OBBBC (Mrex Question)

[jackalope]

I was wondering yesterday about the stats on a few weekends.. I was having a debate in my mind "Whats the better weekend, Opening weekend, or first weekend in November?" The I figured an easy way to find out would be to ask Mike about OBBBC entries..

So here we are..

1.Opening weekend
2. Last weekend in October
3. First weekend in November
4. Second weekend in November

Thanks.



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[RUTIN]

Def ready to see this answer!
my guess is 2nd week November....

[jackalope]

I don't know I'm thinking one of those and opening weekend will be close....

In Nov it's a free for all with no pattern, just movement..

On the first weekend the hunters who did their homework may catch Mr. Big loafing around in his lax summer pattern.. So you have pattern and movement.



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[Gern186]

2nd week of Nov. is when all the big boys are on their feet during daylight hours.

[jackalope]

2nd week of Nov. is when all the big boys are on their feet during daylight hours.


And they aren't opening weekend while still in summer patterns and unsuspecting that season is in?



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[Gern186]

And they aren't opening weekend while still in summer patterns and unsuspecting that season is in?



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Yes but for different reasons. Their senses are the still the same, but their mind is on spreading their genes in November, thus throwing more caution to the wind.

[jackalope]

Yes but for different reasons. Their senses are the still the same, but their mind is on spreading their genes in November, thus throwing more caution to the wind.

They throw some caution to the wind in Nov, but opening weekend they don't know there is anything to be cautious about yet..

Why be overly cautious when you have no clue yet their is something to be cautious about..



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[FinelyShedded]

I say first week in Dec when the orange army is in full force! LOL, but as far as bow gear I feel the first week in Nov. is better over the 2nd because it seems the deer are in lock down mode more often that 2nd week. IMO .........If your on a big buck early that first week of season your odds are better than in Nov. as well.:mischeif:

[jackalope]

I say first week in Dec when the orange army is in full force! LOL, but as far as bow gear I feel the first week in Nov. is better over the 2nd because it seems the deer are in lock down mode more often that 2nd week. IMO .........If your on a big buck early that first week of season your odds are better than in Nov. as well.:mischeif:


I want to know if the First weekend of the season is better than any of the commonly accepted rut weekends for OBBBC deer hitting the ground.

Mike has said many time it's the weekend that falls closest to Halloween is the one for rut killed bucks.. I want to know how that and a couple others compare to the first opening weekend of unmolested hunting..




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[FinelyShedded]

Gotcha Lope. I'm sure Rexy will shoot the data to you pretty soon. This is a very interesting question and will be waiting to see his response. :coolgleamA:

[jackalope]

Gotcha Lope. I'm sure Rexy will shoot the data to you pretty soon. This is a very interesting question and will be waiting to see his response. :coolgleamA:

It's just something I have been thinking about......

When you honestly compare the two they both have the same type of things going for them..



During the first weekend the deer are still on a pattern somewhat
The rut is just willy-nilly wherever a hot doe goes.




The first weekend they have virtually no caution
During the rut they somewhat throw caution to the wind.





The first weekend they are up and about during shooting hours. It isn't until they figure it out that they go nocturnal
During the rut they come out of being nocturnal and roam in daylight.




The first weekend they have preferred food sources that are in one spot.
During the rut they don't eat much and chase does that can go miles.

[jbrown]

The first couple weekends in November are no doubt great times to be out there... but I'll bet opening weekend ranks right up there too. It's hard to say because there are probably more guys that get "lucky" during the rut than guys that do their homework and score right off the bat. Interesting question and I look forward to the answer from Mike.

[jackalope]

The first couple weekends in November are no doubt great times to be out there... but I'll bet opening weekend ranks right up there too. It's hard to say because there are probably more guys that get "lucky" during the rut than guys that do their homework and score right off the bat. Interesting question and I look forward to the answer from Mike.


I think another good question would be.. Is the week around Halloween the most rut killed bucks because that's the best time, or because that's when most people take vacation..

If everyone took vacation the first week instead of the rut would just as many OBBBC deer hit the floor.. Obviously nobody can really answer that because nobody keeps data on how many hunters are afield at a given day.


But we'll see what the books say about numbers in general.

[deerhunt45]

Interesting question...looking forward to Mike's data.
I may be surprised but I would tend to lean toward saying more big bucks are killed the last weekend of October, first weekend of November, not necessarily in that order. Why? More bodies in the woods for one thing. Bucks have something on their brain besides survival and are most vulnerable is another. A slight chink in a mature buck's armor.

But as I ponder the question,with the popularity and technogical advances in cameras, I am probably wrong in my "lean".

I think a trail camera can be a good tool, it can also be your waterloo with a mature buck. Curiousity kills the cat scenario. Once he gets on to intrusion on his home turf he patterns his movements to the intrusion...usually by going nocturnal, moving his core area or simply changing trails to skirt the intruder...or worse yet ends up roadkill instead of bowkill.

[countyroad]

I didn't know there were so many Mrex's on here. ;):16suspect1::D

[Yeley0437]

I didn't know there were so many Mrex's on here. ;):16suspect1::D


lol

[deerhunt45]

I didn't know there were so many Mrex's on here. ;):16suspect1::D

Lol...what's the OBBBC :confused: :rolleyes: ;) :D

[NativeTexan]

I just read an aritcle in north american whitetial that mr rex wrote. I stated 1st two weeks of nov have highest number of entries but last 2 weeks of nov have the biggest bucks.

[Gern186]

They throw some caution to the wind in Nov, but opening weekend they don't know there is anything to be cautious about yet..

Why be overly cautious when you have no clue yet their is something to be cautious about..



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Any buck worthy of the Buckeye big buck club has been around the block before, not his first rodeo. As soon as he sheds his velvet he turns into a completely different animal, therefore being very cautious as soon as the velvet comes off. Also, they pick up on every Tom, Dick and Harry road scouting and walking around in the woods setting cameras and treestands a month before season comes in....... they know what's going on from day one.

[RUTIN]

Def gonna be a toss up!!! I hope the loafing first week pays off for me bc ive done some serious homework and thats what im banking on.... 2nd week of Nov which is when i think MORE big bucks are takin, can be banked off alot of luck with bucks cruising and only got one thing on their mind!

[ohiosam]

I didn't know there were so many Mrex's on here. ;):16suspect1::D

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee116/ohiosam/rotflmo.gif

They're not Mrex but they play him on OS.:D

[Mountaineer]

2nd week in November hunting areas void of sign..thats the key to success;)

[mrex]

I just read an aritcle in north american whitetial that mr rex wrote. I stated 1st two weeks of nov have highest number of entries but last 2 weeks of nov have the biggest bucks.

The majority of archery killed BBBC entries are taken the first 2 weeks in November, however, the majority of top end bucks (160+) are taken the 2nd half of November. It's made me re-think my vacation. Less than 5% are taken the first week, however in the last week in October the number of entries picks up dramatically.

I've always assumed that 3.5 and 4.5 year old bucks do more of the breeding than 5.5+ year old's. Making the older bucks less susceptible to rut crazed mistakes. It also makes sense to me that a fair percentage of the top end bucks are killed by the more disciplined hunters who zero in on specific bucks and pass on lesser deer.

An interesting note, the vast majority of the 16,000+ entries in the BBBC Record Book, (dating back to 1958), are gun kills, however, at this years banquet, the number of archery entries exceeded the firearms. Why do you guys think this has happened? Technology? Information?

[all me]

Trail cams

[mrex]

I want to know if the First weekend of the season is better than any of the commonly accepted rut weekends for OBBBC deer hitting the ground.

Mike has said many time it's the weekend that falls closest to Halloween is the one for rut killed bucks.. I want to know how that and a couple others compare to the first opening weekend of unmolested hunting..




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Joe - statistically speaking the rut weekends are better. But that might just mean that more people "luck" into a big buck at that time of the year.

[jeffmo]

from what i've seen over the years deer are very cautious year round.they're(bucks)just alot less cautious during the rut.nature and instincts simply take over.
the drive for those females have been the downfall of many a big buck!

[antiqucycle]

For some reason Nov 11th, Veterans day is always a day when nutty bucks are running thru the woods all day long.

[OHBOW76]

So MREX I have currently scheduled vacation for 6-15 nov, what do you think?? Or should I move it to say 30 Oct-8 Nov??? Any thoughts?

[JamesBalog]

What is the minimum score to enter the obbc?

[Gern186]

What is the minimum score to enter the obbc?

140 net typical
160 net non-typical

[Full Rut]

The majority of archery killed BBBC entries are taken the first 2 weeks in November, however, the majority of top end bucks (160+) are taken the 2nd half of November. It's made me re-think my vacation. Less than 5% are taken the first week, however in the last week in October the number of entries picks up dramatically.

I've always assumed that 3.5 and 4.5 year old bucks do more of the breeding than 5.5+ year old's. Making the older bucks less susceptible to rut crazed mistakes. It also makes sense to me that a fair percentage of the top end bucks are killed by the more disciplined hunters who zero in on specific bucks and pass on lesser deer.

An interesting note, the vast majority of the 16,000+ entries in the BBBC Record Book, (dating back to 1958), are gun kills, however, at this years banquet, the number of archery entries exceeded the firearms. Why do you guys think this has happened? Technology? Information?

I think bowhunting is growing and technology, with all the new gadgets for bows, trail cams makes it easier to be successful. Makes it easier for the beginner. I also think deer hunting is becoming more of a solitary sport. People now get that the odds of killing a big buck may be greater during the rut than hoping the orange army pushes one their way.

[bowhunter1023]

I agree with what Full Rut said. Between myself and two close friends, you have three former gun hunters who have since hung up the lead slingers and bunt more or less, only with a bow. The only time any of us are likely to pick up a gun is during muzzleloader. The solitude of the bow woods is what has me contemplating never gun hunting again. (I'll drive and sit with people, but I am quickly losing my desire to pull the trigger on another deer.) Technology has made us more effective and proficient. Information has done the same. And I think there is a swing from gun hunting to bow hunting that has not been seen in the past.

[TheCream]

Joe - statistically speaking the rut weekends are better. But that might just mean that more people "luck" into a big buck at that time of the year.

This is just a presumption based upon the hunters I know, but I would venture to say there are a lot more hunters in the woods during the rut than there are opening weekend, too. Speaking for myself, I hunt the entire season and love opening weekend, but I know a lot of other hunters who don't take bowseason seriously until late October.

[Lance]

I think the fact that deer cruise all day long in November is big. I've tried sitting the entire day several times in early October and hardly ever see a deer between 10:30 AM and 3:00 PM. I had couple days last November where I had so many deer moving all day it was tough to get out of the tree!

[Thunderflight]

I think your seeing bigger bucks with archery equipment because of the following reasons.

1. People letting small bucks grow
2. More hunters taking up bow hunting
3. Technology

[RUTIN]

The success rate of Archery is rapidly expanding because of technology.... bows shooting 60 yrds easy, crossbows, trail cams, and the simple fact that more and more people are getting addicted to bow hunting bc its what we see all over TV. Plus not only is the reward greater.... but the season is longer... Hard working hunters have a deer or several big deer picked out before the season starts. They spend all summer getting to know these deer on a one-on-one basis. More people are taking bow hunting alot more serious because you dont have to compete against a carhartt army! I love the fact that more people are bow hunting, i just wish more tv shows besides Deer & Deer hunting would preach more on shot placement. When your hunting a deer that OBBBC worthy, you OWE it to that animal to harvest him ethically and if you dont get that broadside or quarting away shot then you let that animal live another day.... just my 2 cents.....

[ohiostrutter]

i dont have a ton of experience as i have only bow hunted the past two years.............2007 130" 10 pt on halloween night, 2008 165" 10 pt on evening of nov 4th. Scheduled my vacation this year oct 28th through nov. 8th. I personally enjoy hunting that late pre rut/very beginning rut. My hunting spots play well into that pattern which makes it nice. just one guys personal opinion though

[Lance]

true enough about the technology vs. success. My cousin shoots a new hoyt he bought last year and it shoots one pin through 30 yards. Takes a lot of the guess work out of it.

[FinelyShedded]

More hunters in the woods during the rut with more activity by mature bucks plus advances in technology equals higher number of OBB caliber deer at the taxi. :mischeif: My 2 cents! IMO

[mrex]

This is kind of comical. I was just alerted that according to the October issue of Fur Fish and Game Magazine, Mike Rex prefers the early season and it has something to do with his ability to find buck beds.

I honestly have no recollection of that interview. I have killed some of my best deer early but I'm not real good at picking out bedding areas in these big woods.

[TheCream]

This is kind of comical. I was just alerted that according to the October issue of Fur Fish and Game Magazine, Mike Rex prefers the early season and it has something to do with his ability to find buck beds.

I honestly have no recollection of that interview. I have killed some of my best deer early but I'm not real good at picking out bedding areas in these big woods.

That was part of my interview of you in B-dubs on a Friday night after one too many Kool-Aid's. :D

[FinelyShedded]

That was part of my interview of you in B-dubs on a Friday night after one too many Kool-Aid's. :D
Thats funny! I sympathize with Mike though, someone of his stature probably gets misquoted alot. At least he didn't get married to an alien on the cover of Star, World Globe or Enquire. LOL:mischeif:

[ohio guy]

Mike, I will preface this comment by first stating that I do not know the actual numbers of liscense sales and if they are increasing or declining. I suspect they are declining. With that said: your statistic is very alarming. This could be a big indicater that the interest in hunting is declining faster than we may realize by the general population, and THAT is not a good thing. The gun hunters SHOULD have more of the qualifiers. We can say that technology and season length may be impacting but to me that still doesnt tell the big picture. A bowhunter "typically" begins his or her interest by first gun hunting, and most of them still gun hunt a bit. Maybe to a degree that could be changing and more people are coming to the sport by only taking up bowhunting or crossbow hunting. If the numbers are not dropping, the commitment to "trophy" hunting is making a big impact. Interesting to know the rest of the facts. And ..by the way I too "sympathize" with you and your "stature"...LOL

[hickslawns]

ohio guy- I don't know the numbers, but I would lean towards hunting license sales are not declining. It seems to me there are more people hunting, planting gardens, and cleaning out their chimneys now than anytime in the last 15-20 years.

mrex- My take on this would be the combination of factors involved.

Factor "a"-Bow season is 4 months long. The opportunities of taking a nice buck in various stages of rut, or while still in a summer pattern are better than gun season. If you love the sport, and want to spend more time at it with a greater challenge than gun hunting, then logically you will pick up a bow at some point. I bought one this spring, bought another a couple weeks ago. It is addictive. The up close and personal with such a trophy is a great challenge I cannot wait to taste.

Factor "b"- Information is definately a contributor. I have hunted in the past, but I am pretty new to deer hunting. I promise you, I have taken years off my learning curve by going to the internet along with books, videos, magazines, and field time. You can gain years of knowledge in a short time with the forums. However, I am the first to admit, while I have gained knowledge, I still lack the experience of seeing some of these things first hand in the woods.

Factor "C"- Technology certainly hasn't hurt. I bought a bow this spring to learn. Planned on using it this season and maybe next. It is an 04 Martin Jaguar Pro Series. Not too bad to start out with. I just bought an 08 Hoyt (because I couldn't pass up the deal) and it is night and day different. There certainly has been a huge evolution in bows in the last half dozen years or so.

Factor "d"-Money. The industry has taken off. Watch a hunting show and they sound like nastard drivers thanking their sponsers. Products are selling, tv shows keep popping up, the sport gets more interest, and there are more people doing it. More people hunting=more trophies down.

Factor "e"- Timing of the gun season? Misses most of the rut many times?