Your October Whitetail Buck Strategy???

[skychief]

What is your favorite method for mature whitetail BUCKS in October?

[Bob B.]

I try to catch them crossing from bedding to feeding/feeding to bedding areas ... they usually follow the oaks with the best acorns, so I try to set up near those areas and wait for them ... works both morning and night, mornings tend to be best between 7:30 - 9:30 for me here in S.W. Wisconsin.

Bob.

[RedShaft]

White oaks right at dusk and rub lines close to beddin areas.  I really like late October for bucks. Later in October I get more I concentrate on scrapes and rub lines.

[Jerry Jeffer]

Get out as much as possible. Hunt, Hunt, Hunt.

[Stalker58]

I like setting up by watering, and feeding areas.
And like Jerry said. Get out as much as possible. Hunt, Hunt, Hunt.

[dbd870]

Find out where they are moving, set up on the trails within 15yds and kill one.

[Charlie Lamb]

The more obvious buck sign comes in October. Depending on the situation I adapt to that.

[ChuckC]

I agree with the above statements.  It gets to the point where a buck may be traveling almost any time of the day.  I have also noted that in the evening stands, I am more likely to see a buck as early as 1.5 hours prior to the end of day, while does are more likely seen 45 minutes to 15 minutes before the end of the day.

I hunt marshes a lot in my area, and a key is to find travel funnels.  In my marshes, any tall trees are usually on ground just inches higher (and a bit dryer) than the rest and that is a key, but often, hunting the trail coming INTO one of these areas, sitting in the marsh itself, is a better bet.

ChuckC

[DaveT1963]

During Oct Lull I hunt fringe funnels where I can observe bedding areas but not bust deer on entry/exit.  These Oct hunts really teach me how the deer are using travel corridors and where other hunters are hitting.  And yes, every once in a while I actually get a shot at a big bruiser using the funnel I am set up on.  I seldom hunt close to buck bedding areas until 4th week of Oct when the bucks in my area begin to travel earlier in the afternoon and return a little after daylight.  My observation stands confrim when this takes place and the time is right to make my move.

[Cwilder]

To be at the right place at the right time

[TradBrewSC]

find the food, find the does, the bucks will come.

for me acorn ridges.

[JMG]

I find the white acorns, shallow creek crossings and bedding areas. Then I come up with a game plan based on wind direction, moon phase and weather conditions.

[Huntschool]

Truthfully, I feel it will depend on the particular cover, weather, food sources and herd activity for your area.  

There are bucks moving here in southern Illinois right now but our real movement peaks about Veterans day every year.  

Right now the bucks seem to still be driven by food as are the does.  White oak and persimmon mast are the top ones of course but as the crop fields are opened up both removing cover and putting waste grain on the ground some changes will take place.

I guess what I am saying is hunt each area you have based on what is there and what you have seen the deer doing.  I don’t feel like right now, here in southern Illinois as the rut builds, deer are doing anything different then they will be doing around Thanksgiving other then they will have been through our first gun season at that point.  Temps will have a bit to do with their movement but not that much….

[Deeter]

Mine is simple.  Just sit and wait.  Good things come to those who wait.

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

be in the stand as much as I can.  That's my everyday strategy!

[ron w]

Get off the couch.......I should take my own advice!!!  

[Mint]

Avoid the spots that other hunters have moved in on.

[PUDDLE JUMPER]

I approach the first two weeks completely different than the last two. If hunting a mature buck you have to set up close to bedding as they are likely nocturnal. Good time to fill a doe tag hunting a food source with cooler weather.

The last two weeks are a great time to be in the woods. I try and hunt every day with some all day hunts as we approach Halloween.

The middle of October until the start of firearms season is prime time for me. That's when I want to hunt out of a camp. The weather and deer movement all come together.

The last week of October I start paying more attention to scrapes.

[Rob W.]

I hang out with the ladies until a big boy makes a mistake.

[Michael Arnette]

My strategy has just been to wait until November :-) I avoid taking too much time out in October, if I do it's just to enjoy the scenery and the beautiful weather. I do all of my serious hunting in November