Low number of Sept archery whitetail hunters

[kodiak06]

Is that due to it overlapping archery elk or the preference for late season?

[vandeman17]

whatever it is lets keep it that way.... 

[Skyvalhunter]

Lack of animals most likely.

[boneaddict]

It’s always been that way. It’s a different kind of hunting.

[hunter399]

I don't hunt archery.
If I did ,I'd hunt it.
Lots of action that time of year. Alot of areas still have bucks coming and going .
End of September, beginning October the whole game changes.
Bucks that where on cam in the summer day light hours go nocturnal by October.
It's hot in September.

Late season has benefits as well
Cold
Rut
Bait pile

[vandeman17]

It’s always been that way. It’s a different kind of hunting.

I was in a treestand opening day for the first time in my career this year. It sure is different but I will say its nice not freezing your butt off. The biggest downside is days are LONG that time of year and sleeping hours are short.

[huntnnw]

If I’m after a particular big buck I’m hunting September and to be more exact sept 1-5. Bucks are highly patternable into mid to late august . There’s a change in some bucks in august , but what your hoping to do with sept 1 is hope those bucks are still doing what they were doing all summer. I prefer to hunt September over the late season when I’m targeting a certain buck. Rut can have your target buck miles away , erratic and plain don’t show up. Late hunts are great for overall general action all day long as September hunts are pretty much first hour and last hour of light. I rarely hunt sept mornings as it’s nearly impossible to get into stands in most locations without bumping the target buck. I hunt 90% evenings and last couple hours of light. As I get older hunting late season has lost its appeal to me and even more so when wdfw moved the archery opener from Nov 20 to Nov 25. Archery guys are lucky to see 2-3 days of a winding down rut. Another bonus to early September whitetails is the meat it’s almost not even comparable to a November buck. Of all the wildgame I’ve eaten the handful of September bucks I have killed have been by far the best.

[greenhead_killer]

All good info.

[Rutnbuxnbulls]

If I’m after a particular big buck I’m hunting September and to be more exact sept 1-5. Bucks are highly patternable into mid to late august . There’s a change in some bucks in august , but what your hoping to do with sept 1 is hope those bucks are still doing what they were doing all summer. I prefer to hunt September over the late season when I’m targeting a certain buck. Rut can have your target buck miles away , erratic and plain don’t show up. Late hunts are great for overall general action all day long as September hunts are pretty much first hour and last hour of light. I rarely hunt sept mornings as it’s nearly impossible to get into stands in most locations without bumping the target buck. I hunt 90% evenings and last couple hours of light. As I get older hunting late season has lost its appeal to me and even more so when wdfw moved the archery opener from Nov 20 to Nov 25. Archery guys are lucky to see 2-3 days of a winding down rut. Another bonus to early September whitetails is the meat it’s almost not even comparable to a November buck. Of all the wildgame I’ve eaten the handful of September bucks I have killed have been by far the best.

This is going to motivate me to get out early next September.  I've been used to saving up time for the whitetail rut, but I have noticed that either your target buck is possibly locked down and gone or rut is winding down a bit.  What is your strategy on stand set up if you're targeting a big mature buck during this early hunt?  I have a tree saddle set up that I'd like to put into play next fall but I haven't done any hang and hunts, all have been sitting on bait.  I feel like I need to challenge myself a bit more, and maybe the older bucks know that a bait pile could equate to arrows flyin.

[TeacherMan]

Hardest part for me is dealing with the meat when it’s 80 out.

[kodiak06]

Hardest part for me is dealing with the meat when it’s 80 out.

That's a factor for sure, same with our elk.

[Jonathan_S]

Lots of guys hunting in September, it seems like its the smaller parcel private lands guys over the madhouse that is late season archery in the bigger woods.

[huntnnw]

Heat is something I’ve never even considered. I’m not packed in 10 miles.

[Rutnbuxnbulls]

Hardest part for me is dealing with the meat when it’s 80 out.

That's a factor for sure, same with our elk.

We’ll bring ice in coolers, one bag will do enough to cool things down. If I harvest an animal on a hot day it’s go time, not a lot of grip and grins going on. Hide off and quartered out, into game bags,  and into cooler. My wife has a discerning taste and never has an issue with early season meat. I don’t really see more hunters during early season, but my areas are finite so I might not be the best source. I’d like to think we can catch the animals off guard a bit since we’re the first ones out there.

[hunter399]

I've been considering archery.
Just cause of season. September being part of it.

[Jonathan_S]

Heat is something I’ve never even considered. I’m not packed in 10 miles.

  Worst case scenario, you still have hours of air cooling for meat 

[kodiak06]

I don't hunt archery.
If I did ,I'd hunt it.
Lots of action that time of year. Alot of areas still have bucks coming and going .
End of September, beginning October the whole game changes.
Bucks that where on cam in the summer day light hours go nocturnal by October.
It's hot in September.

Late season has benefits as well
Cold
Rut
Bait pile

If I hunt Sept, there will be bait more than likely... Hard giving up a week of elk to hunt deer for me

[hunter399]

Sorry you are correct I'd have bait too.
I guess deer are just more hungry in winter.
I agree hard giving up elk days.

[huntnnw]

Why are you giving up elk? I’m done way before archery elk opens. Most cases you get 8-12 days before elk opens. If I haven’t shot my target buck in first 5 days chances are you won’t after that in September.

[boneaddict]

My biggest whitetails were killed spot and stalk, Sept 3,5 and 7th (might have been the sixth) I believe.   One I was scouting for elk and another I was hunting for Muleys up high and did not expect to stand up a large whitie.   Two of them involved fairly decent packouts but only because of where they were killed.   As stated, heat hasnt been a problem for whitetails whereas backpacking deep into the backcountry for muleys has been. 

[Rutnbuxnbulls]

Why are you giving up elk? I’m done way behind archery elk opens. Most cases you get 8-12 days before elk opens. If I haven’t shot my target buck in first 5 days chances are you won’t after that in September.

Where do you set up on your target buck? Bedding, bait, confluence of trails? I’m assuming you set up in a tree?

[Rutnbuxnbulls]

My biggest whitetails were killed spot and stalk, Sept 3,5 and 7th (might have been the sixth) I believe.   One I was scouting for elk and another I was hunting for Muleys up high and did not expect to stand up a large whitie.   Two of them involved fairly decent packouts but only because of where they were killed.   As stated, heat hasnt been a problem for whitetails whereas backpacking deep into the backcountry for muleys has been.

This is super helpful information for an intermediate hunter like me. Since you and Huntnnw both have killed big bucks early September I’m sold it’s time for me to focus serious time on the first week of September. Then roll right into archery elk primed for the hunt.

[dilleytech]

Hardest part for me is dealing with the meat when it’s 80 out.

I don’t see the issue with deer. They are small and can fit on your back in one trip.

[vandeman17]

My biggest whitetails were killed spot and stalk, Sept 3,5 and 7th (might have been the sixth) I believe.   One I was scouting for elk and another I was hunting for Muleys up high and did not expect to stand up a large whitie.   Two of them involved fairly decent packouts but only because of where they were killed.   As stated, heat hasnt been a problem for whitetails whereas backpacking deep into the backcountry for muleys has been.

This is super helpful information for an intermediate hunter like me. Since you and Huntnnw both have killed big bucks early September I’m sold it’s time for me to focus serious time on the first week of September. Then roll right into archery elk primed for the hunt.

I agree with both of them as well from my experience and what I see on the cams at my cabin. Bucks are pretty darn consistent in their summer routines all the way up through those first few days of September then the switch flips and they disappear. Not sure if it’s the sudden appearance of the archery guys but I don’t really think so since they do it on place without any hunting pressure.

[hunter399]

My biggest whitetails were killed spot and stalk, Sept 3,5 and 7th (might have been the sixth) I believe.   One I was scouting for elk and another I was hunting for Muleys up high and did not expect to stand up a large whitie.   Two of them involved fairly decent packouts but only because of where they were killed.   As stated, heat hasnt been a problem for whitetails whereas backpacking deep into the backcountry for muleys has been.

This is super helpful information for an intermediate hunter like me. Since you and Huntnnw both have killed big bucks early September I’m sold it’s time for me to focus serious time on the first week of September. Then roll right into archery elk primed for the hunt.

I agree with both of them as well from my experience and what I see on the cams at my cabin. Bucks are pretty darn consistent in their summer routines all the way up through those first few days of September then the switch flips and they disappear. Not sure if it’s the sudden appearance of the archery guys but I don’t really think so since they do it on place without any hunting pressure.

I agree ,just with my cam scouting.
Summer like routine through the first half September.
With groups of bucks still hanging together.

[huntnnw]

It’s not pressure in my opinion. I’ve watched thousands of bucks over the years . Some with 0 pressure. So in July your out watching bucks stroll out at 8:30 night then by September it’s now dark at 7:45 . Bucks still moving ,but’s now dark. Way less cover of darkness in summer to feed. Come fall lots of darkness and lots of time to feed.

[blackveltbowhunter]

I admit not much experience with WT. But september BT in low country sound very similar, and muleys as well are much more patternable.

My theory is sometime during the first week or so photoperiod triggers testosterone dump in the bucks changing habits and locations.

[kodiak06]

Why are you giving up elk? I’m done way before archery elk opens. Most cases you get 8-12 days before elk opens. If I haven’t shot my target buck in first 5 days chances are you won’t after that in September.

I'll be headed over to whitetail hunt after archery elk here starts on 31AGU24. Just saw in regs earlier today that elk starts there later than deer so, that's a +

[kodiak06]

Whitetail figure out it's deer season VERY quick. Grew up with a 3 1/2 month deer season to learn from. The slightest bit of pressure or even traffic on roads and the smart bucks get alarmed to seek cover. I'm gonna get over early and scout, set some cams, and make a few licking branches to get an idea of who's in town. Narrowed my choice from 4 to 2 units today after my talk with a biologist. Pics make threads better so here's an up and comer I hope made it in Idaho

[dilleytech]

It’s not pressure in my opinion. I’ve watched thousands of bucks over the years . Some with 0 pressure. So in July your out watching bucks stroll out at 8:30 night then by September it’s now dark at 7:45 . Bucks still moving ,but’s now dark. Way less cover of darkness in summer to feed. Come fall lots of darkness and lots of time to feed.

Agreed. A buck that has never seen a human likely still does the same things.

[hunter399]

Whitetail figure out it's deer season VERY quick. Grew up with a 3 1/2 month deer season to learn from. The slightest bit of pressure or even traffic on roads and the smart bucks get alarmed to seek cover. I'm gonna get over early and scout, set some cams, and make a few licking branches to get an idea of who's in town. Narrowed my choice from 4 to 2 units today after my talk with a biologist. Pics make threads better so here's an up and comer I hope made it in Idaho

Yup , Now is the time.
Prospects for next year,got a few that I spy with my little eye.

[kodiak06]

I think I got it
Lack of archery hunter numbers per unit = lack of hunter reports completed. People are biting the $10 and playing hush-hush

[boneaddict]

This is going to sound snub to most, but I have NEVER looked at a harvest report for the purpose of determining where I was going to hunt.   

[huntnnw]

This is going to sound snub to most, but I have NEVER looked at a harvest report for the purpose of determining where I was going to hunt.

[bigmacc]

This is going to sound snub to most, but I have NEVER looked at a harvest report for the purpose of determining where I was going to hunt.

100 percent👍

[kodiak06]

This is going to sound snub to most, but I have NEVER looked at a harvest report for the purpose of determining where I was going to hunt.

Doesn't sound bad at all but, Kinda silly IMO not to look at those things if you're traveling out of state to areas you've never hunted unless ya just like wasting time and money. It's not the kills I consider, I look at hunter numbers, areas that interest me, I talk to bios, mail carriers, all kind of good sources... Why go to a unit with a 5% kill rate OR poor herd numbers? If not for doing that research I'd be going to a place in N Washington that's better suited for killing muleys when I'm after whitetail. Situations and location dictate. I don't look at stats here to decide where I hunt but, I already know the answer.