October Lull - Myth?

[**DONOTDELETE**]

the only myth in October is when humans can't figure out the whitetail deer...Like others have said, they are moving to the fall movements, getting ready for the breeding season... try deeper woods, places you haven't been in your area. This is the time when Bucks start to get dumb... Good Luck to all

[Terry Green]

Interesting thread...good discussions...

I don't think the deer go on vacation for 2 weeks....I think its more of a hunters lull.

There's also a 'lull' during the full moon in Nov....but you might be suprised at what you see if you hunted from 10-3 during that phase.

[Stu]

In northern MI, IMO there is a "lull" such that I don't hunt much or at all from about October 8 until starting up again about October 24. The deer don't disappear, but change their habits quite a bit. I hunt mostly near bedding areas, and even there they feel pressured a bit. I've seen it for 30+ years in the same spots.

I've observed this at some length. I noted this same "lull" when following deer around rotating food sources all thru October, back when I wanted to do that. They basically act spooked and alter their habits to avoid us messy humans more.

I believe it's pressure related. On public & some private land here, there is a rifle season "lull" a few days after the opener that is more a "freeze", purely pressure related. This occurs even if the rut is really hot & heavy. You've gotta move into deeper cover--where I am anyway--or just get lucky.

I also hunt in Canada where walking/sitting hunters are low in number, the deer there experience no "lull" or "freeze" and, depending on weather & rut activity, often become more active as the hunt progresses.

This is just my opinion, and if I didn't have the opportunity to choose my hunting periods, I'd hunt the "lull" as hard as any other time. I just like the rut and colder weather, later season hunting.

[wapiti792]

I used to buy in with the lull theory. I started hitting more oak flats and other food sources instead of Edge of Ag fields. My sightings have gone way up. Last night I had a decent 8 and a forky feeding on white oak acorns under me. When a group of does came to a nearby field their ears perked up and they chased those deer all over that field! So it's getting close to the chase...

I have killed 6 mature bucks in 10 years...3 have come during the October lull. I love October!!! Bring on the lull!!!

[B.O.D.]

I took some advice, hunted back in deeper than normal in an area that I haven't been in awhile.

Had the biggest doe I have seen in a long time come in from behind me; unfortunately I was too low and she saw me. The stand is an old ladder stand in there that is only 9' up.
I could have taken a "poke" through a few small holes in some dead sumacs; but I held off, waiting for her to be in the clear, quartering away.

I gave myself a back-pat for not trying the shot.    
I glassed where she went and was spotted by another deer on the OTHER side of the little low-spot where I was set-up...lol! They didn't wind me, just saw something in camo that they were unsure of.    

Now that I know where and when they come out, I'm going to hang a portable on the little ridge that the big doe came in on, I have seen lots of tracks there in the winter.

Good Chasin'
BD