Oct. Hunting strategy
Connecticut
Contributors to this thread:
I know diffrent areas have their own seasonality. For my areas this past week i personally saw a buck chasing three does, i have new bucks showing up on film along doe travel paths and some picks of bucks during midday time that have been nocturnal since may. I was thinging doe estrous but seems kinda early to me. Any thoughts other then hunt as much as possible. I dont want to blow out a stand early before the rut.
I'd hold off another 10 days for scent. It's worked for me, but I have also seen it spook deer. So I'd hold off on that. Your seeing deer, why not just hunt the area on good wind, sparingly, for another few weeks and then get after it Halloween on.
Scrapes are starting to open up along field edges so you may want to treat a few that you happen to see. Other than that I agree to hold off on using scent until at least Halloween. Shawn
I've tried different methods with varied results, but my personal preference is to get into an area quietly without using scents, rattling, grunts, etc and wait to see what is happening. I believe that any CHANGE to what the deer perceive will alarm them, so if they're grunting, I'll grunt. If their putting down lots of scraps, then I'll do the same, etc. etc.
I would rather the deer assume that everything is the same, nothing to see here, keep moving rather than have them say,....hey! What's that new smell or sounds?? I think I'll turn around.
Bbb Ill go with you plan. Thanks. I was at stand this morning and unfornately another hunter was smoking on stand close enough to me i could smell it. That may change activity some.
Good luck!
I hate it when other hunters end up in the same area as I'm hunting. That's why 2 of my 3 spots are deep in the woods, long walks. The 3rd I use a back door access point that is a short walk.
Remember one thing - deer are curious as someone else stated and will come to look to find out what made that noise or smell, but they will be LOOKING for you, so they're on their guard. I would rather have them browsing their way through the woods unaware that I'm there. Easier to set up a shot when they're not looking for me.
Have you ever smelled dry sheets from some one house ? Deer are used to it .In residential areas its a lot different than in bigger wide open spaces .
I have been using hot doe since the end of month and have seen alot of deer . None have spooked from it . Had a 6 pointer come in but I let him go , not big enough .