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Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
#7934643
08/14/20 12:38 AM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,209
Texas Dan
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OP
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Much has been studied and written about how deer respond to hunting pressure. Having killed my best bucks during the middle of the week, I've always subscribed to the belief that deer quickly catch on that so many are after them and alter their movements as a matter of prey survival. The current issue of Deer and Deer Hunting magazine mentioned the results of yet another study that used radio-collared deer to measure the impact of hunting pressure on deer movements and found something quite interesting. As expected, the study found that deer reduce their movement on weekends since these are the days when hunting pressure peaks. However, what the study also found was that deer continue to lay low for a couple of days more as the woods continue to settle down. The study found that it wasn't until Thursday that many of these collared deer returned to their unpressured movements and often continued this into Friday. Then, just as if they had a calendar, they seemed to anticipate the return of hunter pressure by the time Saturday rolled around. These findings fall right in line with what I have seen over many seasons with one addition. I've also seen deer activity increase during the middle of the week during the later part of the season, just as it does during the later part of the week. You might say it seems, at least to me, that deer treat the later part of each season the same way they do the later part of the week, and seem to know when a lot of hunters have found other things to do. Now IMO, a point not to be missed in all of this is that these findings are based on a normal season where the vast majority of hunters are at work during the week and only hunt during the weekends. Given the ongoing COVID situation and so many people able to spend more time in the woods, the deer might have a much harder time patterning hunter activity this year. Another late season, middle-of-the-week buck
Last edited by Texas Dan; 08/14/20 02:24 AM.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7934836
08/14/20 02:50 AM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 625
Mako My Day
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 625 |
I killed my best deer ever 2 years ago on a Saturday afternoon at 2:30 pm, the rut was on, and nothing else mattered.
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7934950
08/14/20 11:32 AM
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,496
TX_LT230FH
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,496 |
Best two days are today and tomorrow.
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7934960
08/14/20 11:38 AM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,129
Biscuit
THF Celebrity
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,129 |
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7935023
08/14/20 12:36 PM
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,027
Hudbone
THF Celebrity
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Posts: 14,027 |
Yep, this day and the next day
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7935061
08/14/20 01:07 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,794
ILUVBIGBUCKS
THF Trophy Hunter
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Joined: May 2006
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Much has been studied and written about how deer respond to hunting pressure. Having killed my best bucks during the middle of the week, I've always subscribed to the belief that deer quickly catch on that so many are after them and alter their movements as a matter of prey survival. The current issue of Deer and Deer Hunting magazine mentioned the results of yet another study that used radio-collared deer to measure the impact of hunting pressure on deer movements and found something quite interesting. As expected, the study found that deer reduce their movement on weekends since these are the days when hunting pressure peaks. However, what the study also found was that deer continue to lay low for a couple of days more as the woods continue to settle down. The study found that it wasn't until Thursday that many of these collared deer returned to their unpressured movements and often continued this into Friday. Then, just as if they had a calendar, they seemed to anticipate the return of hunter pressure by the time Saturday rolled around. These findings fall right in line with what I have seen over many seasons with one addition. I've also seen deer activity increase during the middle of the week during the later part of the season, just as it does during the later part of the week. You might say it seems, at least to me, that deer treat the later part of each season the same way they do the later part of the week, and seem to know when a lot of hunters have found other things to do. Now IMO, a point not to be missed in all of this is that these findings are based on a normal season where the vast majority of hunters are at work during the week and only hunt during the weekends. Given the ongoing COVID situation and so many people able to spend more time in the woods, the deer might have a much harder time patterning hunter activity this year. Another late season, middle-of-the-week buck Yup Seems the fishing at the coast nowadays is about the same way with all the weekend warriors screaming across the flats in their $80k rigs on the weekends. Love that double muley split buck in your pic! Hell of a deer
High fence, low fence, no fence, it really doesn't matter as long as you're hunting!
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: Mako My Day]
#7935089
08/14/20 01:31 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,209
Texas Dan
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OP
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I killed my best deer ever 2 years ago on a Saturday afternoon at 2:30 pm, the rut was on, and nothing else mattered. Feedback appreciated. Yes, all bets are off during the rut. If only it would last much longer.
Last edited by Texas Dan; 08/14/20 01:40 PM.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: Biscuit]
#7935094
08/14/20 01:34 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,135
landsurveyor
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7935322
08/14/20 04:13 PM
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,091
Always ready 2 hunt
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,091 |
Makes sense. Two best days to be in the woods are any days I can be there but I preferred Wed-Fri
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7935451
08/14/20 05:19 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 529
hollidayHunter
Tracker
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Tracker
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Posts: 529 |
The two best days seem to be the day before I get there and the day after I leave
That's my $.02. Here's you're change!!
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7935687
08/14/20 07:38 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Noble Foundation in Oklahoma did a radio collar study of some bucks to track their movement during hunting season. Results were interesting. I have also seen better deer hunting on lower pressured places when the weekend hunters were out and about. They pushed deer onto lower traffic places no matter the size. My place is like this in late season and I hunt everyday of the season just about.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: stxranchman]
#7935840
08/14/20 09:14 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,209
Texas Dan
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Noble Foundation in Oklahoma did a radio collar study of some bucks to track their movement during hunting season. Results were interesting. I have also seen better deer hunting on lower pressured places when the weekend hunters were out and about. They pushed deer onto lower traffic places no matter the size. My place is like this in late season and I hunt everyday of the season just about. The article also mentioned a study done in Oklahoma by researchers as Mississippi State University (Hail State!). It found that over a two-week period during the season, adult bucks dramatically reduced their distance traveled and began utilizing smaller areas more intensely. As would anyone IMO, the researchers interpreted this change in behavior as an effort to avoid being seen.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7936032
08/14/20 11:22 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,788
dogcatcher
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Any day is good, but I enjoy it more when I am there.
Combat Infantryman, the ultimate hunter where the prey shoots back. _____________"Illegitimus non carborundum est"_______________
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7938229
08/16/20 07:08 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 10,496
Halfadozen
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Friday mornings always seemed good depending on weather. But as many have said, any day in the woods is better than none.
Freedom is a fragile thing ...Those who have known freedom, and then lost it, have never known it again. -- Ronald Reagan
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7938373
08/16/20 09:21 PM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,514
retfuz
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Beng retired, my buddy and I hunt the middle of the week. We're normally the only ones in camp and have the whole lease to ourselves. It's nice and quiet.
Last edited by retfuz; 08/16/20 09:22 PM.
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7951432
08/27/20 01:50 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 430
LakeForkLodge
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 430 |
I don't have that problem at my place in Kansas. However, I have had a fishing lodge on Lake Fork for nearly 30 years and have been fishing here for nearly 40 years and can tell you that the bite on Monday is tougher than later in the week.
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7951697
08/27/20 12:01 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,770
Mr. T.
THF Trophy Hunter
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My guess would be Thursday and Friday.
Cabin rental in Pagosa Springs, Co. Sleeps 10, If interested please PM me.
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7951937
08/27/20 03:35 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 19,498
Erathkid
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Only 2 of us on 300 acres. Anytime is a good time. We only hunt the perimeter and most of our place is sanctuary. Having said that, when we had a couple of other people hunting they would come out on weekends, ride 4 wheelers to stands, pull chips and generally muddy the water. Back then I definitely saw more deer during the week. So happy I don't have to put up with carp any longer.
Last edited by Erathkid; 08/27/20 03:35 PM.
Life is too short, as is. Don't chance it. Don't text and drive.
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7951946
08/27/20 03:45 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,185
hook_n_line
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Any day. Just need a bag of corn. They are like rats. The other 2 shooting lanes look the same.
Sometimes it's hard being me! But somebody has to do it.
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: hollidayHunter]
#7951961
08/27/20 03:51 PM
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 149
VMike
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 149 |
The two best days seem to be the day before I get there and the day after I leave That is always what my trail cams tell me.
I have a deer problem on my hog lease!!!
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7952007
08/27/20 04:29 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,780
txtrophy85
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Deer don't have calendars. They only know when there is a lot of activity in the woods and when there isn't
if the place is normally busy then it really does not matter, they are used to seeing people.
imo deer hunting is much easier when there are people on the ranch every day of the week than when there is very few people ever there.
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: txtrophy85]
#7952113
08/27/20 05:44 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,209
Texas Dan
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imo deer hunting is much easier when there are people on the ranch every day of the week than when there is very few people ever there.
But they also seem to know the difference between people who are working and those that are after them.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7952124
08/27/20 05:54 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,185
hook_n_line
THF Trophy Hunter
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imo deer hunting is much easier when there are people on the ranch every day of the week than when there is very few people ever there.
But they also seem to know the difference between people who are working and those that are after them. True. We can drive in and corn a road let a guy out to get in a stand and the deer are out before the truck is gone. Corn the road and then let somebody walk 50 yards to a stand and the corn will sit until the evening hunt or until an oil guy drives by at 35 miles an hour.
Sometimes it's hard being me! But somebody has to do it.
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7952176
08/27/20 06:49 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,830
Grosvenor
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
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Posts: 1,830 |
I hunt the weather more than the calendar, work and wife willing.
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Re: Two best days each week to be in the deer woods
[Re: Texas Dan]
#7952201
08/27/20 07:08 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,481
redchevy
THF Celebrity
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I just hunt when i can. Most of my best deer have been shot when i would not have thought it was a great time/weather etc.
My three biggest bucks have all been shot between the hours of 2 and 3 on hot mid/late season afternoons.
It's hell eatin em live
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