Early October Deer Hunting Strategies

It's almost here! The Michigan Whitetail Season opens on October 1st! You've waited 9 months, put in all kinds of work on your property and it's finally time to get back in the woods. But what's the best strategy for hunting during the early season to increase your chances of putting a tag on your target buck?
In this video we will talk about our approach to hunting the early season. Where and when we like to hunt as well as a few things to try to avoid.
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[@WoodzyWayz]

Finally a video with actual information relevant to the video description

[@whitetailevolution]

We try our best! Hate those misleading titles / thumbnails.

[@freddiebaggett4057]

This time of the year the deer are on the acorns, some times in groups, when the rut starts find you three different places to hunt , and switch them out, let a area rest, and you will catch ,him when he is not looking for you, I grew up in the woods cutting timber , this simple pattern will put meat in your freezer, and a slide where they cross a stream is the best place ever.

[@whitetailevolution]

Thanks for sharing the tips Freddie! We are on a river now and we need to find that preferred crossing location!

[@arcanis12]

Hit the stand this weekend in western ny. Had a small buck walk up to within 30yrds but behind a branch I'd left as cover for me and now I see it needs cut down incase another deer gets to that spot again. Good luck my hunting brothers.

[@whitetailevolution]

Good plan! Sometimes it's nice to get out to do a run through early in the season to make sure you are ready when the stakes are higher!

[@arcanis12]

@@whitetailevolution so day 3 of the season and i checked my camera to see that doe go through at 7-720 every night or so. Id left the camera for 2 weeks without checking it and grabbed it day 2, I forgot about it opening day. Got out there Monday after work and at 705 a nice doe came through. Hit her with a nice shot and my mechanical head malfunctioned. Luckily the shot was well placed and I found her 60yrds or so away dead in the creek bed. The one blade that opened sliced the heart and then it passed through both lungs.

[@rachelwells463]

I always look for ways and advice on what I can do better as a hunter but one thing is always true this time of year if u know where the acorns are if your hunting hardwoods that is that's big part of the battle because u know the deer are going to be where the food is and that's there go to food source in the woods but when there's acorns everywhere almost like too many acorns that makes it really challenging sometimes because they're not on their feet and have to travel as much play can just get up from where they're bedded literally munch on acorn in any direction around them and then bed back down 10 yards away I hope it's not like that everywhere this year I've seen in the woods there is a massive amount of acorns!! Might hafra bring an umbrella with me while sitting in the tree stand lol

[@whitetailevolution]

Thanks for sharing! I've noticed a TON of acorns on the properties I hunt this year too.

[@midmooutdoors7556]

Great video lots of good info

[@whitetailevolution]

Thanks!

[@BlanchardsBees]

I've also noticed they move more around cold fronts as well

[@whitetailevolution]

Keep watching the cold fronts! Pretty good one coming up this weekend!

[@rachelwells463]

Ya that's always a well known truth with deer anytime of year always move more and are generally more active in colder temps,

[@MrCwoods72]

Thanks for the information as a new follower this is very helpful.

[@whitetailevolution]

Anytime Chris and I am glad if was helpful!

[@markheidema3699]

Great video as always. I live and hunt in West MI. In Allegan County, we have a large White Acorn Crop this year.

[@whitetailevolution]

That's awesome! Good luck this weekend if you're going out!

[@roberthoke6669]

How tall of a fence do you need to contain your deer herd? This is great advice for all the land owners in Michigan with 300+ acres, who are beginning deer ranchers. I wonder how many KZbin watchers own 300+ acres.... The bucks early in the video look like most have the same genetics with their asymmetric antlers. Their right sides are somewhat tighter than their offset left side. For the rest of you hunters who live in a rectangular abode or stick house less than 1300 sq ft hunting on state land, just get out there and get experience. Over time it will just come to you, again with experience. Pay attention. Use the internet and review data / studies (written by biologist) regarding deer tendencies with a grain of salt. Experience will trump all. Just like push ups or anything, the more you do it, the easier it will be if you are consistently committed. Amen.

[@whitetailevolution]

All of the video you see on this channel has come from 2 properties, one is 36 acres (sold) and the other is 70 acres. You don't need 300+ acres to have older bucks call your property home. You just need to put in the work. Having multiple bucks in one area throughout the summer is very common. These deer have since disbursed and the buck with the asymmetric antlers is hanging out about 500 yards to the North of our property right now. If he's still alive, he'll come through in late October and into November. I do agree with you that the more you hunt the more you will pick up. You don't know what you don't know but hopefully these videos help newer hunters avoid the same mistakes we did early on.

[@thomaschambers5711]

Love the fomo reference

[@whitetailevolution]

It's real. So many guys see those pictures and get the itch. Next thing you know they are in their favorite stand contaminating that area for the next few weeks..

[@thomaschambers5711]

@@whitetailevolution For sure… it’s so hard to fight the urges

[@ML-ks2lj]

Southeast Michigan in the house

[@whitetailevolution]

Michigan!!!

[@evanmatthews11]

The red oak on my neighbor’s property is dropping a ton of acorns on my lawn. Ruining fall lawn renovation season!

[@whitetailevolution]

Those big oaks are the achilles heel to fall lawn renovation! Tons of acorns and they hold those leaves well into the fall that a lot times they get covered up with snow until spring. Acidic too.

[@heyman6010]

I think this year will be a bumper crop of white acorns. My spot was filled with ping pong ball size acorns. Biggest I think I’ve ever seen.

[@whitetailevolution]

I know where I'd be focusing on early season! Good luck!

[@C.Fowler]

Lots of great information….

[@whitetailevolution]

Glad it was helpful!

[@wayneward977]

How about doing a video on early to mid October calling tips. October 15th starts muzzleloader season in Arkansas and I would love some good tips on using grunt calls.

[@whitetailevolution]

I actually don't do much calling. Most of the deer we hunt are extremely pressured and don't respond well to calling. Now some could say that we are just terrible at calling lol and that could be the case, but for the most part we do not blind call. I will try to call a buck in if I can see him moving in the opposite direction, but other than that, I don't do much calling.

[@rachelwells463]

Wouldn't really start using a grunt call to early generally until close to the rut

[@timothya.bowman9094]

Explain that stick that you hang from a tree that the buck rub and or lick. What do you put in it to attract them?

[@whitetailevolution]

Those are mock scrapes we create to try to condition deer to communicate with one another in certain areas of our properties. We have a couple videos on mock scrapes. They are similar to the fire hydrant dogs have to smell and pee on to communicate with other dogs in the neighborhood. Find a trail, preferably two intersecting, and then hang a branch / grape vine about waste high. rough up the ground underneath to simulate a natural scrape. good to go!

[@ML-ks2lj]

How early do you think they go back to bedding? Before 4 am?

[@whitetailevolution]

I think you'd be safe going in at 4am, but it also depends on the personality of that deer.. I'll share one of the studies PSU did on deer movement and when they likely head to / from bedding areas. Hope it helps! www.deer.psu.edu/when-do-they-sleep/

[@gregmorse1998]

Weird question but where did you get the shirt lol

[@whitetailevolution]

Lol a few people have asked me that and I honestly don't remember. I think it was on sale at the local Gun / Tackle shop a few years ago. Wore it in the first few videos and have been wearing it now more as a joke since a few people have commented on it always being the same lol.

[@evanmatthews11]

Great question!

[@ezragriffin6200]

What brand long sleeve shirt is that, that you have on in the beginning of the video?

[@hagen8745]

Just want to point out you need to practice different hand movements. You use the same hand jesters in every single video. Petty I knowlol you give great info but its difficult to watch. Its like the hand version of someone saying "um" throughout a presentation.

[@whitetailevolution]

Hopefully the temperature drops so I have to keep my hands in my pockets lol. But you are right, I see the same thing when editing the videos.

[@Jonathan32177]

Good advice .. heres some better advice . 5pounds of sugar , bag of bird seed. few packs of cherry koolaid. Melt sugar and kool aid ( look up sugar glass ) mix in bird seed. Pour into mold. Deer candy .. Take out to your prefered spot every few days , pee , poop while your out .. get your scent around the place in their off hours . So when season opens they will come looking for the sweets and not care about your scent . Deer are like any other animal. food driven and easily trained with treats. You guys really over think this stuff...

[@whitetailevolution]

Unfortunately Michigan hunters wouldn't be able to use that as baiting is illegal. Sounds like a good mix though!

[@Jonathan32177]

@@whitetailevolution Its only baiting if food is there the day of your hunt. Not real sure if mineral blocks and things like that count as bait... either way on hunt day just tie a few suckers to a tree branch over their head . Helps line up a clean shot when they are reaching for them.. and when hunt it over just pop em in your pocket . My grandpa use to bait with tootsiepops in this way.

[@dalanwanbdiska6542]

Hahahaha we walk the bush. We dont attract them with food or pools of water.

[@whitetailevolution]

I steer clear of the bush for the most part. Try to hunt the edges to keep the core area preserved.

[@CaseyAngelicaHardy]

I wanna go hunting so bad. I just don’t want to be the one to shoot the deer. Or eat it.

[@whitetailevolution]

Hopefully you are able to find someone to take you out hunting. Even if you don't harvest a deer it is nice to get away from life and be out in the woods for a few hours. Very relaxing, peaceful and it's fun to watch all wildlife within their natural environment.

[@brandoncantu195]

I was guna ask why even but then I realized, you could get a tranquilizer gun and go hunting with that! I don’t see why you couldn’t get a rifle that shoots tranquilizers and get pics with the deer and then let it recover itself!

[@NicWerner]

Hey everyone just dont hunt hes saying! lmao

[@whitetailevolution]

My dad and I joke every year before the season that we only have 2 more weeks until we wait a month to hunt lol

[@theebigda]

If you seriously have that many deer crowded into one area YOU are the cause of CWD spreading. That's insane having that many deer per acre. At that point it's harvesting, not hunting.

[@whitetailevolution]

We are the cause of CWD spreading because the neighborhood bachelor group of bucks moves through our property from time to time and we occasionally catch it on camera? I hope you're not being serious. It is very common to have several bucks hang out and travel together throughout the summer months. Once they shed velvet they start to disperse to their fall ranges, sometimes on our properties, sometimes a mile away.

[@theebigda]

@@whitetailevolution Seeing a herd of deer like you show in your video is not natural. A bunch of animals all congregated in a small area is not good. It's why they use so much antibiotics on farms. If one animal is sick it can quickly spread. Without you feeding them they would never do that naturally. There'd be one or two per acre.

[@midmooutdoors7556]

What an idiot. He's jealous 😂

[@thesouthernnortheast4991]

Pretty dull minded view point

[@Guillot1994]

Vaccinated?

[@theebigda]

Uhhhhhggggh....You private land hunters...

[@whitetailevolution]

Private land hunters are the worst! All that sacrifice to save up and purchase land, the countless hours of habitat work, private land hunters don't know how easy they have it!

[@theebigda]

@@whitetailevolution Nope, not what I was saying at all. It's the making this look like hunting that I was speaking to. Sitting on top of a bunch of food and then shooting them is harvesting, in my opinion, There's no "hunting" really involved. It's like bear hunters, sitting on top of a pile of donuts. It's like shooting a raccoon in a dumpster.

[@garydelangis2775]

I have one for ya . Stay out of my woods , bigfoot is out there and he is pissed ,so stay out ..........