The time of year that most whitetail hunters live for has finally arrived. Along with cooler temps, falling leaves, and everything under the sun being produced in pumpkin spice, comes whitetail season across the continent. Some have been hunting for several weeks now, and some just started as October came knocking. We’ve dreamed of this all summer, as we’ve patterned our target bucks on trail cams. We have our game plan mapped out and have cleared a space on the wall for the mount that will soon hang there where we can relive our triumphant moment anytime someone looks at it and says, “Nice buck”. In short, our dreams are about to come true. Then the October lull hits us like a baseball bat.

If you hunt long enough, you’re going to hear about the October lull. It’s that mythical time that comes around mid-October where whitetail bucks are said to go into a movement slump. There are some who swear it’s true and you can set your watch by it, and there are those that say it’s an old wife’s tale and that there is no lull. There have been academic studies that say it’s not real (see the studies done by NC State and Texas A&M among other), while there are numerous long-time hunters who swear it’s as real as their passion for the hunt. I’ve hunted many Octobers and my conclusion on the matter is… it’s complicated.

The aforementioned studies, done with GPS collars and people with brains bigger than the Milo Hanson buck’s rack, show that whitetail buck movement actually increases steadily throughout October. As the pre-rut starts firing up, buck movement increases as one would expect. One study in Texas showed a marked increase during the supposed October lull in both daytime and nighttime, although the nighttime movement seemed to increase more.

On the other hand, thousands of longtime whitetail hunters, this writer included, have spent many a prime October day in the stand, knowing that with the perfect conditions on that day, we’d see that monster that was destined to spend the rest of our lives on our walls between our Dale Earnhardt poster and our Brett Favre autographed Packers Jersey, with grandpa’s old Marlin 30-30 hanging over it. But I digress. We sit there on that perfect October day knowing that we’re moments away from the buck coming through just like he has all summer long at the same time. That time comes and goes without a sighting. When we get back to the truck or camp, we ask our buddies if they had any luck, and they have the same report: nothing was moving today. This goes on for a few days and suddenly you realize what time of year it is: mid-October. That can only mean the lull has struck.

So, which is true? The big-brained scientists, or the fella who spends more time in the woods than he does at home? Turns out both are correct. The data doesn’t lie. There is a marked increase in buck movement during the pre-rut, including during mid-October when the lull is in full swing. But why are we not seeing the bucks the same as we did just a week or two earlier? There are a few reasons.

1) Hunting pressure

This is the most obvious reason that we’re seeing this significant change in buck movement during this time of year, yet we often don’t want to accept that truth. It’s much easier to blame it on a phantom phenomenon like the lull. But it’s undeniable that in most areas of the whitetail’s range, there has been a steady increase in hunter’s encroaching on the deer’s core area. As they sense that intrusion, they begin to change their patterns.

2) Deer biology

As the weather cools and days shrink, the deer’s hormones begin to change. They sense not only the time for love is in the air, but that winter is coming. Their instincts and biological make up cause them to begin changing their habits at this time to prepare for the rut and the winter.

3) Food

In much the same way some people will drive 50 or more miles to eat at a new restaurant that they love, deer will travel for their favorite foods. Acorns are falling and almost nothing can compete with a good acorn crop for a deer’s attention. Crops are being harvested which can also vastly change a deer’s movement patterns.

4) Weather

As mentioned above cooler air and shorter days cause changes in deer, but on the flip side, a warm snap in October can have a negative impact in their movement. It’s important to keep an eye on the weather and adjust your hunting plans accordingly.

These reasons, and more, do cause the rather significant change in deer behavior that we have labeled the “October Lull”, but science has proven that the lull is more perception than reality based on GPS data. The deer are moving more and more as the days grow shorter, but they may not move in the same places or at the same times as they have been all summer and early fall. As the old saying goes, “Perception is reality” so through that lens, the October lull is very real for most of us.

To overcome the dreaded October lull there are a few things you can try:

1) Be flexible

Don’t be afraid to try new approaches to the hunt. As the herd changes patterns and moves to different food sources, move with them. This is where saddle hunters and portable stand hunters have an advantage over those who are married to one or two blinds or ladder stands. Be willing to abandon your favorite location to go where the deer are moving. Of course, this requires scouting and knowing the land which you’ve ideally been working on all year before season so you will know where the preferred food sources and cover are. Look for natural browsing areas in the hardwoods and timber. Acorns are of course the jackpot, but also look for places with plenty of sign to show that they are using the area.

2) Use trail cameras

The advent of the cellular trail camera has been a blessing for those hunting the October lull. You can hang these cameras in likely deer used areas of your hunting grounds. You may find that areas where you aren’t getting much action in late summer to early fall are suddenly showing much more activity.

3) Study

Study up on whitetail behavior and use their behavior to your advantage. This is one that we should all do at any time of the year. We should know our prey inside and out. That’s one of the fundamentals of deer hunting. But if you’re suddenly not seeing deer that you know are there, start looking at why. Often times there is a very obvious reason if we look at it from the perspective of our quarry.

So, as we enter the time of year known as the October lull, don’t fret. Know that the bucks are still out there, they are still moving, and that big one can still end up on your wall, but also know that you may have to alter your approach to make it happen. Good luck this year and stay obsessed!!!

-Heathe Pendergraft, Fall Obsession Field Staff