Opening day, early-season whitetail success has much to do with preseason scouting and preparation. If you know where a big buck travels from bedding to a food source, you can hang a stand or post a ground blind and have success. However, if you hope to get luck without doing your homework, you’ll have to roll the dice for success and may do more harm than good.
Early Season Tactics
Jeff Harrison is one of the best “scouters” I know. As a residential painter, he often head out to a job extra early to cruise the suburban areas he hunts. This give him a good look at where deer are feeding and traveling at first light. Likewise, he takes the scenic route on the way home or schedules work later in the day to gather whitetail intel. Trail cameras are also a part of his scouting routine as it is with many archers.
How Early is Early?
With October on the horizon, acorns will be falling and deer movements can change dramatically. Additionally, corn fields will be harvested removing a food source and important cover. As the forest of stalks is removed, deer must suddenly head for dense cover and totally change their core area. In rolling country, deer will be lured to mountains and timber stands by falling acorns where they can find cover and food. In some areas, October brings a reduction in deer movements and can be one of the most difficult times of the year to hunt.
Three Tips to Practice
This post from the Outdoor Hub lists three important ideas to boost success. Check them out and prepare to succeed:
Throughout much of the Midwest and eastern portions of the United States, archery season opens in mid- to late September, offering unique opportunities and challenges for those looking to harvest a mature early season whitetail. For years I’ve spent countless days in the woods in hopes of connecting with these early season bucks, and I’ve learned some very helpful tips to increase those chances of success.
One of the biggest things about hunting whitetails is understanding what phase they’re in and then hunting it accordingly. This is usually broken down by early season, pre-rut, prime-rut, and late season.
https://www.outdoorhub.com/how-to/2017/09/22/3-proven-bowhunting-tips-early-season-whitetails/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=September%2025th%202017%20Outdoorhub%20Newswire&utm_content=September%2025th%202017%20Outdoorhub%20Newswire%20CID_73e54609138d825c3f578620816b6f0a&utm_source=Campaign%20Monitor&utm_term=Newswire%20-%203%20Proven%20Bowhunting%20Tips%20for%20Early%20Season%20Whitetails
