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Bow Hunting in the AM? #6452013 09/14/16 07:04 PM
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I have been bow hunting a couple of years now trying to get the jump on a big buck still in his summer pattern! With that being said I have read some articals that suggest not hunting in the AM and only hunt them in the afternoon! Their reasons behind this is that the deer are still in their summer patterns and suggest hunters are walking in to a set when the active deer are already at the stand site/ feeders! My camera pics somewhat support their data as I have more activity in the late afternoon early am just before daylight! Any thoughts or experience with early season am deer movement?? Thanks for any input!

Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: Bairdhunter] #6452032 09/14/16 07:18 PM
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All of the bucks I have killed with a bow or crossbow have been in the morning. With the traffic being better in early morning vs. the afternoon on the places I hunted, I hunted more in the mornings. I used my TC to tell what time the bucks were hitting the feeders in the morning before daylight till the corn feeder went off. I had a free choice protein feeder also there, so knowing when the best time to get into the blind with the least amount of deer activity really helped.
I in the past 5 yrs I have started to go to the stand in my Ranger and put all my gear in place. I then hand feed the areas I want the deer to be feeding for a shot, then feed the rest of the area lightly with the road feeder. The deer hear the road feeder and within 10-20 minutes I am covered in deer. I have to plan on what time I get in the blind by how long it takes to get light. The road feeder works really well since I do not hunt directly over a corn feeder anymore.


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Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: Bairdhunter] #6452040 09/14/16 07:21 PM
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If your worried about spooking deer off your feeder than try this. As long as you can get there without them smelling you, just use your flashlight and shine it at your feeder and /or any deer that you hear running off. But stay as quiet as possible. The light doesn't seem to spook them but just runs them off and keeps them curious. I have done this several times on mature bucks which have run off but soon returned just 20 minutes later like nothing has happened.

Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: Hunter Daddy] #6452069 09/14/16 07:37 PM
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Originally Posted By: Hunter Daddy
If your worried about spooking deer off your feeder than try this. As long as you can get there without them smelling you, just use your flashlight and shine it at your feeder and /or any deer that you hear running off. But stay as quiet as possible. The light doesn't seem to spook them but just runs them off and keeps them curious. I have done this several times on mature bucks which have run off but soon returned just 20 minutes later like nothing has happened.


Hmm. If they can't smell me, then I'd rather try to be as stealth as possible to get to my stand. I know mature bucks that usually if once hit by an infrared cam light do not return so I'm not sure about hitting them with my flashlight. However, I do know they are curious... just crank up chainsaw for camp wood and in a minute look around and see who's watching.

Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: Bairdhunter] #6452083 09/14/16 07:44 PM
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All of that data is based on midwest deer on food sources. TX deer are different. All my TX bucks on the wall have been shot in the morning


Originally Posted By: Chief Joe
I avoid Dick's and hope they fold.
Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: Bairdhunter] #6452150 09/14/16 08:31 PM
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Thanks for the input I'm a die hard rifle hunter, this stick and string stuff is a different world! When you can hear them crunching the corn before you draw that's pretty intense.

Last edited by Bairdhunter; 09/14/16 08:32 PM.
Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: Bairdhunter] #6452154 09/14/16 08:35 PM
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Originally Posted By: Bairdhunter
Thanks for the input I'm a die hard rifle hunter, this stick and string stuff is a different world! When you can hear them crunching the corn before you draw that's pretty intense.


WARNING. You may not want to gun hunt much after getting your first bow kill. You've been warned up



Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: Bairdhunter] #6452163 09/14/16 08:40 PM
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Hunt when the deer are moving the best on your place. For me here it is a.m. hunts. If hunt afternoons, I take a mouth type predator call to use to run the deer off at dark. I do not want to pattern the deer to me getting out of the blind. Also have more than one spot to hunt from also. In the past few years I have started to hunt trails leading into/out of feeders that is in-between a water source. Easier to get in and out of the blind undetected and not as many eyes around me in those blinds for me.


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Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: Bairdhunter] #6452164 09/14/16 08:41 PM
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I hear ya Titan 2232 I killed two does last year and I think I got bit by a weird bug LOL!! It was a rush.

Last edited by Bairdhunter; 09/14/16 08:53 PM.
Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: Bairdhunter] #6452307 09/14/16 10:06 PM
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I get more activity in the mornings early in the season also.

Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: Bairdhunter] #6452323 09/14/16 10:15 PM
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Set your feeders for 8am during bow season. Everyone on our lease has their feeder going off first thing in the morning and I laugh cause opening moring I'm in my stand an hour before dark. I hear them driving in and there hear the deer blowing as they leave the area. The deer don't ypically bed in my area but I never spook them and that adds up fast during season. Another good thing to do is have alfalfa nearby where you want them to bed. They love to bed on alfalfa. Thyell be where you want them in the dark and come strolling in at 7:45 when you'll settled in and ready

Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: Bairdhunter] #6452347 09/14/16 10:25 PM
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i like the morning hunt better because
it's a lot easier to me to cut one up
in the daylight

Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: Bairdhunter] #6452360 09/14/16 10:33 PM
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Thanks for all the comments I typically see more deer in the AM but I agree they come when the feeders go off! Generally 10-15 minutes after they spin I have deer comming to the area in the AM. Typically 30 minutes or so before sunset on our place!

Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: Bairdhunter] #6452578 09/15/16 01:16 AM
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Killed my biggest buck 2 years ago and was my first buck with a bow. He was a regular I had watched grow up but never had any velvet pictures of him so getting a summer pattern was not an option. The day before I shot him he showed up at 2 in the afternoon. The next morning he showed up shortly after daylight for the last time.

I prefer the morning hunts myself.

Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: Bairdhunter] #6452651 09/15/16 01:50 AM
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I like mornings better, I see a lot more deer than in the afternoon.


Originally Posted By: cameron00
If I send my neighbors a text and ask them to give me feedback on my lawn and plant rye into a giant dong pattern, I'm probably going to get some less than positive feedback. Same goes here.
Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: Bairdhunter] #6453297 09/15/16 03:06 PM
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Setup between a feeding and bedding area. Wait for the deer to head back to their beds.

Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: Bairdhunter] #6453823 09/15/16 09:23 PM
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It just all depends on what you are set up on. Alot of guys just hunt off of feeders. That obviously works, but I like to set up some stands in staging areas about 10-20 yards off of feeders. That is where you can catch alot of good mature bucks that will come in to the feeder after dark, but will not be seen around one in the daylight. But I can assure you that they are close by waiting for darkness to come. Set up in those staging areas, climb your tree around 3pm and that can make for a great afternoon hunt.

Food plots are another problem in the morning - yes, you will most likely bust some deer coming in in the morning to get to your tree set up on a food plot. However, what I have found, is that even if you bust some deer off the plot, they either come back or others come back in the morning hours. I have shot some nice bucks off of food plots in the morning. Still, the only way to hunt a food plot with a bow and guarantee not to bust anything out is with afternoon hunts.

I will hunt over a feeder though morning or afternoon. I don't see much point in worrying about busting anything off of a timed feeder. I like morning hunts better than afternoon anyway - I love sitting in my treestand anticipating the sun coming up and the way the critters come alive at daybreak. Plus, it is sure a whole lot easier tracking your kill in the daylight. Those afternoon hunts can sure be tough when it comes to finding your kill! And nerve racking too crawling around in the woods in the dark looking for a dead animal!


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Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: Bairdhunter] #6453849 09/15/16 09:43 PM
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Originally Posted By: Bairdhunter
I have been bow hunting a couple of years now trying to get the jump on a big buck still in his summer pattern! With that being said I have read some articals that suggest not hunting in the AM and only hunt them in the afternoon! Their reasons behind this is that the deer are still in their summer patterns and suggest hunters are walking in to a set when the active deer are already at the stand site/ feeders! My camera pics somewhat support their data as I have more activity in the late afternoon early am just before daylight! Any thoughts or experience with early season am deer movement?? Thanks for any input!

I killed three deer in the month of October last season. Two were in the morning and one right before dark. I seen plenty does and small bucks in the morning and took two does. I killed one 9 point and saw a couple more bucks in the evening. Never saw a deer bigger than a 4 point during the morning. That evidence tells me that the evening is best for big bucks early on. However, I am still hunting mornings

Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: Bairdhunter] #6453899 09/15/16 10:33 PM
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I hunted Hamilton county for 5 years, the area that I hunted only had movement in the mornings till about 9. Evenings, very little movement at all. Now I have a lease in Red River county, nothing moves in the morning. Everything including hogs start about 3 pm. Go figure, they have their pattern regardless on how we want to hunt them. Just go to find out what they are doing.


Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: Bairdhunter] #6454239 09/16/16 02:13 AM
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the guys from bowhunt or die did a good series on this. They make it a point to hunt near bedding areas in the morning trying to catch the deer coming back in. In the evenings they hunt food plot areas.

Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: stxranchman] #6454277 09/16/16 02:41 AM
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Originally Posted By: stxranchman
If hunt afternoons, I take a mouth type predator call to use to run the deer off at dark. I do not want to pattern the deer to me getting out of the blind.


That is a great idea, thanks stx up cheers




LETS GO BRANDON
Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: Bairdhunter] #6454290 09/16/16 02:51 AM
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Hey Stx does this morning hunt have to happen before like 10am? eek2

Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: KG68] #6454456 09/16/16 11:09 AM
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Originally Posted By: KG68
Hey Stx does this morning hunt have to happen before like 10am? eek2

sleep Bowhunting is not for some old fartz who awaken at the crack of the noon hour..... bolt


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Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: Bairdhunter] #6454584 09/16/16 01:22 PM
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I will be hunting out of a PopUp blind as there are only mesquites where our lease is brush it in real well and see what happens! Thanks again fellas for all the feed back!

Re: Bow Hunting in the AM? [Re: Bairdhunter] #6454714 09/16/16 02:55 PM
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Over the years I've hunted, morning hunts are what I prefer especially during archery season.
The deer having been left alone all summer are still pretty calm and are in a feeding mood to fatten up before the rut starts.
I also would rather track a deer in the daylight than at night with my old eyesight.
As the season progresses deer tend to move with the moon phases, and some bucks that are pressured move at night or just right at dusk, so that is why early morning hunting in October is probably your best bet at getting a big buck other than during the rut where they can move at any time of the day.

Last edited by Jimbo; 09/16/16 02:56 PM.


Thursday at 12:45 PM
#33
Once i learned that i didn't "NEED" to kill something, and that if i did kill something all the fun stopped and work began, i was a much better hunter.
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