October Lull

[LuckyPickle123]

Anybody experiencing it yet this year?  It seems to be happening on our property.  Day-time movement by deer has gone down dramatically. 

[TeeBugg]

Not here. Deer have been moving pretty much all day.

[phade]

October Lull is a myth.

[Catskill Hunter]

Getting a lot of doe movement but the bucks in my area are still pretty much nocturnal.

[TeeBugg]

October Lull is a myth.

A myth? Maybe, maybe not. I can remember years where we would hunt the first week and see deer everytime out. Then sometimes the rest of october we would see squat. But for the most part i do believe its an old wives tale.

[phade]

A myth? Maybe, maybe not. I can remember years where we would hunt the first week and see deer everytime out. Then sometimes the rest of october we would see squat. But for the most part i do believe its an old wives tale.

 

100% MYTH. Always has been, always will be.

[TeeBugg]

I know there always seems to be a lull during spring turkey season. Not sure if the same holds true for deer. I do agree about the buck movement though. Last night was the first time i saw actual horns in the woods, that was around 4pm. So maybe they are moving mid day. I will say he was sticking tight to thick stuff and wanted no part of grunts or bleats. Figured he was walking away might as well see if he will come back.

[BizCT]

Anybody experiencing it yet this year?  It seems to be happening on our property.  Day-time movement by deer has gone down dramatically. 

 

Try glassing. Glass a few bucks up, pick the biggest one, and put on a spot & stalk.

[phade]

Biology shows that deer daytime movements as a trend increase throughout the given hunting season (our context of Oct 1 through the rut period). Their Core expands, too.

 

People who believe in the myth can't seem to remember changing food sources and hunting pressure impacts deer. They're still hunting the stands they hunted first and applied pressure and then don't see deer and attribute it to some imaginary reduction in daytime activity.

Edited October 16, 2013 by phade

[WNYBuckHunter]

Until last year, the season would have just started. The October Lull theories didnt align with the very beginning of the season from what I remember. It sounds to me like you just arent in the right area and are looking for something to blame your lack of sightings on.

[LuckyPickle123]

Okie dokie was just looking for some insight. Didnt want to get lashed for my lack of knowledge

[TeeBugg]

I dont disagree with whats been said. But i feel ive been thru a lull in late oct/early november. Deer were there then they seemed to vanish. Eventually sightings increased and all was good. Couldve been food hunting pressure or they went on a vacation. But i have seen it before. Just my experience in my area, probably isnt the same all over.

[TeeBugg]

Okie dokie was just looking for some insight. Didnt want to get lashed for my lack of knowledge

Not getting lashed. Ive experienced it before and no matter biology or what have you, i know what i experienced. Never hurts to ask. I try to learn something new about wildlife and hunting in general every chance possible

[phade]

Okie dokie was just looking for some insight. Didnt want to get lashed for my lack of knowledge

 

 

Not a bash. You just need to find the hot sign in places you are not hunting at the moment.

[phade]

Not getting lashed. Ive experienced it before and no matter biology or what have you, i know what i experienced. Never hurts to ask. I try to learn something new about wildlife and hunting in general every chance possible

 

 

That's the problem is personal observation on all fronts, mine included. We're biased to what we experience.

 

Two hunters 100 yds apart...one with chasing like crazy and the other with nothing. Funny how the unlucky hunter thinks the rut isn't going strong whereas the other thinks it's peak chasing.

[LuckyPickle123]

10 4. I will sit in a newer spot tonight and see what happens

[TeeBugg]

Thats what i did last night. Ive been seeing deer movement but nothing within range. Sat a new spot and saw my first "real" buck within 2 minutes of being in the stand. Never hurts to have a change of scenery either!

[TeeBugg]

That's the problem is personal observation on all fronts, mine included. We're biased to what we experience.

Two hunters 100 yds apart...one with chasing like crazy and the other with nothing. Funny how the unlucky hunter thinks the rut isn't going strong whereas the other thinks it's peak chasing.

Exactly. Have about four guys that hunted a plot of land last weekend. More than enough room for everyone. I saw nothing while everyone else saw a bunch of deer. Just the way it goes sometimes!

[WNYBuckHunter]

Okie dokie was just looking for some insight. Didnt want to get lashed for my lack of knowledge

 

Nothing against your knowledge at all, you just arent in the right area. Go find the right area.

[LuckyPickle123]

Nothing against your knowledge at all, you just arent in the right area. Go find the right area.

roger that captain

[Catskill Hunter]

Nothing against your knowledge at all, you just arent in the right area. Go find the right area.

 

What about the " bucks still nocturnal " theory ?  Is this the common trend for most this time of year ? I have a steady flow of does in the evenings but I have not seen horns during the day yet. I do see bucks on my camera at night but nothing within the first hr after last light. Even with all the doe movement am I in the wrong spot ? I pretty much need to hunt within 100 yards of my plot or I am treading into bedding areas. Everything is uphill form my foodplots and the deer are bedding on the ridges above.

[LuckyPickle123]

What about the " bucks still nocturnal " theory ?  Is this the common trend for most this time of year ? I have a steady flow of does in the evenings but I have not seen horns during the day yet. I do see bucks on my camera at night but nothing within the first hr after last light. Even with all the doe movement am I in the wrong spot ? I pretty much need to hunt within 100 yards of my plot or I am treading into bedding areas. Everything is uphill form my foodplots and the deer are bedding on the ridges above.

 

I agree with you.  bucks are deep in the thickets right now around our place.  I've been hunting from the 1st of October till now.  I hunt in multiple stands and never sit a stand 2 times consecutively.   Was seeing a lot of bucks the first week, and now not so much at this point in time.  Our hunting pressure, warm weather, changing patterns for the upcoming rut has them locked down in our area.  I think this cold front moving through the next few days will definitely help though.

[WNYBuckHunter]

They are somewhere, just need to find them and adjust your tactics to get them.

[LuckyPickle123]

the decline in deer movement happens every year on our property about a week after hunting season, but yes the overall theory of the "October lull" is more than likely a myth.  I know if yesterday was opening day, bucks would be moving better because everything is fresh.  They would still be on their routine day-to-day patterns where they have not encountered human pressure.

[Arrow Flinger]

They are somewhere, just need to find them and adjust your tactics to get them.

 

 

Yep, hunt them at night!   JK. Get as close to the bedding area as you dare. This is where you'll most likely see them during shooting hours