Even in early season, deer hunting can be productive

The months of September and October are considered by many deer hunters to be the pre-game warmup for the "real season" when the rut begins. At that point, the mature bucks drop their guard and go into search mode for does in heat. If the truth be known many a trophy has been taken in the early period before the rut ever starts and it can be persuasively argued that during these two months quality deer can be taken because they are less wary (especially during the first two or three weeks) and because their patterns are more predictable. Let's take a look at some things to consider in this early portion of white-tail season.

From summer to early fall deer get into routines and pretty much stick to them until conditions (including weather, food sources, the rut and hunting pressure) begin to change them. It all revolves around what they are eating and convenient places to bed down. One of the problems we have to deal with is that there are lots of different food sources and plenty of thick bedding areas for them to use in the early part of the season so scouting and trail cameras are indispensable tools at this point. The more you are out there looking the better chance you have of discovering where their favorite places are located and then establishing patterns.

A couple of things that might help are to consider that nature plays a role in the travel routes of deer. They often follow the path of least resistance and thus a pond, steep hills, or a beaver swamp may influence the way they go and will often funnel them in a certain direction. Another thing to look for is a narrow neck of woods between bedding and food sources that provides the only cover. As you continue to scout you will also run into a few rubs and scrapes to help you evaluate whether you have mature bucks in the vicinity.

One other tidbit that helps whether scouting or hunting in the early part of the season is to keep track of the weather. Rain and cool fronts (especially those that drop the temperature a few degrees) have a tendency to get deer moving. These are excellent days to gather information or take that trophy you are in pursuit of.

The only thing I can figure out about bedding areas for bucks is that they are either in the thickest stuff they can find close to their food source or in weird places we never think of. I've seen one that bedded down in tall weeds behind a convenienc

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