Early Season Bowhunting Advice

[The Silence]

Just wanted to get your advice about hunting in October/ early season. I just moved back to my home state of Iowa after living in Ukraine for the last 11 year where I worked as a missionary so I'm needing to gather some basic info on a few things. A couple of specific questions that initially come to mind are: (1) Type of Camo? (esp. with possible warmer temps and insects) and (2) Food Source Info? Could you give me some ball park figures on what major food sources deer key off of during early season and what would be some general dates to work off of? Any other thoughts would be greatly appreciated as well.

One last thing- my old username was "young buck" but I recently changed it to " The Silence" since there was another person on the site with a very similar name- just wanted to avoid any confusion.
I'm so glad there are people like you who are willing to help a rookie out like me.

 

[Ghost]

First off, welcome back home!

The type of early season camo is not quite as important as it is to have scent free camo regardless of what type you choose. Early season there is plenty of foliage still on the trees and blending in is a much easier task than later in the season. Dress in real light clothing early if it's warm, and carry in a little heavier jacket to wear as it cools down in the evening and to take off as it warms in the mornings. Clean scent free clothes are much more important than the camo pattern. I also like to wear net gloves to keep misquotes from drilling on my hands in early season.

Early food sources will vary according to your area and what is available. But as a general rule, deer will hit the high protein green that is available, such as soybeans, alphalfa, and timber browse. Some glassing and scouting will let you know what deer are keying on in early season. In my experience, the beans get hit first, followed by the corn as season progresses. Don't overlook a big oak ridge as the acorns start to fall.

I'm sure you will get lots of good advise from some of the other guys/gal on the site.

Good Luck and just keep reading!

 

[BIGBUCKDOWN!!]

Ghost is right on!! I would recommend and early season, light weight set of scentlok clothing like Savanna. I love my suite and it seems to be getting great reviews from everyone. I believe there is a wholesale dealer on ebay that sells it very cheap. www.ebay.com

 

[Littlefeather]

I only have two season's under my belt so consider that while you are taking my advice. Two years ago I hunted all season long between a bedding area and some corn/hay. I saw lots of deer early and late but they seemed to dissapear during the rut. Last year, I hunted a ridgeline. I didn't see very many deer early or late but the rut was pretty exciting.

This year, I am going to hunt next to a corn field and a new hay field. Around Halloween, I am going to move to the ridge and hunt there during the rut and then move back again to the fields after the rut.

I haven't decided where to put the early/late stand yet. There is too much cover early and not enough late. I may hunt from the ground early and put a stand into a thick area and hunt out of it after the rut.

Good luck!!

 

[TallTines]

I would definetaly use ghosts advice on the greens and scout and find out where they are coming into the fields. In my experience you should get 5-7 days in the first week of oct. and then as the season wears on and that week passes I would move from hunting the fringes to hunting closer to bedding areas because the bucks go into their usual lull and don't move much at all. Just remember when doing this that you try to make your entry and exit as important as the stand. As far as camo I prefer a light scentlok mossy oak outfit which blends great. Good luck this early season and welcome back to Iowa.