Tag an Early Season Buck with These Expert Tips

Written by HLRBO| 8/31/2022

If you’re eagerly awaiting the fall deer hunting season, we’ve got some good news for you. You don’t have to wait until October or November to head out to your deer stand. Early season deer hunting is an excellent way to satisfy your itch for hunting while getting some practice in before prime hunting season gets underway. Of course, you’ll need to check your local hunting laws and guidelines to make sure early season deer hunting is permitted in your area.  It’s no secret that early season deer hunting is no easy task. But, with a little preparation and some expert advice, you should be able to have a successful early season deer hunt.

Start Patterning Bucks Before the Season It doesn’t matter if you’re hunting on public or private land, mature bucks are skilled at avoiding hunters. But, as long as you’re willing to put in some work before the season starts, you’ll increase your chances of tagging an early season buck. Here’s what to keep in mind when patterning your pre-season bucks: Pay Attention to Water Sources On warm early autumn afternoons, bucks can usually be found hitting some water before they head out to feed. Check ponds, creeks, and even big puddles for bucks. There’s no need to scout out large bodies of water, like rivers, because bucks seem to prefer small, muddy puddles over clear rivers. If you do happen to spot a buck track in the mud around a water source, hang a stand or camera nearby so you can track it. Stalk the Corn Another place where deer like to hang out in the early fall is in standing corn, beans, and alfalfa — the taller, the better. Place a stand a few rows into a corn, bean, or alfalfa field. When deer emerge, you have the natural benefit of the thick crops to provide cover while you maneuver into shooting range.

Use Trail Cameras Near Food Sources Trail cameras can be a hunter’s best friend when trying to track down the elusive pre-season buck. Place your trail cameras around major summer food sources and trails to gain insights on whether bucks are around or not, where they’re coming from, and where they’re headed. So, you want to place some trail cameras around deer food sources, but you’re not sure what deer eat in the early season? Here are some tips to keep in mind: During the time when most hunting seasons start, whitetail deer begin their dietary transitions, switching from plants to carbs to pack on the pounds for winter. So, you’ll have luck near sources of nuts, fruit and grains. Whitetail deer love acorns. So, if you can find an area that’s rich in acorns, the whitetail deer are surely just around the corner! As far as fruit, in the early hunting season, keep an eye out for softer fruits like apples, persimmons, and berries. If the land you’re hurting on has fruit trees, hunt them. If not, consider planting a few and watch the deer appear! Take an Afternoon Stroll The early fall is still pretty hot in most areas of the country, meaning it is prime time to catch lethargic deer in the middle of the afternoon, allowing you to take advantage of their sluggish state and stalk in close.