Early or Late

[Mossy]

I'm sure this has been brought up before. This will be my 4th season with a bow now with nothing to show for it so far.  I only hunt late season and I'm wondering if I should try early.  I guess my reasoning for not hunting in september is the heat. I'm not the best or fastest in gutting so I'm worried about spoiling.  I'm also partial to hunting in the snow.  So I'd like to hear your thoughts, what season do you hunt and why?

[carpsniperg2]

  hell yeah get out and hunt you have time to get the guts out of them before they spoil.

[PolarBear]

I don't even start hunting until November.  I'm like you, I prefer cold/snow, no bugs, fewer people and less chance of spoilage.  Where I hunt it takes several hours to half a day to pack an animal out so spoilage is a huge factor for hunting late for me.

[billythekidrock]

I would suggest doing what you are comfortable with. Work within any limitations and enjoy yourself.

[Skyvalhunter]

Hey why not try early just to break up the rut you are in!!

[halflife65]

Heck yeah, hunt early.  I was up pretty high yesterday after work and it was about 45 degrees.   Not too hot at all - in fact, really comfortable.

You can always make the decision NOT to shoot if you think that it's too hot and you've wandered too far from the pickup to get the meat out.  It allow you more chances to blow stalks and to "practice" as well.  I'd go - and good luck.

[boneaddict]

You can hunt and be really picky and not shoot the first thing you see.  It will hone your woodsman skills for later. 

[GoldTip]

Heck yeah get out and hunt. Heck I've killed elk as early as the 10th of September with temps reaching the 80's at mid day.  Just get the hide off and get them into a creek bottom near camp and hung up, and deer cool much easier.   And yeah as said above, if you think it's too hot, don't dump the string on them.  But remember even tomorrow with it supposed to get up to like the low 80's, it' still drops into the 40's at night, which is plenty cool.

[bobcat]

You didn't say if you're talking about deer, elk, or both. If elk, then definitely hunt the early season. The rut is the best time to hunt elk. For deer, I'd say there are probably better opportunities in the late season, but it all depends on where you're hunting and what kind of deer you're after. I'd still hunt some in the early season. If nothing else, it's a good time to be out scouting. You may as well carry your bow while you're at it, just in case.

[Mossy]

I'm talking about whitetail.  It's private so there "shouldn't" be anybody else out there.  I think you guys are right.  I'm going to try and head up today or tomorrow.  I need to put up my new stand anyway.

[halflife65]

'Atta boy.  Go get one.

[Mossy]

well it sounded like a great idea but my stand wasn't arrived yet, the big c says a few more days. 

[billythekidrock]

Then hunt from the ground. 

[Little Fish]

Hunt when you can. Life on earth is short, time is limited.

[Mossy]

I know, I should have just headed out.  Things got in the way.  Will be out next thursday and friday. 

[halflife65]

Even if you don't want to hunt the private land yet, go scout some other places.  It's always helpful to have a backup spot in case the primary doesn't work out.

[sneakyjake]

You might find that you are better at early season tactics then late season.

[colockumelk]

The nice thing about early deer season is there is way less people and the deer can be easily patterned.  But the late season is nice because it's cooler and they're in the rut.  As far as elk goes.....

The early season is where its at.  The only reason I hunt the late season for elk is because I can.  But for me calling in bugling bulls is where its at.  That is the whole reason I hunt with a bow so that I can call in bulls.  Good luck and smoke a WT for me.  In Alabama the season doesn't start until Oct 15th. 

[blk_tmbr_archery]

I prefer the early season.  You have a chance to get a deer still in velvet and the elk are in rut.  I also enjoy the fact I feel like I see more animals in the early season.  In the end it is all up to you but you don't know what you are missing if you aren't out there giving it a shot.  Besides, early season is another excuse to go play in the woods.