If we were in deer season right now, what things would you look at to decide if you were going hunting this weekend? I know that most will say I am going to hunt when I can, but what are some factors that would persuade you to go or dissuade you from going?

Jeremy

Temperature and wind.

Thanks for the reply.

Also, if you don't mind telling me, do you hunt private or public land?

Jeremy

Weather, moon

Kids activities, stress at work, anything my wife has planned for us, temperature, stage of the rut, wind, moon phase....

basically the stars have to align just right for me to go hunting these days.

I look at the weather and see if it will be better to deer or duck hunt unless it's the rut

Gas in my truck.

The key here is you said weekend. It would have to be just the right time for me to go because it IS the weekend.

Like actually hunt this weekend or like this weekend is mid January. If your just saying would I hunt deer this weekend if I legally could, heck no. But really I look at weather conditions when deciding to hunt.

Whether or not I had to work.

Weather and if it is the rut or not....

This is the correct answer. The only other factor would be whether or not there was a 100% chance of rain or not but even then that might only determine whether I hunt from a tree or the ground.

You can't kill a deer from the couch.

You also can't kill them when they're not moving due to abnormally warm weather. I will not ruin the stands that I put so much effort into hanging by hunting a warm spell. Admittedly, this practice has resulted in very little bow hunting during the last few seasons but I'd rather wait until my odds are better before sitting a stand for the first time.

but if you hunt the right wind and are cautious about your scent how can you ruin a spot if deer aren't moving?

The deer smell your scent coming from that stand location long after you've left. It's a popular old saying. The most successful hunt hunt from a stand will be the first time it's sat. It's true.

Sorry, I was not clear the way I worded it. I meant if it were during the normal hunting season (Oct-Feb), what factors do you look at to decide if you will go hunting, regardless of weekend or weekday? Are there any factors that really get you excited about getting out into the woods compared to other times? If so, what are some of them.

Thanks,
Jeremy

Jeremy

I like to see a good temperature drop between midnight and daynreak and moon phase also.

Correct. Deer move every day. Are some days better than other, sure they are, but not a single one of us know when a nice buck might slip up and end up in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Work schedule for me too. If I'm off work, I hunt. Lightening storms about the only thing that's stopped me. Oh, 1 ice storm in Auburn area drove us out once too.