Hunt October: Early Season Strategies

Written By: Ryan Reading, Fall Obsession Field Staff

Early October is often considered a challenging yet rewarding time to hunt big bucks. The pre-rut period sees bucks beginning to change their behavior, making them more elusive but still patterned enough for strategic hunting. Here’s an in-depth guide to hunting big bucks during this time.

Understanding Early October Buck Behavior

1. Transition Period:

Early October is a transition period where bucks shift from their summer patterns to their pre-rut routines. They start to move more but are not yet in full rut mode. Bucks will begin to break from bachelor groups and establish their territories.

2. Feeding Habits:

Bucks are focused on bulking up for the rut. They feed heavily on acorns, agricultural crops, and other available food sources including mast trees. Early October is acorn season in many regions, so locating white oak trees can be key, as acorns are a favorite food source. There are a few key things deer need to survive and that is food, water and shelter. Along with breeding and growing the heard; if you focus on the deer’s needs you will ultimately put yourself into a better position come hunting season.

3. Bedding Areas:

Bucks seek out secure bedding areas with thick cover. These areas offer protection from predators and human pressure. Look for bedding sites in dense brush, thickets, or areas with good visibility and multiple escape routes.

Scouting and Preparation

1. Pre-Season (or in season) Scouting:

Use trail cameras to monitor buck movement and establish patterns. Place cameras near feeding areas, trails, and scrapes. Identify travel routes between feeding and bedding areas. Look for well-used trails, tracks, and rub lines. Use all these criteria to put a plan together identifying what deer you want to hunt and where.

2. Sign Interpretation:

Fresh rubs and scrapes are key indicators of buck activity. Bucks create rubs to mark territory and scrapes to communicate with other deer. Focus on recent signs to determine the most active areas. Early October scrapes are often located near feeding areas and travel routes. Most people believe that scrapes are only used during certain time periods. This is far from the truth. Deer will use scrapes and licking branches all year round but use them a lot more during the breeding and seeking phases.

3. Stand Placement:

Position stands downwind of travel routes between feeding and bedding areas. Ensure you have good visibility and shooting lanes. Consider using multiple stand locations to adapt to changing wind conditions and deer movement. Early season is all about bed and food until the pre-rut starts to ramp up.

Hunting Strategies

1. Playing the Wind:

Always hunt with the wind in your favor. Deer have a strong sense of smell, and they will avoid areas where they detect human scent. Use scent control products and techniques to minimize your scent.

I recently was privileged to see a study on the Southern Outdoorsmen. The study was using collard bucks and what winds they used most of the time. The study done by Dr. Bronson Stickland of MSU deer lab collard 60 bucks and that buck walked into and away from the wind most of the time, while never really walking perpendicular to the wind. This was related to bucks of all ages.

2. Timing and Patience:

Focus on hunting during the first and last hours of daylight when deer are most active. Be patient and stay in your stand longer. Bucks may move very predictably during the early season. The rut may require you to be more persistent waiting on deer traveling.

3. Calling Techniques:

Early October is a good time for light calling and rattling. Use soft grunts and light rattling to simulate young bucks sparring. Avoid aggressive calling, as it may spook bucks that are not yet in full rut mode. In New York, where I am very familiar hunting whitetail, Rattling really isn’t responded to until the third week in October or later.

4. Mock Scrapes:

Create mock scrapes to attract bucks and encourage them to check the area. Use scent drippers and deer urine to enhance the realism. Place mock scrapes near natural travel routes and stand locations. If you are able to start a scrape near a food source between food and bed in Late July, you will train the deer and bucks to come check it out as they are heading to the food source.

Adaptability and Observation

1. Adjusting Tactics:

Be flexible and willing to move if you’re not seeing deer. Pay attention to recent activity and adjust your stand locations accordingly. Use in-season scouting to stay updated on buck movements and patterns. During a warm October, water and valleys will pay dividends. Cooler valleys and water are what large bucks seek to help stay cool.

2. Observation Skills:

Watch for subtle signs of deer movement, such as flicking tails, glints of antlers, or sounds of movement. Keep binoculars handy to scan the area and spot deer before they see you. Staying awake and off the cellular device will ultimately help you see more deer.

3. Midday Hunts:

Consider hunting during midday, especially during overcast or cool days. Bucks may move during these times, especially if they feel less pressure. Focus on areas near bedding sites, as bucks may get up to feed or check scrapes. The early season I have seen deer move at noon on a hot day also. They may travel to water or food. This will all depend on your area and how close to the bedding you are.

Ethical Considerations

1. Shot Placement:

Only take clear, ethical shots within your effective range. Practice regularly to ensure accuracy and confidence.

2. Respect for Wildlife:

Follow your region’s hunting regulations and respect the land and other hunters. Harvest responsibly and use as much of the deer as possible. As hunters grow and learn we must give back to the sport in one way or another. Sharing knowledge of introducing the sport to your children, grandchildren or fiends will help ensure hunting is here for the long term.

By understanding buck behavior and adapting your strategies to early October conditions, you can increase your chances of encountering and successfully hunting big bucks. Patience, preparation, and ethical hunting practices are key to a rewarding experience.