Excluding dates between Oct 20th - Nov30th - POLL Question

[Edcyclopedia]

I'm trying to grasp/balance the amount of time I spend hunting in the "off-season" (non-rut).
I chose these dates based off my experiences and buck activity "I've seen"
Also I based these dates off hunting aquaintences answers and discussions (from my memory) and figured I would broden the question to a larger audience...

[Edcyclopedia]

It's OK to Brag about zero like I did

[Brad]

Zero, only have one 4.5 year old and he fell to a muzzleloader on November 10th during one of the CWD seasons.

[Schultzy]

The big 0.

[kenn1320]

Think I have shot 1 buck that was 3.5, but dont remember what the date was, just the year.

[BigHills BuckHunter]

Very interesting topic Ed.

[Stanley]

Good thread Ed. It seams to be a consensus that pattering a buck during the rut is very difficult (not impossible). And pattering a buck before the rut is much easier (not improbable). I then see a lot of posts, that rut hunting is considered less admirable. So if a guy gets his target buck before the rut, is this a greater accomplishment, than killing a target buck during the rut? I hope you get a good response and hunters don't hold back from peer pressure. I have killed bucks on opening day and the last day of the season. When working, I could only hunt after work until I took vacation in November. So I have taken more bucks in November than October. Our season didn't used to start until the 15th Of October. So on your poll that would give me 5 days compared to 41 days. Our season now starts October 1st. I think it would be safe to say the odds are against scoring more out of the window (Oct. 20-Nov.30th) on the poll.

[backstraps]

I had to submit a ZERO. However I think I may have made an error. I did harvest one 3.5 year old 10pt on Oct 18th.

I know for certain though the mast majority of bucks I have killed have all fell in the first two of of NOV
I guess they get a little caught it in finding love they loose their senses. :)

[magicman54494]

then see a lot of posts, that rut hunting is considered less admirable. So if a guy gets his target buck before the rut, is this a greater accomplishment, than killing a target buck during the rut?

Won't hear that from me. I'll take em when ever, where ever, how ever. I'm an equal opertunity buck eliminator.

For the record I've taken 3 bucks before Oct 20th.

[G3s]

I have 4. One last year on Oct 2nd, and 3 from previous seasons that all fell in December

[Edcyclopedia]

Good thread Ed. It seams to be a consensus that pattering a buck during the rut is very difficult (not impossible). And pattering a buck before the rut is much easier (not improbable). I then see a lot of posts, that rut hunting is considered less admirable. So if a guy gets his target buck before the rut, is this a greater accomplishment, than killing a target buck during the rut? I hope you get a good response and hunters don't hold back from peer pressure. I have killed bucks on opening day and the last day of the season. When working, I could only hunt after work until I took vacation in November. So I have taken more bucks in November than October. Our season didn't used to start until the 15th Of October. So on your poll that would give me 5 days compared to 41 days. Our season now starts October 1st. I think it would be safe to say the odds are against scoring more out of the window (Oct. 20-Nov.30th) on the poll.

My intent was to quantitfy (to me) the amount of hours put into the "pre-season" to get results.
Let's face it I have ADD (or EDD-Y as I like to say) and lose steam without forfilling my quest (@ moments), hence the need for me to upland game hunt = ACTION...

I realize this poll may not be a "complete" poll for all audiences and created the question based off a response I made to about being patient in the "off-season" (non-rut)
Clearly from my own observations and friends that I trust their judgement (who hunt ALL weapons), that most big (mature) bucks are taken during the rut
- no news there...!!!

So many variables to figure out and/or discuss like amount of hunters in the woods moving deer around during firearms season, hot Doe's, chase, pre-rut, rut, etc...

I consider this site a pot of gold at the end a buck (rainbow) and thought this question may raise other hunters own question(s) about employing new tactics.
Namely taking the time to have fun, removing a little pressure (I know I get frustrated @ times), and realize that experience and scouting plays two of the biggest roles in success.

To comment about the statement above - I totally agree with both! If I shot two mature bucks both ways then I might have a formable opinion.
However ANY mature buck is hard to kill in these eyes!!! My track record proves it.

I'm still looking for someone to come out with a new book called Mature Buck Hunting for Dummies!!!

Question to all you Fancy Big Mature Buck Hunters out there?
- If you have ever seen the movie Saving Private Ryan I would hope that one of you would take the same innitiative to save my deer hunting sole

[str8shooter]

I fell into the 1-2 category, but I've only killed one...and that was just a few days ago. I have passed on mature bucks though in the past two seasons(last year was a 3 1/2 y.o., the year prior to that a 4 1/2 y.o. with a small rack) in the first week of the season. I love the rut and have traditionally always tagged my buck during the first two weeks of November.

[RUTIN]

2 to be exact, but the amount of deer that show up after the rut on a food source here in OH is amazing. Ive had some amazing encounters with animals that I didnt have a shot at or was already tagged out and couldnt kill. Dec.-Jan. has shown some absolute giants on my small suburban spots!

[MOBIGBUCKS]

I'm in the 1-2 category. Shot a 154 incher on October 12th one year between his bedding area and an Oak Flat.

[Black Squirrel]

One, October 14th, 2007.