October lull

[Fred Bear]

I have noticed a decrese in the deer the past couple of days. Is this the begining of the october lull? or have I just burnt my stand locations out? anyone else seeing less deer?


Come on chase phase!! :p

[Ken]

I always notice this too around this time of the season. However, that doesn't keep me out of the woods. One day it can be dead and the very next day something kicks in and the deer are everywhere. I've seen it many times.

[wild bill]

i've noticed the same thing the past few days. allthough i am seeing deer it has been closer to dark. most of them have been coming from the corn. cant wait to see them combines getting to work.

[wecker20]

Same here. Waiting for the neighbor to cut his corn. The good thing is nobody is hunting it or anything around me. Saw 5 does last night but that was from the house. Haven't seen much w/ this calm North wind so I did the family time thing.

[One Eye]

Yes, deer sightings are down here too. The mild weather isn't helping either. Most deer sightings right now are on the edge of dusk.

Dan

[Spartazoo]

I have two hunting spots. In Vicksburg I have not seen deer in a week. In Richland I have seen double digit deer every night i have hunted. Not sure what to make of it.

[Steve]

We see this lull every year and it doesn't pick up again until about Halloween. I don't think I'm heading north again until this time.

[Steven Arend]

I seen 10 deer opening weekend but haven't seen one since the 5th. The biggest difference that I've noticed is temperature. It has been 10 to 15 deg. warmer then it was on opening weekend.

[EdB]

A lot has to do with hunting pressure and disturbing deer on the way in or our of your stands. Spooking deer and leaving human scent does push them nocturnal until the rut kicks in. Human activity in the woods really kicks up a notch in Oct. If it were not for that, deer would be moving more in daylight. I hunted a quadrant of the property and a stand that has not been hunted yet this year last night, saw 10 does and 2 bucks. I try to avoid hunting the same spot 2 days in a row and try to let each stand rest 3-4 days when I can.

[Pinefarm]

For some reason, the lull at our place usually begins around Sept 30 and ends around Oct 20. ;)

[mike hartges]

Another thing you may want to consider is hunting near some oak trees that are dropping acorns. Sometimes the deer change their food source and they might come by your stand after legal shooting time.

[farmlegend]

A few things could be in play.

If you've hunted the same stand a few times already, the deer may have altered their patterns because of your presence.

Feeding patterns could have recently shifted; lots of deer are hanging out in the standing corn.

The warm weather hasn't helped. So far this year, though I've seen deer on each sit, I've seen far more deer on morning hunts, when temps are cooler. The guys I talk to that haven't seen much this year have been hunting primarily evenings.

[Spartazoo]

Strange thing for me is where I hunt in Richland has way may human pressure than where I hunt in Vicksburg. I am seeing more deer even though in my stand I can hear cars, tractors, music, and kids playing. It is almost like hunting in a zoo. With all that pressure I am seeing double digit deer numbers every night that I hunt. I hunt that spot 2/3 times a week. In Vicksburg I am hunting a remote spot and I have not seen any deer for over a week. Needless to say there is a second stand on its way to Richland.

[nymph]

We get the same thing at our place. The first week is usually decent, but as soon as they detect a little pressure...poof! The sightings (particularly bucks) tend to slow down until Halloween. Once Halloween rolls around, look out! The bucks start to get a bit goofy and the game is on! You never know when is a safe time to get out of your stand.....10am?....11am?....noon?....oh what the heck, I might just as well sit all day! Man I love that time of year.


nymph

[markbouman]

Saw deer every sit the first week, but since am only seeing 2-4 per night right at dark. Same thing every year though it seems. I'm looking forward to last week of Oct and beyond ......

Sure has been nice sitting in the woods though!!!!! ;)

[Moron]

Last weekends wind added to an already large selection of acorns on the ground. The white oaks acorns are dropping a little late this year, things will pick up in acorn country after they get them picked over some and have to travel a little to find the ones they prefer. It will do nothing but get better, then there's the rut. :)

[Joe Archer]

The October lull started on 10/01 for me this year. <----<<<

[jk hillsdale]

I'm seeing antlerless deer almost every sit, but very little buck activity, and those that I have seen have all been 1 1/2 year olds.

My goal at this time of year is just to enjoy being out in the woods, and hopefully take a couple of does. I'm mainly hunting observation stands, often with one of my children in tow, and I'm not sitting in any of my prime stands yet.

Beginning Saturday October 30th I'll become very serious. Hopefully at least one big buck will then harmonize his activities with mine :D .

[Ack]

I have always noticed the deer thinning out about the time the leaves all go down. I would think that the physical change in the deer's environment would cause them to be nervous and hide out for a few days, or maybe that's from all of the hunters they can spot in the trees now!:lol: After the leaves are down though, watch out, cause things will definitely change for the better!