morning, noon, or night?

[jason]

I usually just hunt mornings and later in the after noon throughout bow season. But I'm thinking about mixing up my trips a bit. Instead of morning going out at noon until dark, or morning until one or so. I was just wondering when are the best times to be in the stand around mid day when there is usually less activity. Well I know rut of course, but thats not the only phase of a deer's life. And where would be best places to set up in mid day?
Thanks and good hunting

jason

 

[Shredder]

I started hunting mid-day during the late pre rut and was amazed at the activity level the deer were showing. I saw 7 bucks on stand last fall the last week of Oct just milling around in the woods browsing near the bedding areas between 1030-12noon. As always, if you expect to see some action, you have to have the right location such as a water hole, or oak ridge where acorns are dropping. Deer, especially the big boys are especially keen to the woods and any changes during the pre rut. Also watch the weather fronts. When a cold front is forcasted to move in, hunt the 24 hours preceeding it, even mid day. It seems that deer activity during the mid day will pick up for feeding in preparation of the front. Late season, hunt the warm up days following a period of severe cold. Deer will sometimes hole up when the wind is high and the air is cold to try and preserve energy but when the weather break comes, they don't care what time of day, all they want is food. Hope that helps

 

[afterpy]

I'll be somewhat redundant to the other gentlemen. Whitetail activity is limited to their bedding areas for the most part during mid-day. Some exceptions are driven by the need to feed, associated with barometric changes and some late morning feeding related to moon phase. Pre-rut As you may know is a great time for mid-day hunting. I limit my hunts to benches or plateaus , as the mid-day sun heats the ground surface the geothermals lifts much of the scent, which is money for the buck in search of a receptive doe. Flat areas like benches or plateaus stabilize the scent closer to the ground, scent like heat will rise with the contour of the land. I've harvested my last three bucks at mid- day cruising such locations. Good luck hope your tactic works.

Scott