It happens every year about now. TagsL ((dave richey, deer, human odor, pre-rut, rut, post-rut, scrapes, weather))

It happens every year about now. The deer seem to disappear.

It's almost as if they have decided to take a break. And essentially, that is about what happens. They aren't moving much, and there are some very good reasons why this natural phenomenon occurs.

Part of the problem so far this year can be laid at the feet of our quirky weather and east wind conditions. Rain, a tiny bit of snow in places one night and high winds have played havoc with deer movement.

Why the deer lull happens

One major reasons for this recent lull in deer activity is the animals have learned that hunters are now afield. There is more human odor in the woods, and that keeps deer on their toes. No longer are they in their summer mode of travel from bedding to feeding areas, and this lull will last about 10 days to two weeks and then the early rut begins.

The third reason for an apparent lack of deer activity is the animals are preparing for this upcoming rut. There are umpteen methods of attempting to predict when the rut begins, but hunters must first understand that there are three distinct rut phases.

This deer lull will last until about Oct. 20-25, and those dates coincide with the beginning of the pre-rut or "chasing" period. This is when larger bucks are actively bird-dogging estrus or soon-to-be-in-estrus does. It's one of the best times to hunt. Note that in a well-balanced deer herd, the small bucks do little or no breeding and the pecking order of bucks was established months ago.

Getting ready for the pre-rut

Frankly, I love to hunt this chasing period. It's possible to see bucks at any time of the day, and hunters who overlook the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. period are missing a key hunting time. Bucks will be visiting scrapes, picking up does waiting nearby, and modern science seems to indicate that this chasing phase helps usher in estrus. It stimulates both buck and doe to enter the breeding phase.

The main part of the rut in my area will run from late October through Nov. 10, based on activity seen over many years of hunting, and the post-rut period extends through the Nov. 15-30 firearm deer season. Some rutting activity overlaps into December and January as young does come into their first estrus, and some big bucks are taken during this early-winter period.

Hunting this period will be covered in greater detail in the coming two weeks, but it begs the question: do we have to wait another week for the deer lull or period of relative deer inactivity to end?
No, by all means, go bow hunting, but realize that many deer will be moving late. One trick that works for the quiet and patient hunter is to move a tree stand closer to the bedding area in hopes a buck will leave heavy cover before shooting time ends.

Don't take chances with deer

Moving closer to bedding sites offers many potential risks. It's possible to move too close, but one swirling air current that wafts scent back into the thicket can and will spook deer.

Some early-moving bucks will be up and moving toward scrapes. Bucks often wind-check scrapes from downwind. Try positioning a stand 50 yards downwind of an active scrape, and sit patiently and wait for a nice buck to show.

Some bucks love to travel the mid-day hours when most hunters are not afield. The animals can travel freely, and if a buck is working or visiting a scrape, the animal will probably approach the scrape from downwind. If you are 50 yards from the scrape, the buck will likely be between 10 and 20 yards of your stand, and offer a reasonably easy and open shot.

Beating the deer lull means understanding what is happening, why it happens, and determining ways to defeat it. It may not be easy, but very little about bow hunting big bucks is easy.

Posted via email from Dave Richey Outdoors