hunting in the heat

[PrimitivePete]

Without getting political please
It's likely that due to a new job I'll probably only get to hunt the new antlerless early season here in NY. The way the temperature patters these recent years it's likely I 'll be hunting in above average temperatures than what I normally do.
For those that hunt whitetail in hotter climates, what are some tips. Let's rule out water sources because in the area I am hunting it is dry and very far few and between ponds or streams.

[blacktailbob]

Wish I could help but the heat I hunt in is central Fl. along St. John's river marshes and closer you get to the marsh and river the more skeeters, so our tip for the south is Thermacell.
I tend to look for trails crossing the roads and set up close so as not have to break out in too much sweat before I get to my spot. Plus I usually carry a dry shirt in a plastic bag to put on after settling down. Sweaty one goes in the bag.

[stevem]

Well, heck!  I live and hunt in southern NM, where it is hot and dry, and water is few and far between.  So water is a key.  Not necessarily to just hunt the water, but trails, fence crossings, saddles, etc deer might travel to get to water.  If you can get between a bedding area and a water source expect deer to want water after a hot day in the shade.  I would look at food sources- acorns being a magnet. 

[Cory Mattson]

Hunting in 80 / 90 degrees
We make small fires constantly to keep bugs away
Thermacell YES we always carry a couple
DEET and use it!
We always carry a headnet and often a bug suit
We hunt in Shorts
Water yes and we often carry a frozen water bottle
Iced coffee YES
I tie to a deer or hog and throw them in a creek, stream, river after gutting
Get em after dark or in the morning to finish putting up
We get good hours morning hunting sometimes till 10
We get decent evening hunts 5:30 to 8:30
And occasionally if it’s breezy you can hunt all day
We do strip down and wade in for a quick bath couple a times a day - gets the DEET off and really cools you down - especially for Nap time Or the get fresh and clean for the drive home.

We like cool weather like everybody else but August September and most of October in our areas you need to be warm weather smart. Game move very well in warm/hot weather and we bag a very large number of animals in weather that keeps a lot of people at home. And it surprised me but we’ve all taken a truckload of nice bucks in early season.

[GCook]

Then make a water source.

[TxSportsman]

"without getting political"??

Just hunt normally if you don't want to think about water... I'd hunt food sources and the edges of good cover.

Food, Water, Cover

[Bowguy67]

First tip is remember your thermacell. Second one real easy, early season is white oak time. Remember chestnut oak is a white oak but not utilized very much. Find some white oak dropping nuts in a decent area and you’ll most likely get a shot. My opinion on this is I typically don’t penetrate the woods real far early on. They themselves often aren’t as far in so you don’t wanna push them deeper. I’d find one near a field they frequent. I hunt in southern NY, NJ opens the same weekend and has for years, so lots of experience in that timeframe. This is local info. Watch your wind, happy dragging

[Bowguy67]

Forgot to mention and I don’t know how isolated or not this is. When shooting my bow in summer often the deer almost trip over themselves trying to get to a jewelweed patch. My buddy Donnie seems to have same issue and I mentioned it to another bud who checked some where he was hunting and found they were killing it. He shot a deer over it next day. This was a hot dry week in Sept. not sure but it could be the high moisture content in the stalks. If they only wanted moisture though the farm I was on had a pond and a spring, both good water. I never once saw them at it instead preferring the jewelweed. Might be worth checking. Hey anything they’re frequenting now is but keep that on your radar. Let me know your results

[Sam McMichael]

Pretty simple. Lots of water, effective bug protection, and snake boots. I hunt from stands, so hunting techniques don't change for me. I don't tolerate excessive heat well, so I hunt early and leave the woods earlier than I did as a young guy. Don't do anything strenuous that doesn't really need to be done.

[Tim Finley]

Iv hunted in ND, SD,Mont.Wy., and Texas in 90 to over 100degrees and we hunted the way we do when its cool . Just make sure you have lots of water for yourself and a couple of coolers full of ice for when you break the animal down and a good hat not a baseball cap. Whitetails probably get a little nocturnal especially the older deer .

[PrimitivePete]

Thanks all, just as a note I hunt State Land so I can't modify the area but maybe I can use a bucket of water as a lure lol

[Michael Guran]

In addition to what the other guys have mentioned, I find it helpful to wear a water soaked neck gaitor when it’s really hot. 

[gregg dudley]

Hydrate.  Hydrate again.  Seriously, make it your job to drink plenty of water before, during, and after you hunt.  I know that you said water sources are few and far between, but any little drainage or crease in the landscape may hold enough water to make it worth checking out. 

Deer deal with the heat day-in and day-out.  Unless the temperature is way out of the normal range for your area and time of year, it will not generally impact deer movement. 

Scent control can be an issue in hot weather.  Pay attention to the wind and make your approach slower than normal.  I've got lathered down simply from the act of climbing into a tree.  I usually carry a spare shirt and some unscented baby wipes in my backpack.

[Tim Reese]

Last year the first week of our season we had some abnormally hi heat and I went out for a after work hunt and my buddy made fun of me for going in that weather. I took a young 10 pointer that night. Was it good hunting weather? Heck no but they live in it and I go when I can go. Not when weather man says. It was just awfully hot and I had to get him out quick. Keep that in mind too. After the kill is something to prepare fore. 

[gregg dudley]

Note the temperature and time.

[BAK]

I feel sorry for you.  If I could only hunt in hot temps I'd likely quit.   I find no joy in it.  I hunt to enjoy myself, and that doesn't happen above 80 degrees.  I did go out to Wyoming and hunted antelope one season.  I did kill one but what a miserable experience sitting in a blind in 90 degree heat.  Took all the joy out of it for me.

[Terry Green]

I've killed more deer over 85 degrees than under.  Limited out year after year during bow season here in the south.  Then went into selective mode after bow season was over the 3rd weekend in October back in the day.

I later committed my bow season to bears... another story not relevant to this thread....

Hunt summer patterns, that's what we do down here when the season opens the Saturday after Labor Day in Sept..... We don't have acorns at that time of the year in the south... so we rely on farm crops, thickets with lots of brows, water.  Food and Water.... that's the summer pattern for us. Funnels and travel corridors..... bedding to feeding... that's it. No rut or pre rut
consideration at all!!!!!!!

[Friend]

Would suggest becoming proficient at gutless processing. My partner is quite good. One of the visiting outfitters challenged him when I commented that my partner could skin, quarter, take back straps and tenderloins and have them in the cooler in 12 minutes from the time he makes the 1st cut.

The outfitter used the stopwatch and the challenge proceeded. My partner methodically started and finished in 8 ½ minutes. Note: he can now complete the whole task including deboning while the deer is still hanging in under 15”s. The deer hangs over a 55 gallon barrel and provides a simple removal of the carcass.
Many have shown up to watch him in action and leave knowing that it is quite possible for them to significantly cut down their own processing time.
Note: I simply stay out of the way.