Midwestern deer hunting in October ???

[skychief]

What do you all have to say about hunting deer in the Midwest, especially the first two weeks of October.

I have only killed a couple bucks during this time.   Many call it the "October Lull".

What have your experiences shown you?

Thanks, Skychief.

[KSdan]

Too many spiders, ticks, and poison ivy. . . too hot for me.  I would rather dream about November.

[wooddamon1]

It seems to slow down more about the second and third weeks to me, food sources shift and I really have to stay on top of things to see deer. Towards the end of the month into early November has been my best time to see bucks. Spots along creek bottoms and in saddles and other pinch-points usually have movement any time, in my experience.

This is in a part of MI that isn't all agriculture fields, mostly wooded public land.

[Panzer]

Funnels.

[oldgrouch]

Rattle 'em!

[Lefty]

Good time to shoot a few does and the last week of October is an excellent time to rattle up a bigun!
  This year most of the corn will be out, so they should be hitting the acorns and water sources if it stays dry.

[jonsimoneau]

I love the early season. Killed my biggest buck on October 6. But I would trade being able to hunt in October for september. And I would trade both of them for the last week in August!  October is probably tough everywhere. I used to think that deer decreased daylight movement in October due to hunting pressure but over the last ten years I have learned that this is not true. They do it whether they are being hunted or not at this time of year. I learned this by living next to a nature preserve.  I think the trick in October is knowing with pretty good certainty where a buck is bedded and then setting up on him in the evenings. It sounds simple but is incredibly difficult.

[Warchild]

Try the Northern Midwest. The U.P. is awesome this time of year.

[Iowabowhunter]

I love hunting October, especially early October. Should be good this year....find yourself a big old white oak tree, and sit down 15-20 yards downwind and I think you will have a pleasurable hunt. My birthday is the 17th of Oct and it does get a little slow around then up until the last week of October. Regardless if it is slow or if I don't even see a deer, beats the heck out of being at work!

[KodiakMag]

From Indiana, biggest buck I ever shot was on Oct. 2. Love early season.

[Fletcher]

Doesn't matter to me.  Deer are still out there and I wanna hunt.  COME ON OCTOBER!!

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

Awwh the Oct Lull? Does it, or does it not exist.. big question..
But in my mind and I will back that up with additional information... Yes, it does exist..

My personal, in field experience tells me that "Big" aka "Mature" (3 1/2 or Older) buck moment is greatly reduced.. Not so much in early Oct or in late Oct,, but the mid two weeks plus or minus a week for regional and seasonal difference. The mature bucks are in a transition period between bachelor groups and rut, and just plain and simple move less and are becoming more nocturnal in their travels.. Pressure may accent that, or complete lack of pressure as in a controlled preserve may minimize it,  but it happens regardless.

Additional information is easily observed by watching the various web sights and the hero pictures..or checking the records lists,  very few if any will be posted in those mid Oct weeks.

Normally there are some great bucks that go down early season because of them being on the tail end of a summer feeding pattern, and some astute or lucky hunter being able to capitalize on it..

Then comes late Oct, or Earl E. November and you will start to see some rutting bucks go down.

I also have come to believe the weather patterns enhance it.. Typically that period if free from frontal systems going through, having winds best described as "Light and veriable"..

What does that have to do with anything?? It makes normal hunting methods of setting in a stand going between bed and breakfast,pretty useless. Especially if you are hunting that 1-2% of the heard, animal, he will detect you well ahead of time and simply avoid the encounter..

Is that period hunt-able?? You bet, but I really believe you need to hunt "known" big buck bedding areas.. Plan on being there "Well" before first light, and hope for a mid to late morning encounter as he chooses to stretch his legs a bit and possibly raid the pantry before he settles back down..You also need a plan for getting out of there which does not include busting him or stinking the place up. That is unless you don't plan on hunting it again.

Additionally I believe big bucks become members of bachelor groups for two reasons.. One to avoid the disturbance and activity of the doe fawn groups. Two to be able to use lesser bucks as their scouts so to speak, and have them run interference on their travels.

As their testosterones increase and they tend to run off the younger bucks, they find themselves alone and free of their scouts.. Hence they are more cautious, moving slowly to read these light and variable winds or just plane and simple moving under the cover of darkness

[KSdan]

I did not mention it, but here in KS the first recognizable estrous flurry is the the third week of Oct.  Been journaling and monitoring this for years (lots of night time spot lighting dials it in quick). It is usually between Oct 20-25th here.  Then 28 days from that flurry is the next peak estrous.  Works almost like clock work.  SOooo- if you can figure that first estrous, it can be a great time to slip in a nail a mature deer in Oct.  

My 2C
Dan

[ksbowman]

Dan just beat me to it. I call the Oct.15-25 the false rut. Where I hunt there is a lot of activity then. At times it can be just as good as Nov. rut if you're in the right spot.

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

Actually They have proven that as many as 5% of the does will breed  as early as Sept,, Likewise some won't breed until March.. Only about 20% of the does breed in what we call "The peak" in November

Consequently there are several lesser rut phases.

It is generally concede that yearling does and fawn will cycle in last.

[manitou1]

First two weeks of October the deer seem to do a lot of "transitioning... whether it be due to acorns falling weather fronts changing, or new hunting pressure.  I think it is a combination of things.    late Sep and early Oct can be ggod when the deer are still on their summer patterns.  Give me those last two weeks of October and I'm a happy camper!  The bucks really start getting geared up and begin trolling for love, or a good tussel.  I have had some seasons where the last 10 days of October were better than the first two  weeks of November!  Once mid November hits, those bucks you have worked so hard to pattern can be 10 miles away on another property chasing does... or locked down for three days with a hot do.  It can be frustrating then.  My bread and butter time in the midwest  would be the last two weeks of Oct and first week of Nov. year in and year out.  Deer are still patternable, yet more activive during daylight.  Of course, for shear luck, the peak of the chasing phase can be a hoot.

[buckeye_hunter]

I read a study a few years back. They tranquilized and then collared a number of whitetail bucks. On radio collared yet free ranging bucks there was no decrease in their movement in October according to the study. I wish I could remember the name of it, but the evidence seemed good. All things can be skewed by an author I suppose, but there was likely some truth in it.

I suspect that hunting pressure in the midwest around the beginning of October changes the deer's behavior more than anything. Unless you have several thousand acres that the deer never leave AND you alone manage the hunting pressure then I suppose hunting pressure is more the culprit than anything.

There's my .02 God Bless,
Charlie