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Opening day.

Jake_Schlotterback

Jake_Schlotterback

Member
Just wondering how many of you hunt on Opening day October first. What is your plan and how do you hunt differently on opening day. I personally go out opening day just because I can't hold off any longer. Just wondering how others did It.
 
I don't hunt opening day... I use to (I think anyways) but most of my spots aren't good opening day spots. It's hard when you can't use your calls and such.. So, I just wait until later when the leaves start falling and calls are more effective..
 
Thats what I hear from a lot of people. I have a couple spota that you can get lucky early in the season but its just not as fun when you can't interact with them. And I also don't want to pressure them too early and ruining the prime time hunting.
 
I do every year for 1 reason, because I can. I love bowhunting and that first sit is special to me whether I see 50 deer or none. The first sit of the year always brings a big smile to my face.
 
I was just thinking the other day to myself and I can probably count on one hand how many hunts I've been on where I didn't see a deer in 4 years of hard bow hunting. (Knock on wood). It may be a doe or two here or there but I have really been fortunate.
 
The best way to get into the deer opening day is to scout before hand and its the best time to pattern your deer. If you spend the time scouting you can pattern bucks going from bedding to food plots and can kill big bucks if they are actually moving during daylight hours. But its definetely possible
 
I hunt any day I can. Any day in the woods is a good day. Plus I don't get much time as it is being a student
 
antlerfanatic said:
The best way to get into the deer opening day is to scout before hand and its the best time to pattern your deer. If you spend the time scouting you can pattern bucks going from bedding to food plots and can kill big bucks if they are actually moving during daylight hours. But its definetely possible
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If you have the property that holds a big buck that'll work. Most of the properties I hunt ( I can't speak for others) aren't sanctuaries. Early season reminds me a lot of late season.. Bucks are only on certain percentage (low) of the land.. I mean it's sure possible to kill a big buck. There was that big buck in Des moines county (I think) that was killed on public October 3 or something last year.. Trail cams make it easier to scout now more than ever. Idk.. I guess I'd just be so worried about burning out my spots before primetime...

It's funny thinking back to when I first started hunting.. I use to hunt early October like it was the rut. I'd rattle and everything.. I've called in some smaller bucks that way..
 
If you have large property,,active food plots,pics of bucks coming and going, might be good. If you are me, small property that harbors a couple does and fawns, then you wait for the RUT. Bucks come from who knows where,,maybe a mature one. Not to mention, October,, it is usually in the 80's,,lots of bugs,lots of foliage, and with just a couple stands you don't want to get deer wise to,,,,patience,,,until November,,for me!:eek:
 
Oct 1, 2012 I had 18 encounters within 40yds. 9 were small bucks. And 1 good buck in the distance. Best opening day sit to date. Sat am and pm. Usually I sit in my stand on day 1 in the am of hopes to get a crack at one of the good bucks on cam. This year, Im Going to sit Oct 3,4&5 and play the wind. Hopefully to sit in a different stand every day with hopes of getting lucky. If not, Im gonna wait till Halloween this year.

Edit: don't EVER overlook October as being "no good".. my avatar pic is of 2012 and I killed him on Oct 15th. Early am and late pm show the most movement.... not to mention early muzzy season means more chance for other hunters to bump deer around...and early combines. Chances are always there, but not if your at home on the couch
 
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I've got a a 7 year streak going of killing a deer on oct 1st. I always either skipped school, class in collage, or take the day of of work.
From 2002 I've been in a tree on opening day and twice I've passes bucks that I would have loved to shoot come late november. Oct 5th last year I passed a deer that I would love to have on my wall. I've got pics of him already this year and if given the chance I won't pass again
 
Always like to try and hunt oppening day. If I remember right there was a lot of big bucks shot on opening day and the few days after.
 
Last year was different than most years for the opening week. It was COLD, like 20 degrees cold. I still like to hunt early to fill a few doe tags. If you have a buck patterned to a t u might as well try.
 
When I started bowhunting, I waited until the last two weeks of October to start, then started going earlier just to add more days in the tree. For the 1st, if it's the weekend, I'll try to be out at least for an afternoon hunt. If not, I usually bank my time off for days in late October-January. Same here as far as no big buck sanctuaries. Have them passing thru all the time tho. Have had some good ones on camera now and then in late summer thru January. Early season just try to be as little intrusive as I can, but agree you can't shoot them if you're not out there. Just have to pick the right spot for the time.

The past couple of years I've had 2 different dandy bucks under the same stand in mid October. One year I was at a sale looking for deals, the other I was in the wrong stand on the other side of the farm!
 
Im gonna be out opening day. Mainly because of the itch to go but like said above last year opening day was pretty cold and i filled my tag on a nice 8 point within 2 hours of first light. This year we have a couple nice 150+ bucks patterned so ill be holding out for a nice one. Whether it happens or not? Who knows? Its always a grind. Good luck to everyone that does go!
 
I almost always hunt October 1. Usually it's chasing muleys in WY with my 300WM though... :way: My home spots for bow hunting are much better later when crops are out & the boys thoughts turn to "luv". ;)
 
Too early to tell, but I doubt I will be out opening day. More likely would be that weekend, set up to fill a doe tag outside my buck hunting areas.
 
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