150+ Trail Camera Study Across 100,000 Acres in PA - Steve Sherk

Steve Sherk has spent the past few years gathering data on whitetails in the deep woods of Northeast Pennsylvania. Sherk focused on daylight buck activity. In this video he discusses with the Exodus Crew his findings, including what he thinks is the most important factor when it comes to deer movement during the hunting season. His study took into account temperature, moon phases, barometric pressure, and much more in relation to how it impacts deer hunting. Regardless of where you are hunting this year, there is certainly something everyone can take away and use to improve your hunting strategy this year.
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00:00 Intro
00:17 Breaking Down the Study
2:10 Radius in this Study
2:40 Topography Where the Study Took Place
3:30 Elevation Average
4:28 Camera Placement Strategy
6:50 Negative Impact of Checking the Cams?
7:45 Frequency of Checking Cams?
8:47 Calm Before the Strom
9:32 Oct 1 - 6
10:30 Oct 7 - 8
11:30 Oct 15
11:55 Common Weather Mistake
13:45 Biggest Takeaway
16:30 Temp Drops Hot to Mild
17:25 Oct 24 - Nov 4
18:30 Important Point
23:20 Nov 4
27:00 Bucks are Out There
30:20 Deer Movement
36:25 Time of Day
40:35 Sherks Favorite Day
41:35 Rut
46:55 Doubters
53:15 Time Spent
55:30 Sherks Motive
56:50 Link to Study
57:40 Contact Steve
57:55 Outro

[@thatdude8344]

Legend has it Steve is still out there changing batteries.

[@stevepalmateer]

Sort of validates what Jeff Sturgis has been saying. Well done Mr. Sherk and Exodus. I'm learning how to hunt bigwoods hillcountry thanks to you.

[@LetThemGrow]

Great content!! As a fellow PA hunter and data “nut”, you had me nodding my head so many times. Please have Steve back again to discuss 2022 data as well as other trail cam scouting tactics.

[@michaelpoplawski3246]

Just a phenomenal job by Steve to not only place all these trail cameras, but to compile and organize all the data and identify the trends. Can't say enough about how much I respect people who not only put in that kind of work, but also share what they've learned. Thank you💘

[@thomasbrannon6871]

Never thought a trail camera company would be who I'd go to for advice on equipment, hunting tips, and tactics to bagging a deer but the exodus crew really is a GAME CHANGER! lmao I really do appreciate the information and the charisma that all of you guys have for real, down to earth hunting instead of announcing a new product and sponsoring every hunting video I see on KZbin to make money on a whimsical claim that will revolutionize the hunting community.

[@dhjr43]

Thank you Exodus but especially Steve for all the effort on your study !! We all owe you a lot of gratitude for this info !!

[@rx1hunter896]

By far one of the best, if not the best, videos you’ve put out with regard to deer movement with trail cameras. It’s awesome to see how well he documented his findings and how consistent it was from year to year. Awesome content !!! 👍🙏🏹🦌

[@PartikleDestroyer]

I’ve watched this episode 3x, love the data he collected. I hope you have him back again this year.

[@PartikleDestroyer]

4x now that we’re almost in October.

[@Fall_Legends]

I live 30 miles south east of State College university and our highest deer movement is also from October 25 through November 5. Yes we still get good movement until about November 20 and sometimes a little beyond because of the herd ratio in some areas. The best times in most of my areas I hunt down here are from October 25 through November 5 no matter the area or deer ratio numbers. I notice the larger bucks know which doe are coming in estrous first each year also. They remember from year to year which time the first doe in the area start to come in estrous. Steve or Exodus if you guys want to start a survey down in my area I'd be happy to help. I can't say as of now my sightings and trail cam pics are going to have much difference in what Steve has found out on his survey and sightings. Wow!! Thank you guys from Exodus and Steve for sharing this great information.

[@davidharshbarger919]

Where ya from ? I do most of my hunting over near shavers creek. I do agree most of my deer movement is Halloween thru the first week of November

[@KS-ud8pg]

With my own eyes for 40 plus years l am convinced the cold fronts and colder Temps make a huge difference day and night.

[@nybbhUSA]

Steve is 100% accurate with all of this data in my opinion. I’ve been hunting in NY for 45 years and I agree with him 100%.

[@lymanclark5537]

Thanks for sharing all the info. These things always make lots of more questions. Look forward to future interviews with Steve.

[@Thelaubster1]

I hunt central Pennsylvania and Halloween is always my favorite day to be in the woods and few days before and few days after the best part of season and when i take two weeks vacation every year.

[@robinsheltrafishing2634]

Priceless info, thanks Steve for your willingness to share it. And thank you guy’s for putting this interview together, great job.

[@rasant8917]

Clear and concise information with data to backup the opinions /observations. Fantastic job of stitching the information together.

[@camthecameraman5096]

Can’t thank Steve enough for putting this information together for everyone! Great info

[@jackfox6771]

Steve's work matches my camera and hunting experiences over the years to a tee. 10/25 - 11/5 woods experience is some of the best time to be in the woods and the morning hunts during this period are by the most productive! Great work Steve.

[@OutdoorsAllie]

This is phenomenal. Thanks for sharing!!

[@patrickheskey7164]

By far most informative podcast I’ve listened to in a long time. Thanks guys. Steve. Your a legend.

[@h-minus2212]

This type of analysis is a fantastic use of your channel and will drive viewers to it. The muscled gentleman in the yellow t-shirt makes a great point - "all this data still doesn't make killing a mature buck easy". Additionally, I prefer hunting mornings. In service of my preference, I find spots that lend themselves to morning hunting. Thank you for the fine content.

[@Splitshot1]

Wow, most informative and interesting video by you guys to date,I will for sure watch it more than once.Great information.

[@joehorton01]

Awesome information. Thanks for sharing with is Steve. Really interesting data to have. Big shout out to exodus for presenting it!

[@PremSingh-zl2yb]

Much appreciated the data and the hard work on this and providing it to everyone, thank you!

[@donnabonning5587]

steve you are truly the man . god bless and hope you have a great season.

[@kevinflick4331]

Great information. Consistent to what I saw last year in Michigan. Thanks for sharing.

[@JoshMiller-ju4ov]

I’ve watched this once or twice every year and it’s on point!

[@johnbehr5785]

Awesome info, thanks guys. Those cold/Days mornings are key!

[@jake-hofer]

Great information on an incredible scale!

[@KS-ud8pg]

This is a super informational video. Great job.

[@seanlupardus2907]

That's some good info. The numbers don't lie! Good Job, ty so much. The time this takes is a true devotion of self. Wow, good job! God Bless

[@MobyMikePumpkins]

Excellent Video, really confirms things ive noticed over the years.

[@ernieberry7436]

Good stuff Steve you are putting in the work this goes with what I see to hunting south east pa

[@outdoorztime2923]

That was a great topic to tackle, men! I truly enjoyed it. Even though I am much further South, and the dates will be slightly different, the logic remains spot on. Weather very much so plays a huge roll in deer movement. You can rewind a few months back (to the Spring time). I ran a camera on a salt lick I'd created. Not only did the deer love the salt, but the activity increased dramatically after a rain. The bucks came in every time!

[@tsoffroad5834]

It's crazy cool Steve shot his buck last year on November 6th. I shot a 8 pointer and doe the same day about 10 Mins apart out of the same stand. Doe first then the buck came in and sent a rage through his cage!! I always take the 1st week of November off for the rut, but I might have to get in the woods acouple days sooner if possible. Fellow PA hunter here!

[@megangregneace4684]

Outstanding guys! Loved it and hats off to Steve!!!!

[@dswish1730]

Love seeing this from my home state.And of course he is spot on.I have shot several on the 27th of October.Give me those last 10 days of October?And I’m good..

[@christopherd7922]

Great job. IMO there is nobody better then Steve.

[@ec9697]

You confirmed everything Jeff sturgis taught me..great job!

[@andrewbrooks7733]

Phenomenal work! If I lived closer I would definitely take that job if I could apply!

[@benconfluence9801]

Thanks for compiling that data big dawg!

[@EW-gv5ov]

It makes sense when mornings in late October get better for activity . You typically get colder overnight /morning temps but the daytime temps can still increase 20/ 30 degrees slowing movement .

[@harrymcclelland4607]

Nice job Steve you are 100% on a lot of what you are saying and seeing , Iowa bowhunter

[@billrehmeyer5795]

Awesome guest and info !

[@shawnk8991]

Great stuff as always

[@country_gbrony721]

I think you’re right about the breeding window Steve. Charles Alzheimer wrote a book about the moon and he said the problem with fetal studies and trying to backtrack the conception dates is that fetal development can vary by as much is 10 or more days. That would mean that the peak of the rut can vary by the same amount each year.

[@SoutheastBeast91]

This is awesome. Wish someone this this exact study in GA! I volunteer as tribute with some help from the Exodus team 🦌

[@colbykinney5633]

This was freaking awesome guys 👍

[@spartansteve369]

Man this is good stuff and I totally agree with the temp thing and November 6th! On Nov 6th I shot the biggest buck of my life at 8:00am! Beautiful morning! And you know the funny thing was not many hunters out on public land. I don't believe many hunters pay that much attention to weather patterns/cold snaps and other data like you guys or myself do. Maybe that's good for us. Thanks for confirming what I already believed to be true. Good to hear from a Pa hunter. I'm in southern Pa.

[@craigarnold323]

Thank you Steve! Same thing we see in upstate NY!

[@adkhunting5304]

Great video and very interesting data thanks for sharing and including a link to the data. Maybe on your next video with Steve's trial camera data you can also include the average time of day your getting bucks on camera. I would think people would be interested in knowing if the buck movement is morning, midday or just before dusk. Thanks Again!

[@GameTrailCameraVideos]

this was very interesting, didn't realize how much temps play a factor

[@jessicadanner6763]

I agree with him 100 percent I've hunted for 30 years temperature drops makes a big difference in day light activity in October and the first week of November.

[@allenberkebile8480]

Loved the content and couldn't agree more. Excellent study and great data. I know Steve is busy as he had mentioned. However, I would love to know how much activity or lack thereof occurred during the higher winds and heavier precipitation that comes with major temperature changes.

[@jameswilliams4828]

Jimmy Maryland deer hunter thank you for all the information and hard work the knowledge and intel definitely shows

[@mikepearce4042]

Awesome info

[@covidcrotch1960]

Good info thanx

[@b-d3vil16]

Definitely taking notes on this one, this study is only about 2 hours from me

[@zhekak9219]

Great info

[@polarisoutdoors3105]

Favorite podcast yet

[@ernieberry7436]

Thank you exdous for the broadcast

[@raydouglas6789]

Steve thanks awesome info

[@still1.]

Great stuff!

[@garrettstraffon608]

Yep I’m in north west pa and the best week is the first week of November and the last 5 days of October.

[@ryanhamrick4171]

Great video and content

[@csidebaseball35]

Awesome video! I hunted NW PA 2020-2021 and saw the same thing. I wish we could rely on these same factors here in FL but it’s just fkn hot all the time lol

[@perryrusso3764]

I will tell you the mornings leading into the red moon phase can be really productive…and the first two/three days of October are always productive regardless of the weather…great info guys

[@tattoomike84]

Fantastic!!!

[@AtTheHelmOutdoors]

Gold content

[@leereynaert1490]

this was crazy good !!!!!!

[@deaconmoudy7707]

Nice episode

[@theginganinja-_-7695]

Been waiting for this

[@dennybirchfield]

Been waitin for this

[@micon9460]

I killed an 11ptr in indiana last year Oct 26th at 445pm....temp was 56°(cold front moving thru). Saw a 9ptr and 6 does before I shot him. Killed a 9ptr Oct 1st 2020 at 450pm....temp was 40°. Best thing to do is write down on phone calender what time you see deer, temp, wind direction and what time you got to the stand and left. Pretty looking back year to year to see patterns. I've done this for last 8yrs

[@tysonrodgers1324]

Thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge and data!! I use to move on when I saw a camera but now realizing cameras are EVERYWHERE in public woods!!! I try not to get discouraged if I find a camera in a spot that looks good and will still hunt that spot because the camera might not been checked on for months or even a year!! I’m curious what others do if they find a camera???

[@allenberkebile8480]

It is very discouraging to find cameras in areas I like to hunt. One thing for sure, I won't mess with another hunters equipment. I just keep moving on and hope others do the same for me. If there are to many cameras, I will hunt somewhere else.

[@joerome8882]

Oct 25-27 southern missouri for sure- last year buck I killed was on a doe and was grunting all the way up the ridge I thought it was crazy- grunted prolly 50 times in just a couple min- I heard him grunting way before I heard them so I’m a believer at the end of oct- game on

[@deannakoa3]

All of his data lines right up with my own here for upstate NY and NY in general ....From Oct 11th- my bday Oct.19th and to the 22nd are the hottest days for me every year and then I have another few hot days in November

[@jackychandler8594]

I live in West Central Iowa. October 25th to Nov. 10th is great daytime rutting here like U guys are describing. I'm surprised that Ur camera data only goes through Dec 10th. Every year the last week of December produces several monster bucks here chasing does. I'm talking 200 to 230 inch nontypical deer, and 180 inch plus typical deer. The rut is ABSOLUTELY not over in November.

[@mb748]

Seems like those last doe fawns are in heat around Christmas.

[@rocknraptor3195]

Yea I've taken nice mature bucks in December that were still "rutting". My 2 biggest were in December! Id guess mature bucks would be when younger ones are not, like most older ones will start rubs & scrapes sooner. Also a doe has about a 36 hour window for breeding, if not successfully bread in that time period she will only come back into estrous 28 days later. Much like humans. Most believe she is in estrous until conception, no matter how long that takes but that's not the case. Also just bc she mates with a buck doesn't mean she has conceived, after all that's the goal & the entire reason for the rut. Studies show that many doe will be bread several times with different bucks before finally sealing the deal. I've noticed this year only one doe (that I've seen so far) out of about 6, has a fawn this year. Now that's not to say a coyote didn't find one. I never seen pictures of others either. But every year i notice does without fawns, for whatever reason but im sure they were probably bread the following year, & way before any coyotes were ever around; just a example. Good luck to everyone this year & be safe!!👍👍

[@mngregoutdoors9564]

Great job! You should add moon phase to your info. I think you will be surprised.

[@dillonbogart139]

Fantastic info presented with fact based study. Well done Steve! My only question, where in terms of location (funnels, ridge tops, water locations, bedding areas or food sources) produced the best/most consistent daylight pics during your study?

[@frankiefiveangels915]

I have the same question. He did mention most daylight pictures were "up high", and had scrapes in front of them. Some natural, some mock. So maybe ridge tops?

[@chrisneedham100]

Great video! Have you kept up with deer movement and compared it to the moon guide or moon phases? I'd be curious to know if there's a correlation from your opinion.

[@jrchismorie]

Great study! But which days have the most daytime activity for MATURE bucks? The days are right, but you see A LOT of young bucks then.

[@boyzintheh00d]

Is this Will Sasso or Steve Sherk? Great episode, great info. Thanks guys!

[@lawrencew2366]

here in tennessee october 17th is the start of significant movement when temperatures reach 45 degrees

[@shaneshonda]

What part of tn? Here in mid tenn it's around Halloween

[@joelfradiska8029]

I thought this past year in western Maryland it was a lot more windy then past years which imo resulted in less movement . Would’ve like to know what Steve thought about how the wind effected what he found. For example if the wind got above a certain mph if that effected daytime or nighttime movements or maybe how it effects the rut. Great job by the way Steve and appreciate the video and hardwork that goes into all this Exodus guys, love all the great convos, tips, and stories!

[@mb748]

I find windy days to be the best during the rut because they are tied to cold fronts.

[@nathanbriner32]

My best hunts have been on windy days. Maybe that less movement was you not getting to the woods lol :P The only thing a windy day does is deter hunters from getting in the woods.

[@Dredster747]

I looked up the moon phases for these dates, and the largest spike in 2020 was during a full moon, while the largest spike in 2021 was during a new moon. I wonder how much that contributed to the numbers.

[@toddknapp3411]

November 12, 2021 I lost a very large pa mountain buck. All the buck had the doe on dead runs all day. 1:15 pm he chased a doe a a sprint right to 17 yards.

[@samshepherd9252]

Yeah that works up north. Texas don't even get below 70 intill Dec.

[@wolfpack4128]

If your cameras record it I could write scripting to extract it. Datetime, pressure, temp, etc. There are AI models to pick out bucks but I don't have access to those and they aren't super reliable yet. I could also build software that shows the picture, pulls the datetime, temp, and you can select immature buck, mature buck, trophy buck. If you click it, it will save it to a database.

[@robgrubb420]

my birthday is oct 18 and I don't think that my connection to deer is a coincidence.

[@yourmomma2995]

i can tell you are in a different state, the state i am in is super hot a few days after your state, year after year. i have 2 to 3 day window that i always get my big boy.

[@dilloncovalt91kg]

really hard watching this wanting my own data chart to follow along with lol

[@philipmedlin8902]

Here in NC. The weather is never predictable. If we waited till we had freezing temperatures we would miss hunting season. Our rut varies. Deer here will rut in 80° weather. Your baseing your data on one state. I will say November the 5th 2021 was the most rut activity I had seen. Does havested in late December that were bread. We took the fetuses and measured them. We found a chart that gave the fetus size in length and the # of days old it would be. Based on that the 3 fetuses checked dated back to November 5th , 6th time frame.

[@yourmomma2995]

it sure would have been nice if you touched on the wind speeds and direction.

[@wmacnam]

How do you factor in slight rain, always plan on being in stand when major temp drop no matter of rain ?

[@scotthappeny]

Awesome informative video. Where can I find the link to the pdf data?

[@wyattgardner3552]

In the description, the link is there.

[@thepeopleslawfirm1222]

Do you have a preference for trail camera? Cellular?

[@deannakoa3]

Im doing the same thing here in NY

[@dwaynestephens8263]

I would like to see how the moon is working on this. Not the phase but where the moon is in the sky. Like did you get more pics when the moon was up vs. Being down?

[@kevinfowler6065]

Wow!

[@jerryellingson7349]

Any particular time of the day is best to be out there?