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Hunting highlights – October 2020
Monthly recreation opportunities by region

Monthly big game breakdown series

 

By Tom Ryle/WDFW

Big game seasons are in full swing, so we wanted to offer some month-by-month tips and good-to-knows as you plan the rest of your fall season. Starting this series with focus on October, we’ll examine our three deer species and elk to help you tailor your fall tactics and hopefully help you notch a tag or two.

Sept. 22 marked the autumn equinox this year, which is the official kick-off to fall. As the length of daylight gets shorter, testosterone levels change in big game animals, which triggers their urge to reproduce. As bucks and bulls become more focused on breeding, this can create opportunities for hunters. Tactics such as calling (making vocalizations), rattling antlers (emulating two males sparring or fighting), raking trees (making antler rubs), and even the use of decoys can be very effective for those who employ them.

Mule deer

Mule deer inhabit a broad range of habitats, from high alpine bowls to lowland sagebrush flats. Regardless of where you pursue mule deer, one thing remains constant: They need water. Keying in on summering water sources in October can be a great tactic, if you have the patience to wait out a buck.

Mule deer inhabit a broad range of habitats, from high alpine bowls to lowland sagebrush flats. Regardless of where you pursue mule deer, one thing remains constant: They need water. Keying in on summering water sources in October can be a great tactic, if you have the patience to wait out a buck.

Other proven tactics include glassing from a vantage point to locate feeding deer at first and last light, as well as bedded deer during the heat of the day. Bucks will often seek the shade of a lone pine on a hillside or the shade side of boulders and rock outcroppings.

(Brett A.)


The same can be said for the sage country down low. Coulees, ditches, and other terrain features can provide great security cover for bucks during the heat of the day. Time behind quality optics is a good investment. Let your eyes do the walking and save your energy for closing the distance to your target.

Remember to consider the thermal currents when planning your stalk. Cold air sinks and warm air rises. Deer rely on these thermal currents to detect danger and will select bedding locations accordingly. Often, it’s better to wait for consistent thermals/wind so you can use it to your advantage.

Black-tailed deer

Black-tailed deer begin to sort out the pecking order within their home range. They also become mostly nocturnal, so if you’re wondering where all those summer velvet bucks went, they didn’t leave the area, they just changed their behavior.

By mid-October, older bucks become more solitary and will create rubs throughout their domain. Rubs are a complex topic but it’s important to know that they use them to communicate with other deer, including does. They rub gland secretions on them which share age and social status.

The last week of October is arguably one of the best times to see a mature black-tailed buck during legal shooting light.

Bucks are in the pre-rut phase of the breeding ritual, which means they are seeking out receptive does to breed. Some early breeding can occur, but the peak breeding phase occurs around mid-November. Still, this testosterone-filled frenzy of buck activity can provide all-day sightings of deer just about anywhere. They will scent-check doe bedding areas, trail systems, and otherwise monitor the receptivity of does.

(Stephanie Pelham)


Notable hunting tactics include setting up on edges of clear-cuts and/or glassing for active deer. Again, bucks will be more active as Halloween approaches. A well-placed treestand or ground blind along trail intersections is also a good bet. Be sure to play the wind carefully with these set-ups. Calling deer using doe bleat calls and rattling antlers can be very effective in late October as well. Typically, these tactics produce younger bucks, but not always. You never know until you give it a try.

On a side note, if you harvest a black-tailed buck this season, please consider taking part in a WDFW study on antler points and age by submitting teeth from your deer. You can read all about the specifics in this blog post.

White-tailed deer

White-tailed deer inhabit the eastern side of the state and can be found in a variety of habitats from agricultural fields to rugged pine forests. Similar to black-tailed deer, they are adaptable and can thrive in many areas that provide food, water, and cover to evade predators.

Unlike black-tailed deer, white-tailed deer are notoriously patternable, which means they are creatures of habit and routine within their home ranges. Hunters have long taken advantage of this trait by watching deer from a distance and then moving in to set up when conditions are right.

In general, white-tailed deer tend to be more paranoid about potential danger and therefore less curious than both black-tailed and mule deer. In fact, they exhibit a nervousness that has no doubt helped them adapt, survive, and thrive.

In the white-tailed deer hunting community, there is a phenomenon called the “October lull,” which is well-covered in other writings. In short, this lull translates to low deer sightings during the bulk of the month, leaving hunters scratching their heads wondering where all the deer went. Again, they didn’t leave, they changed behavior patterns.

(Justin Haug/WDFW)

Here are a few tactics you might try. Hang a few trail cameras off the beaten path. Push into that thicket you’ve always wondered about and see what you can learn. Map out does where you see them and use aerial imagery to guess where they might bed, feed, and water. Locating trails between these key hangouts can lead to great stand locations. Another consideration is hunting the way-to-obvious spots most hunters purposely avoid or overlook. This is an often underutilized tactic that can pay big. White-tailed deer are crafty and adept at hiding right under your nose.

Elk

Before we dive in here, it bears noting that these tips apply to both Rocky Mountain elk and Roosevelt elk. While there are subtleties pertaining to habitat and herd dynamics, etc., for our purposes we will lump the two sub-species together.

Elk begin their breeding ritual in September, often peaking around Sept. 20 (it varies) but lasting well into October if there are receptive cows to breed. Muzzleloader hunters would be smart to utilize cow and calf calls during their early season, and don’t be afraid to bust out the bugle tube to locate a love-sick bull. Keep in mind, pleading calf calls can work well on October elk but these sounds can also trigger a black bear or cougar to key in on your location. For safety, consider setting up with a large tree or other obstruction at your back.

(Harry Collins)

If calling isn’t your game, you can still approach October elk with focus on their breeding habits. Key in on big timber units and benches above clear-cuts. After daylight, they will move from feeding to these bedding areas where they will spend much of the day if undisturbed. Monitor trail crossings along logging roads for fresh activity and direction of travel. Cut a fresh trail with hooves pointing uphill and you’ve got a good shot at sneaking into a bedding area. If the wind isn’t cooperating, you can plan a route to circle around from above.

Another good bet is focusing on field edges where timberlands drop into lush green valley floors. These are prime feed areas for elk, especially at night. While most all fields are private and may not provide access, you may be able to set up along trail systems up in the timber. Sitting trails is a good way to quietly intercept elk heading down for the evening to feed. Be sure to know your location and avoid trespassing on private lands.

Up next

We’ll be back with another installment for November. If you find these tips helpful or have other topics you’d like us to cover, please let us know by emailing [email protected]. Until then, be safe, enjoy every moment in the field, and good luck!


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