What puts deer on edge in October?

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dreaming bucks
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What puts deer on edge in October?

Unread postby dreaming bucks » Sat Oct 11, 2014 12:50 am

We have all heard the term "October lull", but what do you guys think is the real reason for less sightings of mature bucks in October?

Hunting pressure?

I heard one theory, saying with all the trees losing their leaves right now, the deer don't like all that commotion in the woods, it puts them on edge with leaves dropping everywhere they look, makes it hard to pick out danger moving around, so they just hang tight until night time where they can just use their sense of smell.......

I don't know, what do you guys think? I know some people will say they still see deer in October, but it seems to me, they are the minority...


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Re: What puts deer on edge in October?

Unread postby Justin85 » Sat Oct 11, 2014 12:59 am

Hunters starting out hunting summer patterns and not switching to fall patterns when the deer do.

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Jackson Marsh
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Re: What puts deer on edge in October?

Unread postby Jackson Marsh » Sat Oct 11, 2014 1:00 am

Pressure

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Dewey
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Re: What puts deer on edge in October?

Unread postby Dewey » Sat Oct 11, 2014 1:27 am

Jackson Marsh wrote:Pressure

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Yup
dreaming bucks
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Re: What puts deer on edge in October?

Unread postby dreaming bucks » Sat Oct 11, 2014 2:07 am

Dewey wrote:
Jackson Marsh wrote:Pressure

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Yup


I agree to a point, but I have 60 acres of private that only my brother, his boy, and me hunt.... We have before not hunted until the middle of October and it is dead quiet, until the last few days of October, than it ramps up quickly.... So I don't understand that, with nobody putting any pressure on the woods, and it still is very quiet... :?
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Re: What puts deer on edge in October?

Unread postby BCam » Sat Oct 11, 2014 2:13 am

If its ag ground, think about all the changes taking place right now. Harvest, loss of food, cover in woods and out etc etc.

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Dewey
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Re: What puts deer on edge in October?

Unread postby Dewey » Sat Oct 11, 2014 2:14 am

dreaming bucks wrote:
Dewey wrote:
Jackson Marsh wrote:Pressure

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Yup


I agree to a point, but I have 60 acres of private that only my brother, his boy, and me hunt.... We have before not hunted until the middle of October and it is dead quiet, until the last few days of October, than it ramps up quickly.... So I don't understand that, with nobody putting any pressure on the woods, and it still is very quiet... :?

Changing food sources and mature bucks becoming less social with bachelor groups separating also come into play.

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justdirtyfun
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Re: What puts deer on edge in October?

Unread postby justdirtyfun » Sat Oct 11, 2014 2:30 am

I think the summer to fall patterns are the big answer but it must be a combination of things.

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dreaming bucks
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Re: What puts deer on edge in October?

Unread postby dreaming bucks » Sat Oct 11, 2014 2:35 am

How about, they are saving up their energy because they know what's coming in a few weeks?
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Re: What puts deer on edge in October?

Unread postby Bowhunter4life » Sat Oct 11, 2014 2:51 am

Jackson Marsh wrote:Pressure

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Completely agree

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Re: What puts deer on edge in October?

Unread postby Edcyclopedia » Sat Oct 11, 2014 4:12 am

Combo of food & pressure.

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Re: What puts deer on edge in October?

Unread postby BassBoysLLP » Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:33 am

After this next low pressure cell, things should start to get exciting.

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Re: What puts deer on edge in October?

Unread postby obrion » Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:46 am

The same stuff they put in Soylent Green is my guess.
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PLB
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Re: What puts deer on edge in October?

Unread postby PLB » Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:50 am

Rapidly changing conditions, leaf drop, pressure, crop harvest, bare woods, less places to hide.

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Re: What puts deer on edge in October?

Unread postby Autumn Ninja » Sat Oct 11, 2014 8:40 am

Changing food source, chemical and biological changes within the deer themselves, leaf drop, changing cover, pressure to a certain extent (I've had the pleasure of hunting areas that have no pressure and it happens there just the same).

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