Mastering Early Season Deer Hunting: 3 Expert Strategies

Table of Contents:

1. Understanding the Early Season Challenges
2. Strategy 1: Identifying Travel Routes
   • Water Sources and Food
   • Patterning Deer
   • Optimal Hunting Approach
   • Avoiding Pressure
3. Strategy 2: Preserve Pre-Rut and Rut Stands
   • Importance of These Stands
   • Preserving Stand Locations
   • Consideration for Bedding Areas
4. Strategy 3: Utilizing Soft Masked Food Sources
   • Transition in Deer's Nutritional Needs
   • Importance of Mast Foods
   • Finding Alternative Soft Masses
   • Marking Key Locations
5. Conclusion

🦌 Hunting Strategies for the Early Season

The opening of deer season marks an exciting time for hunters across the country. While some prefer to wait until October to begin their hunting endeavors, others are eager to embrace the early season and enjoy the thrill of treestand therapy. However, the early season presents its own unique set of challenges. In this article, we will explore three effective strategies to help you navigate these challenges and improve your chances of success during this crucial period.

1. Understanding the Early Season Challenges

As a hunter venturing out during the early season, you must be prepared to tackle high temperatures and a variety of bothersome creatures, including ticks, mosquitoes, flies, spiders, and snakes. Additionally, deer are undergoing a transition period, which can make it more challenging to get within close proximity of them. To overcome these obstacles, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of their behavior and habitat preferences during this time.

2. Strategy 1: Identifying Travel Routes

One effective early season hunting strategy is to focus on identifying and observing the travel routes between water sources and food. While deer primarily obtain water from their food sources, they still frequent water sources separately. By locating these water holes and understanding the local food sources, you can position yourself strategically to increase your chances of encountering deer. It is important to note that setting up directly on the food or water source may only attract does or young bucks. To target mature bucks, situate yourself along the travel routes between these essential destinations.

- Water Sources and Food

Deer require increased hydration during the early season, as they must endure the heat 24/7. While food typically provides them with water, they still visit separate water sources. Identifying these water holes is crucial, as they serve as key areas of deer activity.

- Patterning Deer

During the early season, deer can still be easily patterned, following the food-to-cover routine. This pattern remains constant until the pre-rut stage kicks in later in the season. By familiarizing yourself with these food sources and travel routes, you are more likely to position yourself effectively to encounter deer throughout the day.

- Optimal Hunting Approach

When hunting during the early season, it is vital to consider deer behavior regarding cover. Deer, especially mature and cautious ones, will often avoid visiting destinations until nightfall, particularly if the available cover is limited. If you only capture nighttime activity on your trail cameras positioned at food plots or water holes, it may indicate the necessity for habitat improvement and reevaluating your approach. Avoid pressuring deer by hunting closer to travel routes where daytime activity is more likely to occur.

3. Strategy 2: Preserve Pre-Rut and Rut Stands

While deer may be on a predictable routine during the early season, it is crucial not to exhaust your good pre-rut and rut stands by hunting them prematurely. These stands hold significant value and should be preserved for the appropriate stage of the rut. Avoid compromising stand locations by hunting too close to bedding areas, especially if they are not the preferred bedding spots during hot weather.

- Importance of These Stands

Preserving your prime pre-rut and rut stands allows you to maximize your chances of encountering target bucks when they are most active. Careful consideration of timing and suitable conditions is essential for these stand locations to yield successful hunts during the rut.

- Preserving Stand Locations

A finite number of times a stand location can be hunted before it is compromised emphasizes the significance of preserving your best stands for the optimal timeframe. Only hunt these stands when the conditions align, avoiding the risk of hunting them at the wrong time and diminishing their effectiveness when it truly matters.

- Consideration for Bedding Areas

Deer require areas to cool down, especially in hot weather. The cooler bedding areas on north and east-facing slopes provide more shade and moisture, while winter bedding areas are typically found on south and west-facing slopes. Although setting up near bedding areas may seem tempting, it is advisable to exercise caution and refrain from hunting these spots. Preserve them for later stages of the season when rutting activity intensifies.

4. Strategy 3: Utilizing Soft Masked Food Sources

As the early season progresses, a shift occurs in the nutritional requirements of deer. Their focus transitions from high protein food sources to those offering more energy through carbohydrates and fats. This transition coincides with the hardening of antlers and shedding of velvet. To capitalize on this change, it is crucial to identify and hunt near good soft masked food sources.

- Transition in Deer's Nutritional Needs

Understanding the nutritional needs of deer during the early season is essential for effective hunting. Recognizing their preference for foods providing increased energy rather than protein is key to positioning yourself in the right areas.

- Importance of Mast Foods

Acorns, particularly those from white oak and red oak trees, are highly sought after by deer during the early season. However, if your property lacks oak trees or if frost has impacted acorn production, alternative soft mast foods become vital.

- Finding Alternative Soft Masses

In the absence of a significant acorn presence, other soft mast food sources such as persimmons, apples, and American plum can attract deer. These food sources not only meet their nutritional needs but also provide cover when they form dense thickets. By locating these areas and marking them, you can enhance your hunting opportunities during the early season.

5. Conclusion

The early season presents specific challenges, but with the right strategies, you can overcome them and increase your chances of success. Understanding deer behavior during this transitional period, identifying travel routes between vital resources, preserving prime stands for the rut, and capitalizing on soft masked food sources are all effective tactics. By employing these strategies and adapting to the unique demands of the early season, you can kickstart your hunting season on the right foot and maximize your chances of a successful harvest.

Highlights:

• Understanding the challenges of the early season
• Identifying travel routes between water sources and food
• Preserving pre-rut and rut stands for optimal timing
• Utilizing soft masked food sources as deer's nutritional needs shift

FAQ:

1. Q: What are the challenges of hunting during the early season?

   • A: The early season presents challenges such as high temperatures, bothersome insects, and deer behavior transitions.

2. Q: How can I increase my chances of encountering deer during the early season?

   • A: Identifying travel routes between water sources and food, as well as preserving prime stands for the rut, can significantly improve your chances.

3. Q: What are soft masked food sources, and why are they important during the early season?

   • A: Soft masked food sources, such as persimmons, apples, and American plum, provide the energy deer need during this transitional period when their nutritional requirements change.

4. Q: Should I hunt near bedding areas during the early season?

   • A: It is advisable to avoid hunting near bedding areas during the early season to preserve their effectiveness for later stages of the rut.

5. Q: How can I adapt my hunting approach to the early season?

   • A: By understanding deer behavior, identifying travel routes, preserving prime stands, and utilizing soft masked food sources, you can optimize your hunting strategy for the early season.