Getting Through the Mid-Season Slump/October Lull

Heidi Esau

If you're like us and not overly picky about what weapon you shoot with, the whitetail season is about 3 months long. September is the most enjoyable in my opinion, with the warmer temperatures, low hunting pressure, possibility of shooting a buck in velvet, and for the most part, fairly patternable deer. Troy, on the other hand, would likely say November is the most enjoyable month, with deer rutting and responding to calls, and the possibility of a big deer moving through that you've never had on camera. That leaves October.....the month that can be a struggle. It is easy to play the comparison game. You see all the people that have had early season success, and there's that twinge of jealousy, but remember, hunting is not just about the harvest, it's about the journey, and enjoying every step of the way.

You can call it the October Lull, or you can call it the Mid-Season slump, but October can be a difficult month to whitetail hunt. While I don't actually believe that deer movement slows all that much, I do think it changes in October. Here in Manitoba, harvest is in full swing and food sources are constantly changing for deer. The corn fields that deer were hiding/living in are coming off, pushing them to find other cover. This is the time of year where while the deer are still moving, their patterns change as their surroundings change. If you as a hunter don't adapt to those changes, yes, there is a good chance you will feel as if the hunt has suddenly dried up.

There are a couple ways you can hunt in October. You can keep sitting in the same spots and hope for the best. If you were seeing deer movement there in September, chances are you still may see some movement, but likely not as much. You can push closer to bedding areas, but this can come back to bite you as well. If you can get in and out undetected, this can work and may be successful, but you could also push too hard and deer will move out of the area entirely. Consider what the food sources are. Living on the prairies, the main food sources for deer out here are the fields. For example, the corn field north of our place has been silaged, and has cows grazing on it now, but the field south of us is planted into fall rye and is lush and green. In September, the deer were moving on the north side of our property and many were living and feeding in that corn field. Now, with that crop off, the deer have moved into our bush and are feeding to the south on the fresh rye. If you continued to sit on the north side, chances are that your hunt will be slow, but if you adapt and follow the deer to the new food source, you will not experience the October lull the same way.

The catch on this is that I would say the bucks are moving later and still not responding to a call till the end of October. To see them before dark, you do need to push closer to bedding areas, but weigh your options. I would prefer to have less pressure on them now and just hold out for the rut.

As a wife and mom, I can't count the number of times I have come home from an October whitetail hunt feeling like it was the wrong decision for that day, and feeling the guilt that I should have spent the time with my family instead of in the bush. It is easier to justify, in my mind, if it was a great hunt with a lot of deer movement. Finding the balance between a time-consuming hobby, and time with your family can be a struggle. I push pretty hard in September going out every chance I get, but in October, I have learned that for me, the balance means pulling back a little and occasionally staying home even if I could go out, before putting the pedal to the metal in November. Just because this is what works for me, it may not be the answer for you. In saying that, if there is a time during whitetail season to maybe take a step back and spend a bit more time with your kids, go on a date with your significant other, or fit in an exciting waterfowl hunt with family and friends, I would suggest the middle of October!