Stupid hunter/Smart deer or both?

[CritterGitter]

I am in a slump something fierce. I have had some slow times in the woods, but I am way more than a few steps behind so far this season.

Opening day I saw 2 bucks and since then I have been out 4 times and I have not seen a single deer. I think we are in the October lull, but I don't know. I am trying not to think right now because clearly I have been getting outsmarted.

I need a plan big time!

CG

[Thunderflight]

The October lul is in full swing down here. Dang deer are hitting the acorns hard. Last night was the first deer I had seen in several days.

[OhioHunter88]

Dont feel bad guys i havent seen deer since oct1 and the 2nd and ive been out three different days morning and night and have saw nothing.


Ohio Hunter 88

[wallydog1]

Last weekend was slower than the first for me. Only saw 6 But the weather was Not real good.Just had 10 Does and yearlings walk thru My yard. Weather this weekend looking a little better.
Don,t know about a lul might have to be in the right place at the Right time.

[Flaming Arrow]

I have seen quite a few deer.

[Andy Gehle]

It only takes one deer to make a season.
Don't sweat it, Kyle. You know what you're doing. Stay confident. It's all ebb and flow brother.....the way I see it, your chances are going WAY up that you're going to be into 'em soon enough.
Gotta make sure that any lack of confidence doesn't allow you to fidget around on stand. We've all been there....you don't feel good about the spot so you're not as still as you should be. Of course this is usually when something goes down and we find ourselves unprepared.
Chin up, brother. It'll bust loose soon enough. :)

[Jimmy]

What Andy said. Except where he said he likes midget circus acts.

I'm headed into the woods this weekend for turkey and deer. I'll let you know what I see. I guarantee you I won't see midgets on the trapeze.



:) :D ;) :eek:

[lureboy98]

If you know they're in the acorns, maybe we should hunt in the acorns! My stand is in some acorn trees and i'd have to say i've seen quite a few deer last weekend, around 15-20 in total.

[XX78]

Honestly I usually dont hunt much in Oct.
I used to hunt hard early, trying to hunt the bigguns in their summer patterns, to no avail. Now I honestly postpone my whole hunting regiment including obtaining permission til the first of october.
This prevents me from getting burned out early and increases my chance of hunting when one of the bucks I've actually seen or one I feel should be in the area is around.

There is no way in which I can hunt bucks in early-mid october. I have to wait til the pre rut at least to take em.

[Buckmaster]

You're always one hunt away from the successful hunt. With that in mind, you need to keep at it.

[Big H]

No such thing as a lull in my opinion, deer are just utilizing different food sources. They are under the oak trees eating acorns, and have no reason to move a lot with the huge mast crop we have this year. I saw 5 different bucks last night, and 3 does, night before, I saw 11 does. All of them were eating acorns, or going to the acorns.

[Andy Gehle]

I'm with Big H on the lull idea.
If there is a lull, someone forgot to tell the deer around my area. But I'm not hunting a crop field scenario, either. I'm either watching the perimter of a bedding area or an oak flat.

[Photog]

Hey Kyle, yesterday morning I spooked one while walking out to my spot. Was very cool experience for me, it was too dark but I got stomped at then a snort wheeze (remember guys I am new to this so it was my first!). Then when we went scouting after a fruitless morning I found a couple of 4 inch hoof prints and a ton of acorns and such near those trails. Now what seemed strange is the tracks and such didn't mill around the acorns, but continued to the corn. So what does that mean? I am having a ton of fun so far and I continue to learn each time I go out. They are out there bro, you'll get 'em.
David

On a side note: talking to the guy at Norton's up on 229 he had a hunter bring in a buck yesterday morning. He said the neck was engorged like it was in the full rut.

[Andy Gehle]

Photog,
Tis true!!! The bucks are ALWAYS ready for some lovin' WAY before the does are.
I was goofing around in the photo gallery, but check out the neck on the deer I'm holding. He was shot last year on October 16th. Came in 50 yards behind a doe with his nose to the ground......chasing her arse all the way.

For me, go time starts this weekend and goes through mid-Nov.

[Photog]

So this is why rattling and such may start to be more effective? Its like the bucks are all dressed up with no place to go.....

[XX78]

my buddy who works for a landscaper was working in Pepper Pike in cuyahoga county this week. He called me and told me that he had a 190 class buck walk out thru a yard he was working in at about 30yds. He said he was with 3 doe and another small buck. His neck was all swelled up already. lol my buddy actually said it was starting to scare him. The buck I photographed at the check in station on opening day was the same way.

[Buckmaster]

A friend of mine is hunting Hunting Valley this pm.
There are some nice deer up there in the burbs.

[CritterGitter]

Ok, some good info here and on a couple other threads. I know of a tremedous oak flat and that is where I will be this evening. Full moon and a little bit of lovin in the air and I think I might find what I have been looking for.

CG