Most deer hunters look forward to the “October lull” with as much enthusiasm as they would have for sharing a cab ride with a PETA member. The lull, they say, is that period of time when mature bucks stop moving, or go completely nocturnal. But the October lull — as most hunters perceive it — doesn’t exist.
For sure, there are some pretty darned good deer hunters who will tell me I’m full of it. But I can back my opinion with science-based evidence and anecdotes from experts that say the October lull is nothing more than an excuse.
We use the term to define a time when deer behavior goes through a sequence of marked changes in movement, feeding patterns, browse preference, and core areas. And a study conducted in 2007 at the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in Oklahoma supports this very notion.
The Midnight Troubadour
Tough and timeless, this polo is built for the long ride. Featuring a crisp, non-collapsing collar and a rugged, stretchy fabric, it's the perfect shirt for any cowboy's wardrobe.
McAlester — which offers a limited-draw, traditional archery-only hunt for whitetails — covers nearly 45,000 acres. The property is an active ammunition facility, and thus access is tightly regulated. The deer, however, are wild and free ranging. That study, conducted by researchers from Auburn University as well as McAlester biologists, found that movement patterns of both young and old bucks increased steadily throughout October and November, reaching a peak just before breeding began, and ramping up again as bucks sought the last remaining estrous does.
Why Hunters See Fewer Bucks in Mid-October
So why do so many hunters subscribe to the lull theory? Probably because it’s likely there is a change that causes hunters to see fewer deer — but it’s not because the deer aren’t moving.
“I don’t think the lull is a myth. I think it’s definitely real. But I’m not sure it’s exactly what everyone seems to think it is,” says Daniel McVay of Buckventures Outdoors TV.
McVay isn’t just another TV hunter who hunts prime spots. Prior to his work on TV, McVay spent more than a decade as a guide in Illinois.
“I’d have 25 guys in the woods and none of them would see quality deer in mid-October. It didn’t matter where you sat them, they just didn’t see the mature bucks,” he says. “But I think that’s most evident in the Midwest, where you have plenty of food.”
Read Next: The Best Time to Deer Hunt in Mid-October? When the Farmer Cuts the Corn
In my home state of Michigan, where more than 300,000 bowhunters take to the woods each October, my trail cameras show a steady increase in mature buck movement throughout the month. In areas where hunting pressure is minimal, those cameras record that evidence on the fringes of daylight — classic low-light movement.
How to Hunt Mature Bucks in October
The timeframe known as the October lull falls more or less between that golden, early season of plenty, and the crisp, energizing pre-rut, when “ghost” bucks again begin stirring—and most of us recall, once again, just how fun bowhunting can be. For some, the pre-rut action can be a long time coming. Classic lull states feature mid-September bow openers and a classic, early November rut.
Andrae D’Acquisto, the founder of Lone Wolf treestands, has always been a bit of a lone wolf when it comes to his bowhunting, and his thoughts on the October lull certainly qualify. D’Acquisto’s ground-breaking stand designs continue their reputation as some of the best premium models on the market, and the big-buck guru has used them to take the majority of his dozens of record-book-sized trophy deer — during one specific month. Can you guess?
“When most guys are experiencing what they call the ‘October lull,’ it’s actually a case of the mature deer making circles around established, over-hunted stand sites,” he said. “You think those deer aren’t still moving around? They’re just making circles around sloppy hunters. I feel the best time to kill a big deer is during the October lull — I’ll bet 80 percent of my deer come from that time period. And in talking with some other good trophy hunters, I’ve heard pretty much the same. Because we’re always out moving around reading sign, we’re staying on those big deer. So we’re always patterning the deer—not letting the deer pattern us.”
D’Acquisto is known for hunting trophy bucks aggressively. He won’t hesitate, for example, to hang a stand in a spot where he’s just bumped a trophy buck from its bed — and wait for the animal’s return. As you might guess, D’Acquisto explained that this tactic is not as easy — or as cut and dried — as it sounds.
“Let’s say I’m going to a new property that I’ve never hunted before,” D’Acquisto said. “In years p
Source: https://www.outdoorlife.com/articles/hunting/2015/10/how-beat-dreaded-october-lull/
