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| What a beautiful scene, right here at our home. |
Here in Northwestern Ontario the bucks are all on the move, looking for does in heat. It has always seemed to me that weather has little effect on the deer behaviour. Despite what others maintain, I have never been convinced that an impending storm, etc., makes any difference. Deer probably don't move during the storm but that's about it.
Whitetails are prolific breeders, in contrast to moose which are absolutely terrible at it. It is a rare thing to find an unbred doe whereas lone cow moose are pretty common.
3 comments:
Dan,
I have been whitetail hunting in south central Indiana for 6 years at my buddy's property. While I have witnessed that peak chasing seems to fall around Nov 4th each year, I do believe that weather plays an impact. This past hunt I was driving down on the tails of a major weather pattern. Sunday was 68 degrees and a front moved in around 3:00 pm with major storms and tornado warnings. The storm cleared around 4:00 am Monday and the day was cloudy, NE 8mph winds, 40 degrees, 29.0 barometer rising to 30.5. I saw 18 deer that sit, including 3 shooters within 35 yards... but bow hunting requires a more careful shot than was presented. The following day- 35 degrees, cloudy, same wind, same barometer, I saw 12. The next day was 32 degrees, same wind, 32.0 barometer- 8 deer (although I moved quite a bit). The final day was similar w/ light winds, 30 degrees and I saw 3 (wind shifted and busted me at dawn).
I was able to harvest a doe while walking back to my truck after the last sit. She was 60 yards in a field and hadn't noticed my slow troll back. I knelt down and waited, drawn, as she walked to me. At 30 yards I shot and harvested the deer.
2 weeks prior to this I hunted 2 days in the same spot after the first major cold front of the year. The date was Oct 28-30. I didn't see much!
My observations after 6 years? The deer will rut around the same time each year but weather can impact how they move during the day, which is what we are all looking for!
Hope all is well,
Neil
Thanks, Neil. Boy, you sure are seeing a lot of deer! I think the most I have personally seen in one day while hunting from a tree stand was just seven. I see a lot bigger groups from the road, usually at the edge of fields. Years ago I saw 14 deer in our back yard, all of them bucks after they had lost their antlers. As I watched three of them started fighting, standing up on their hind legs and fighting with their front feet, like boxers.
That was, indeed, my best hunt. I have been skunked many times but mostly during shotgun season. Everyone down there makes fun of me but I take scent control to high levels. All cloths are washed twice in baking soda and borax and packed in a clean bag with pine bows and more soda. I leave them outside after the hunt. Shower in scent free soap every day. Make a paste with baking soda and water and cover my head, face, hands. Spray all articles every day with scent killer.. and right at the stand before I head up, I make a mud slurry and "wash" my face with it. I had 2 doe and 1 spike bed 35 yards directly down wind from me on the 2nd day. I also had a 12 pt slip in from my 6 and was directly under the stand. He looked at me, backed up and walked off slowly- like he knew something was up but couldn't pinpoint me. It seems excessive to most people but they are so smart that I figure any advantage I can take is worth it.
That must've been pretty cool to watch them box! I have only seen them fight head down. It is such a pleasure to be able to watch them in their natural element.
Great story and photo about the linx. I think I would've shit myself!
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