Low number of Sept archery whitetail hunters

[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.