The Calm Before the Storm?
Posted By
Bill Winke
at
10/14/2009 12:00:00 AM
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We aren't seeing much serious rut sign yet. The bucks seem to be hunkered down in the timber, moving mostly at night. It is the proverbial calm before the storm - I hope. |
I'm guessing this is the calm before the storm. I generally start hunting seriously around October 25. If the temperature is cool that last week of October, the action can be very good. Until then, the hunting is very hit or misss. Right now most of the pro staff have been finding themselves on the "miss" side of that balance.
When the beans dry down, the deer will start to hit them. Green pods aren't as
appealing. Right now, look for dry beans and green plots such as brassicas
and clover or alfalfa.
The one guy that has been seeing multiple shooters is hunting over a green field of brassicas (Biologic Maximum) on a farm that doesn't have any oak trees. That might be the magic formula right now. No one else I know of has had anywhere near the action that Mark has. Mark's brother (actually I may as well just say it, it is Mark and Terry Drury) is hunting a different very good farm (in Missouri) that is loaded with oak trees and he isn't seeing much even when he ventures into the timber to hunt the ridges. Terry's experience is more in line with ours.
The bucks seem to be mostly nocturnal from what we are getting on the trail cameras, but like I said, that will start to change in about ten days. Be patient, don't burn out your good spots just yet. This will all turn around in a short while.
I am going to sit out until Oct. 25 to get some work done so I can dedicate my time more fully to the hunt once the best days get here. The rest of the pro staff are still out trying. We will have four guys hunting around here, all with cameramen in tow, this weekend. So who knows, hopefully one of them will experience some surprisingly good luck. That is what we are looking for right now - that odd old buck that just happens to be feeling his oats that evening and gets up to stretch his legs a little before dark.
Acorns are still holding the deers' attention. If you can find a grove of oaks
that are dropping acorns, that is definitely a likely spot.
Good luck and don't be too disappointed if you aren't seeing the big ones just yet.
