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OCTOBER- strategies that REALLY WORK

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Sligh1

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Here's a TOUGH ONE, even the pros have a tough time with this one!...... *I know you all are the BEST though!! /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

Ok, I don't put much time in October, I know how to get on mature bucks pretty good in November BUT I want to put some more time in.

You always here all these theories on October, some are generalizations and some are these specific random tactics. I'd say 20% of that info could POSSIBLY be applied to me, MAYBE.

Is there anyone that you know OR something specific that you do that gets you within range of MATURE deer every October (let's say BEFORE 25th)? I am NOT talking about 3 & 1/2 year olds (not diminishing them though!), I am talking about 5&1/2 and OLDER. Something that really works, something you can count on (as much as you can count on something with hunting) that is not the FLUFF info and these weird theories that 75% won't work or whatever. Stuff that might work: Hunt by water, hunt deep woods, acorns, corn fields, get in early, I DON'T KNOW, you tell me, think out of the box, simple or complex. **What are you doing that CONSISTENTLY puts a mature buck in VIEW each October before rut is cranking? Not neccesarily KILLING one but just seeing one during light- what are you doing?

When I was in college I hunted alot, this is NOT the "ANSWER" but I hunted during weekdays when everyone was in work. Bottom line, I just hunted a ton, avoided other people AND I hunted spots that were not my solid rut spots ONLY because I didn't want to burn those out. I actually didn't do a ton of foodplot hunting (never really have ever). Anyone have a consistent SOLID answer that would apply to Oct MATURE bucks???? /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
I bow to the guy that can kill a 5 year old deer every October because face it.... it just doesn't happen like that, and that is what makes it fun. I don't kill a mature buck every year in October, but I do see mature deer every year in October. If I had to pick one day every year to be in the deer stand, I would hunt the first cold front of the year in October and I would sit close to does. I bet I have seen a mature buck 6 out of the last 7 years on the very day that first cold front rolls in. It is a magical time.

If I am good for one piece of guaranteed good advice... hunt the first cold front, and sit in between a doe feeding area and bucks home area. Get in early, and you will have a good sit.
 
I realize KILLING one is different, heck, it's tough enough in November. Great response though.
What I was more asking is do you even know anyone - or maybe it's you - that either kills or does something to SEE a mature buck during light in October with any consistency. Any solid tactic you feel will get a monster sighted DURING SHOOTING HOURS in that tough time?
I think the cold front tactic is a solid one, I think i need to be flexible when I see a cold forecast coming.
 
I've seen at least one, usually more than one mature buck in October for the past....8 or 9 yrs. I've killed a handful of them as well. But I don't think I can help you out due to the difference in our locations. I think that due to the am't of pressure in the midwest, our larger mature bucks are a different animal than yours, visible early on, hard to find during the rut.
 
I'm not sure if deer even live to 5 years old where I hunt.

I would think your best bet of just seeing a deer of that caliber (pre Oct 25th) with any consistency would come from a combine.
 
Polk City, oh yeah baby, there's some biggun's round there! /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turtL</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I would think your best bet of just seeing a deer of that caliber (pre Oct 25th) with any consistency would come from a combine. </div></div>

Ya know that really might be your best bet. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

Or at least be in the stand if there is guys picking nearby fields. I have seen some studs when the corn is being picked. Makes sense really... brings them into the timber.
 
So if you follow that strategy, it would be good to hunt the wood line in between timber and a corn field if corn fields are a big October attractant, I only have about 40 acre of corn on my ground BUT the corn could be a good idea.

I think the acorns and the cold snap are 2 things I am going to try as well.

I also have some land I have permission on that's ALL CRP and timber, I am thinking of morning hunting there near some bedding areas as I don't think I'll hunt it much later SO I don't care if I burn out stands, Acorns should be key there as well!
 
You might be surprised just how much time some deer spend in standing corn fields, especially after they dry out. I don't know how good a field edge will serve you if it being harvested, but I think being on stand in the vicinity of the field is always a good bet. If the deer are driven out of the corn, it just leaves that many less places for them to hide, and they will be on their feet somewhere else.

Its just another thing.... bottom line is... you gotta hunt to have success. Try to make the best out of each time out, and that's all you can hope for.
 
Yeah, I obviously saw a decent amount of nice bucks when I was in college and hunted alot in October. TIME was PART of the key. But, now what I'm trying to think about was- out of all those days in October that I did see a "good" buck, what did those days and locations have in common??!?

*If corn is the ticket, i'll make it happen, I can coordinate combining BUT I also think if the are in the corn they will still go in and out of timber- not sure if Oct is key CORN time with all the other stuff still out BUT worth a try. I do know if I can find some solid acorn areas- that's a pretty darn good draw.
 
I'll be on a field edge over corn while the combines going around for sure this year. Last year I watched as the combine left and field filled up.

Last year on one of the farms I hunt the farmer was combining til dark. He had several bucks following him around the field. They don't spook to much and get very curious.
 
Ya know, I love discussing strategies. I think that can only help us improve as hunters. We can always look for "the key" as you say, but I think it is important to recognize that there just isn't a key to success. There are many many keys, and each strategy or approach always will have unrecognizable variables.

We all want to improve, but you aren't going to find the "only way" that always works.

It is nice that you are trying to specify a time period and specific strategies. I think that is the best way to get useful information, and I guarantee you there are people on this site with a whole heck of a lot of knowledge on October strategies. Hopefully you'll get some more responses.
 
I think deep woods is the key, but getting there is tough because sometimes you have to pass deer bedding areas to get to those areas. I've been able to pattern bucks in the early season very effectively but have never been able to capitalize just because I don't have an effective way of getting to my stand without being spotted. That's why early season I just go out maybe a couple of times to shoot does then hit it hard in November when the bucks are less on edge.
 
get in a fence line with standing corn & a terrace running perpindicular or paralell close to your stand,as in shooting range,bucks like traveling along terraces easy traveling i killed a 157 inch 5.5 year old on october 29th of 2006 at
5:30 pm 78 degrees outside.might have been luck but kind of
makes sense.
 
I guess I have never tried to kill a buck within the first 25 days of October. I don't like missing the rut.
 
Get in between the heaviest used food source you can find and the thickest, nastiest bedding cover you can find in the same area and hope for the best. If they're quite close to one another, favor the food source to avoid alerting the buck when entering. Don't go in unless the wind is perfect or you're done. If you hunt a large enough tract, try to find a few different setups like this that allow for various wind so you can hunt more days in the early stretch. This method may result in a low # of deer sightings but if you have patience and you're wanting to try for the big boy early, it's a good recipe IMO. Another advantage of hunting like this is that you can leave some premium rut stands alone entirely instead of following the urge to hunt them simply because there's no other options available. If you're going to hunt these types of stands get them up now. If you alert a good one to your presence, you want a lot of time to let the situation cool. If you're talking evenings, stay in the stand until the last possible shooting light cause the bucks will be late if they make it out before dark at all. If you need light when you exit, use a colored lens and sneak out taking extra time if needed. Sounds over the top perhaps but I think it's what a guy has to do in the early season to avoid making a stand worthless. Very little room for error. JMO.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I guess I have never tried to kill a buck within the first 25 days of October. I don't like missing the rut.</div></div>

x2. My wife doesn't tolerate the colder weather very well though, so I 'magine I'll be out some in Oct. filming her.
 
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