Archers during modern

[ouchfoss]

The way that archery season has always been for deer (at least here on the westside for blacktails) you pretty much miss the rut and never get many chances at mature bucks on public areas. Seems to me that the only way you get shots at the "grey ghosts" is to get lucky or target them around and during the rut when they become very stupid. I know that during the first week of late archery there is still a few does who have the late estrus cycle and still have bucks following them but that's still nothing like the last week of October and first week of November which is why I am planning on buying my General deer tag and archery hunt next year to try tag and one during October and late buck.
My reasoning for is because the last two years I have been out doing mushroom picking and whatever else around late October and have seen far more deer (far more bucks for that matter) than when I am actually trying for them during September. It will be at lot less actual hunting days but I think it will be worth it. I'm sure your probably wondering why I dint just pick up a rifle and up my odds with a bullet versus an arrow but I guess I'm a stick in the mud archery hunter and that's the way I have always hunted for any big game. 
This whole idea has got me wondering what percentage of people actually buy the General tag or muzzy tag just to archery hunt as well as how successful they are at filling their tag with a lesser weapon.

[bankwalker]

The 1st week of September imo is the best time to kill big blacktails. I have switched back and forth between archery and modern for the last 17 years. And I see way more, at least double the amount of big bucks during early archery season. After that 1st week the deer catch on and I start seeing less deer.

Now killing those big bucks is pretty hard, I haven't yet. Only due to Spot and stalk hunting is quite a bit harder due to dry conditions. And that is why prefer modern firearm season.

As far as archery equipment during modern season. I have seen guys doing it a few times. I got burnt out on carrying a rifle around one year and decided a handgun would be fun to hunt with. You have to get closer like archery hunting.

[Jellymon]

I understand what you're saying, I like hunting in the cooler weather myself. But I use archery season because of the amount of days to hunt, easier to get hunting in because of work! But please don't archery hunt during muzzle season, not legal.

[Angus]

But please don't archery hunt during muzzle season, not legal.

Might want to check the regs, it is legal.

[Jellymon]

Oh crap. I'm sorry! Wish I knew that October 1st, I would have brought my bow along!

[kentrek]

The way that archery season has always been for deer (at least here on the westside for blacktails) you pretty much miss the rut and never get many chances at mature bucks on public areas.

this is not true..

pending on how big (old) your talking most are still in there lazy summer habits in early September..till all the elk hunters show up

[Angus]

Oh crap. I'm sorry! Wish I knew that October 1st, I would have brought my bow along!

I guess I should have said its legal to hunt with a bow during muzzy season if you buy a muzzy tag or have a multi-season tag. Not legal to hunt archery during muzzy season with just an archery tag.

[AKBowman]

The way that archery season has always been for deer (at least here on the westside for blacktails) you pretty much miss the rut and never get many chances at mature bucks on public areas. Seems to me that the only way you get shots at the "grey ghosts" is to get lucky or target them around and during the rut when they become very stupid. I know that during the first week of late archery there is still a few does who have the late estrus cycle and still have bucks following them but that's still nothing like the last week of October and first week of November which is why I am planning on buying my General deer tag and archery hunt next year to try tag and one during October and late buck.
My reasoning for is because the last two years I have been out doing mushroom picking and whatever else around late October and have seen far more deer (far more bucks for that matter) than when I am actually trying for them during September. It will be at lot less actual hunting days but I think it will be worth it. I'm sure your probably wondering why I dint just pick up a rifle and up my odds with a bullet versus an arrow but I guess I'm a stick in the mud archery hunter and that's the way I have always hunted for any big game. 
This whole idea has got me wondering what percentage of people actually buy the General tag or muzzy tag just to archery hunt as well as how successful they are at filling their tag with a lesser weapon.

Read my post labeled "well crap" b/c I would pay good money right now to trade my modern tag in for an archey tag. I have been hunting archery during modern all year and yes it seems the grass is always greener. I know the bucks are rutting in a lot of areas but this yr they are late in the area I have been scouting and hung stands so I have been staring at trails without tracks and brush with me deer. I still think most yrs the best time to kill a big BT is last week of modern or late modern so I would say go for it. The lack of hunting days does suck but on a normal yr the days should be of a higher quality.

[lokidog]

I hunt with whatever I feel like that year during modern.  Last year I shot both of my deer with my bow.  I would hunt during archery season but that is when my wife is usually hunting and I don't want to have to butcher too many deer at once.  Also, I usually archery elk hunt.

The deer are much easier to pattern earlier, especially with bait.  The big advantage I see hunting during modern is that if you hunt near a protected area, you have a higher chance of getting one of those travelers.  I have shot several deer during modern that were never seen previously in person or on my trail cam.

I may hunt archery next year as the buck I shot last year was quite strong tasting "rutty".

[Jellymon]

Oh crap. I'm sorry! Wish I knew that October 1st, I would have brought my bow along!

I guess I should have said its legal to hunt with a bow during muzzy season if you buy a muzzy tag or have a multi-season tag. Not legal to hunt archery during muzzy season with just an archery tag.

Yes I had a multi-season tag for deer.

[ouchfoss]

The way that archery season has always been for deer (at least here on the westside for blacktails) you pretty much miss the rut and never get many chances at mature bucks on public areas. Seems to me that the only way you get shots at the "grey ghosts" is to get lucky or target them around and during the rut when they become very stupid. I know that during the first week of late archery there is still a few does who have the late estrus cycle and still have bucks following them but that's still nothing like the last week of October and first week of November which is why I am planning on buying my General deer tag and archery hunt next year to try tag and one during October and late buck.
My reasoning for is because the last two years I have been out doing mushroom picking and whatever else around late October and have seen far more deer (far more bucks for that matter) than when I am actually trying for them during September. It will be at lot less actual hunting days but I think it will be worth it. I'm sure your probably wondering why I dint just pick up a rifle and up my odds with a bullet versus an arrow but I guess I'm a stick in the mud archery hunter and that's the way I have always hunted for any big game. 
This whole idea has got me wondering what percentage of people actually buy the General tag or muzzy tag just to archery hunt as well as how successful they are at filling their tag with a lesser weapon.

Read my post labeled "well crap" b/c I would pay good money right now to trade my modern tag in for an archey tag. I have been hunting archery during modern all year and yes it seems the grass is always greener. I know the bucks are rutting in a lot of areas but this yr they are late in the area I have been scouting and hung stands so I have been staring at trails without tracks and brush with me deer. I still think most yrs the best time to kill a big BT is last week of modern or late modern so I would say go for it. The lack of hunting days does suck but on a normal yr the days should be of a higher quality.

I understand what the advantages are to hunting September but it just seems like locally in my situation I believe I have better odds of filling a tag during modern. I tried some patterning and still hunting for deer this year but about a week before September they went comletely nocturnal as well as darn near vanishing from the area. Of the 7 different deer I had using one trail I only saw one of them during september and it was in the dark as I was walking back from the still hunt. It was a nice two point and I never saw him again.
I guess part of my reasoning is just to up the odds of a wall-hanger. I have only seen 2 big mature bucks ever during early archery and I have seen at least two dozen that I can think of during rifle when I was just in the woods doing whatever else. Plus the weather is usually good blacktail hunting weather most of Modern season where as you might get lucky to get 3 or 4 good rainy days during September for blacktails to be real active. This September it was hot every single day.

[AKBowman]

The way that archery season has always been for deer (at least here on the westside for blacktails) you pretty much miss the rut and never get many chances at mature bucks on public areas. Seems to me that the only way you get shots at the "grey ghosts" is to get lucky or target them around and during the rut when they become very stupid. I know that during the first week of late archery there is still a few does who have the late estrus cycle and still have bucks following them but that's still nothing like the last week of October and first week of November which is why I am planning on buying my General deer tag and archery hunt next year to try tag and one during October and late buck.
My reasoning for is because the last two years I have been out doing mushroom picking and whatever else around late October and have seen far more deer (far more bucks for that matter) than when I am actually trying for them during September. It will be at lot less actual hunting days but I think it will be worth it. I'm sure your probably wondering why I dint just pick up a rifle and up my odds with a bullet versus an arrow but I guess I'm a stick in the mud archery hunter and that's the way I have always hunted for any big game. 
This whole idea has got me wondering what percentage of people actually buy the General tag or muzzy tag just to archery hunt as well as how successful they are at filling their tag with a lesser weapon.

Read my post labeled "well crap" b/c I would pay good money right now to trade my modern tag in for an archey tag. I have been hunting archery during modern all year and yes it seems the grass is always greener. I know the bucks are rutting in a lot of areas but this yr they are late in the area I have been scouting and hung stands so I have been staring at trails without tracks and brush with me deer. I still think most yrs the best time to kill a big BT is last week of modern or late modern so I would say go for it. The lack of hunting days does suck but on a normal yr the days should be of a higher quality.

I understand what the advantages are to hunting September but it just seems like locally in my situation I believe I have better odds of filling a tag during modern. I tried some patterning and still hunting for deer this year but about a week before September they went comletely nocturnal as well as darn near vanishing from the area. Of the 7 different deer I had using one trail I only saw one of them during september and it was in the dark as I was walking back from the still hunt. It was a nice two point and I never saw him again.
I guess part of my reasoning is just to up the odds of a wall-hanger. I have only seen 2 big mature bucks ever during early archery and I have seen at least two dozen that I can think of during rifle when I was just in the woods doing whatever else. Plus the weather is usually good blacktail hunting weather most of Modern season where as you might get lucky to get 3 or 4 good rainy days during September for blacktails to be real active. This September it was hot every single day.

I agree totally, just wanted to let you know that I did exactly what you are thinking of this yr...bought the modern tag and hunting archery gear. It's looking like late archery will be hot in my area. Right now it is not. Average years I would say modern is much better than any archery seasin

[bobcat]

Blacktails sure are tough, especially the mature bucks. I guess if you really want to up your odds, you need to spend the money and get the Multi Season tag. Then you can hunt all three, and if it doesn't work out, at least you can't say, "if only I had bought a modern firearm tag this year."

[ouchfoss]

I think I may have had better odds during September if I would have baited the deer. I know apples do alot for attracting deer but they also bring in bears. I had one that used the game trail several times where I had my camera so I didnt bait it that way if he decided to walk in front of me I would be legal to shoot him.

[akashasdaddy]

Are the multi season tags a drawing or do you just ask for one where you buy your tags? With a multi season tag do you have to hunt one style i.e. archery or are you allowed to use the weapon for the season bow for archery, riffle for modern?