1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Wired to Hunt Foundations podcast, your guide 2 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:10,799 Speaker 1: to the fundamentals of better deer hunting, and now your host, 3 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: Tony Peterson. Hey, everyone, welcome to the wire to Hunt 4 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 1: Foundations podcast, which is brought to you by First Light. 5 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: Today's episode is all about staying in the deer hunting 6 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 1: game during the middle of November. Remember that kid in 7 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 1: high school who was a rock star in football or 8 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: basketball in like fifth grade, but never really grew much 9 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:48,199 Speaker 1: beyond middle school, so eventually everyone passed him by peaking 10 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:50,880 Speaker 1: too early As a problem in sports, but also in 11 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 1: deer hunting, it's easy to go all in on the 12 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: rut in the first week in November, but an almost 13 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 1: equally promising week is upon us now. But this is 14 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: also the time when you see a little transition happening, 15 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 1: and it's really the time to keep your head in 16 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:06,120 Speaker 1: the game. This isn't as easy as it sounds, but 17 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 1: it is important. It's also the topic of this old show. 18 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: There's a strange sinking feeling that can creep into us 19 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:30,399 Speaker 1: deer hunters about this time of the month. The days 20 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: leading up to November and the first week those suckers 21 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 1: were all promised any second it was going to happen, 22 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 1: and for a lot of lucky hunters it did, but 23 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 1: not you. If you're listening to this, probably and that sucks. 24 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: What sucks worse is that you can feel the old 25 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 1: clock ticking away, taunting you. How many more days do 26 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 1: you have left until lockdown sets in and the woods 27 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 1: go from crazy too empty? Maybe none, depending on where 28 00:01:56,880 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 1: you're listening to this. Now, it's not all dooming him. 29 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:02,760 Speaker 1: That buck that checks up with his new lady friend 30 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 1: for a day, she'll eventually have enough a hymn and 31 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 1: he'll have to go back on the dear version of 32 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 1: Tinder to see if any other doors are ready to 33 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,359 Speaker 1: swipe right. There's still plenty of rut to work with. 34 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:14,640 Speaker 1: It's just going to be a little different from the 35 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 1: cruising and chase fest that you just had a few 36 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 1: days ago. But before we get into that, though, ask yourself, 37 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:24,799 Speaker 1: why am I still sitting on an unfilled buck tag? 38 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 1: Have you had exciting hunts so far that just didn't 39 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 1: come together with a good shot opportunity for some reason, 40 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 1: or if it did, did you just blow it? If 41 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:35,240 Speaker 1: you've been around plenty of deer, and if witnessed an 42 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: exciting amount of rut action, you're probably on the right 43 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 1: path still. The spots that produced a few days ago, 44 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 1: they probably still produced for the next week or so. 45 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 1: But if you've had a kind of a disappointing rod 46 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 1: hunt so far, then it might be time to re evaluate. 47 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 1: Why did you spend most of your time sitting on 48 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 1: a field edge over a buck decoy hoping to rattle 49 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:57,240 Speaker 1: one in from the neighbor's property, Or did you ride 50 00:02:57,240 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: out all day sits in a stand you thought was 51 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 1: positioned over a good funnel, only to see a couple 52 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: of dinks? And does what happened to your plan? As 53 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 1: important as it is to develop a plan for the future, 54 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,360 Speaker 1: reflecting on the failure of the past, even the very 55 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: very very recent past, is necessary, even if it's not 56 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:17,799 Speaker 1: much fun. How many times did you get busted? How 57 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:20,120 Speaker 1: many times did you walk in get a little sloppy 58 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 1: with the wind thinking the rut was gonna save you. 59 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:25,800 Speaker 1: We've all been led to believe the rut is the 60 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: answer to all of our deer hunting problems, but it isn't. 61 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:30,959 Speaker 1: It certainly helps, and it sure makes it fun to 62 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 1: sit in the woods, but it doesn't always make it easy. 63 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 1: If we don't do enough to take advantage of it, 64 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 1: the whole thing is usually a lost cause. Think about 65 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 1: what went wrong and what to do with the remaining 66 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: days of the rut that you can work with. This 67 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:47,119 Speaker 1: is important because it is about to get a lot 68 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 1: more difficult if this week doesn't go your way, and 69 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 1: it will really get difficult if you keep writing a 70 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 1: dead program. Now you might be thinking, we've only got 71 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: twenty acres to work with, so I do have to 72 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 1: keep sitting in the same stands. That's the case for 73 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 1: some folks, But I'll kindly refer you to a pile 74 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 1: of earlier episodes where I begged and pleaded for you 75 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: to find a new spot or two. And I'll say 76 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 1: it again. We limit ourselves to ground because it's easy, 77 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 1: or it's all we think we need. But has this 78 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 1: week proven that to be true for you? If it hasn't, 79 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 1: when this deer hunt is in the rear view mirror, 80 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 1: start the hunt for a new spot for next year. 81 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:31,280 Speaker 1: We'll get into that a lot in future episodes. Now, 82 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:33,599 Speaker 1: you don't have to be limited to a small property 83 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 1: to ride a dead rut program either. The biggest mistake 84 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: many of us make, which I mentioned in last week's 85 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 1: episode is that we don't think we need to go 86 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:44,480 Speaker 1: look for deer. We don't think we need to move 87 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 1: during the rut. I'd say, out of all the November 88 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:50,359 Speaker 1: bucks I've killed, all but a handful died after I 89 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:53,839 Speaker 1: made at least one move. Only a few died in 90 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 1: easy spots or spots where I decided it was worth 91 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 1: sitting for days and days and days and not moving. 92 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 1: Make sure that dead program reality doesn't happen. Think about 93 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 1: what you did that didn't work, and try also to 94 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 1: think about what is going on out there. There's still 95 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:11,799 Speaker 1: plenty of chasing to be had as well as breeding. 96 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:15,679 Speaker 1: That's just a given. The days of seeing six bucks 97 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 1: going nuts might be gone, but the days of putting 98 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 1: in serious effort on a perfect funnel to have one 99 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 1: good encounter, those are still alive and well. This is 100 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 1: my strategy for this time of year, and it always 101 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 1: involves the absolute most likely travel spots. Notice I didn't 102 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:35,919 Speaker 1: say spot, burnout, wind weather, and just the vibes of 103 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 1: the woods. I'll dictate that one funnel today might be 104 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:41,839 Speaker 1: the best choice, bal tomorrow it won't be. And whether 105 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:44,160 Speaker 1: it's a pinch point of funnel a certain ridge, near 106 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:46,280 Speaker 1: a dough betting area, or just a really well used 107 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: fence crossing somewhere. I try to think about everything that 108 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 1: will work in my favor and with the likelihood is 109 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:54,480 Speaker 1: that it's worth it to devote an entire dark to 110 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:59,360 Speaker 1: dark sit to that spot. You see, some spots are 111 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 1: still morning or evening spots. Some of those stand sites, 112 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 1: they're only going to be good for the first few 113 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:06,719 Speaker 1: hours of the day or the last few hours of 114 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 1: the day, while others can produce at any second of 115 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:12,600 Speaker 1: the day. Now, you could go sit a field edge, 116 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: or a food plot, or that brows line along a 117 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: fresh clear cut where the does like to go at 118 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:20,279 Speaker 1: some point low light. All of these could produce, but 119 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:23,120 Speaker 1: they might not be the best options for all days sits. 120 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: Now you could go sit where three ravines meet and 121 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:28,599 Speaker 1: there's only one small land bridge for most of the 122 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:30,920 Speaker 1: bucks to get from one side to the other. That's 123 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 1: an all day spot. A single sliver of timber that 124 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:38,599 Speaker 1: connects to larger wood lots. That's another one. River systems, 125 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: which if you've listened to the earlier episodes of this podcast, 126 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:43,720 Speaker 1: you know I'm a ginormous ban of them. They are 127 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:47,359 Speaker 1: nature's funnels do you just like to travel along them 128 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 1: and they cross where the crossing is easiest or makes 129 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 1: the most sense for their intentions. Wherever you live, even 130 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 1: in swampy unbroken timber, you can find rut travel routes 131 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 1: that could and should produce all day long. In fact, 132 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 1: one of my favorite November strategies is to post up 133 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 1: in the middle of a figure eight of high ground 134 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 1: in swampy territory where neck down movement is going to 135 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 1: happen at some point. I'll explain this so I'm gonna 136 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: offer up a pro tip for all of you big 137 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 1: woods hunters out there in the northern of the southern 138 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: fringes of the White Tail Range, if you're hunting around 139 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 1: spots with wetlands, use your on X to look for 140 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 1: a low ground shaped like a figure eight. The middle 141 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 1: part of that eight that's high ground, or I should 142 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 1: say high your ground. Usually the circles they're the wetland. 143 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 1: There there are the swamps that the deer don't want 144 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 1: to cross. Now, rarely does nature offer up a perfect 145 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: looking pattern of low and high ground to form an eight, 146 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 1: but it often gets closer than you'd expect. I have 147 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 1: found these spots in several states, and they can be 148 00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 1: dynamite locations for all day sits because they forced deer movement, 149 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 1: They allow for near perfect wind setups, and they often 150 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 1: offer the deer two types of habitat, which makes edges 151 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 1: which we know the dear like. In other words, with 152 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 1: low deer densities and a lot of cover. This is 153 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 1: a kind of spot that can really put you in 154 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 1: dear when most of the woods seem empty. And I'll 155 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:15,520 Speaker 1: offer up another pro tip that has nothing to do 156 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 1: with dear. These figure eight spots and swamps phenomenal places 157 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:22,640 Speaker 1: to bait bears because you can play the wind, you 158 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 1: can predict travel routes, and you're around wetlands and swamps, 159 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 1: so you know you're in a place where bears live. 160 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 1: If you ever have a chance to do a d 161 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 1: I Y baited bear hunt, those spots can be money. 162 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 1: All right. Back to the thinking about developing a milk 163 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:40,320 Speaker 1: run of spots that forced deer movement. Whether you've got 164 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:43,680 Speaker 1: one or ten, ask yourself, what does the wind do 165 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 1: in these spots? You see, we often think about wind 166 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:50,079 Speaker 1: only in the context of not getting busted. This is good, 167 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 1: it's white tail one on one stuff, but it's good, 168 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 1: but it really sells the dear short sells the wind. 169 00:08:56,840 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 1: Short bucks traveling during the rut are living off of 170 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 1: their noses. They are efficient ground covering machines that only 171 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 1: appear to be randomly traversing the countryside. This isn't random. 172 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: They aren't random. They almost always travel with the wind 173 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 1: in such a way that it allows them to scent 174 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:17,880 Speaker 1: check specific areas while using their eyes to look ahead 175 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 1: for dose and danger. To frame this up, the wind 176 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 1: might be perfect for you in a spot you want 177 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 1: to hunt, but what is it doing for the bucks? 178 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 1: Can they use it to scent check a certain flat 179 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:32,840 Speaker 1: or overgrown homestead for dose? If they can, can you 180 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: hunt there in a way where you won't get busted. 181 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 1: This is one of the reasons that hunting bluffy or 182 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 1: hilly terrain is generally easier than flat ground. I say generally, 183 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:44,600 Speaker 1: because there's a lot of variables out there, folks. When 184 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 1: you're in the hills, a buck can have a great 185 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:50,560 Speaker 1: wind for safety or finding dose or both, while you 186 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 1: can have nearly as great of a wind for your 187 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,439 Speaker 1: ridge top setup that won't allow him to smell you 188 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 1: in a flat swamp or in just flatter timber, the 189 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,200 Speaker 1: options for them to get behind you or use the 190 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:05,360 Speaker 1: wind in a way that you simply can't. It's much greater. 191 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:07,840 Speaker 1: This requires more thought and more planning, and is one 192 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:11,319 Speaker 1: of the reasons why it's often more challenging. Now there 193 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 1: are some spots where this really doesn't matter. A really 194 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:17,680 Speaker 1: great pinch point, like those swampy figure eights I just mentioned, 195 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:20,680 Speaker 1: a force movement no matter what the wind is doing. 196 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:22,559 Speaker 1: As long as the bucks are likely to want to 197 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: get from point A to B, those routes are the 198 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:29,600 Speaker 1: ones they have to take. These are the best. They're 199 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:33,800 Speaker 1: my favorite spots, and they can be super productive oftentimes 200 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:36,680 Speaker 1: a non swampy ground. They consist of a small patch 201 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 1: of timber connected to a larger track, or two tracks 202 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 1: of timber, i should say. And while bucks might pull 203 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:44,480 Speaker 1: a crazy move on you and sprint across a wide 204 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 1: open field to get from one side of the other, 205 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 1: most will stick to the cover fairly well, especially if 206 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:53,120 Speaker 1: you're hunting pressure. Dear, they are even more likely to 207 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 1: do this than they were a week ago as the 208 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 1: rut rages through and the hunting pressure gets to them. 209 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,320 Speaker 1: Because don't forget, even though the ruts awesome and it's 210 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:05,439 Speaker 1: burning really hot. Everybody knows that, and your competitions out 211 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 1: there sitting harassing those deer as well. So you've got 212 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: to really think through your setups because honestly, time is 213 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 1: kind of running out for a lot of hunters. I 214 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 1: know it's different if your way down self, but in 215 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:20,320 Speaker 1: much of the White Tail territory clock is ticking. You 216 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 1: don't want to go to a default stand right now 217 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: simply because you think the rut will save you. This 218 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:27,400 Speaker 1: is a time when you can still have a crazy, 219 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 1: action packed hunt, but can also sit all day and 220 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 1: not see a deer that last one. It's a real 221 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 1: kick to the delegates, but it happens, and when it does, 222 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 1: you'll find out what kind of a rut hunter you 223 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:42,679 Speaker 1: really are the next time your alarm goes off. Despite 224 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:44,320 Speaker 1: the fact that the rut is supposed to be awesome, 225 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:48,080 Speaker 1: it can be a real grind. This goes for all hunters, 226 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:51,360 Speaker 1: but it's nearly a given. If you're hunting pressure ground 227 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:55,760 Speaker 1: or low density terrain big woods, rut hunting can be 228 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 1: a mental challenge. And I don't care if that happens 229 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 1: in Michigan's up or somewhere down in Louisiana in a 230 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 1: month or two, when those Southern bucks are getting randy. 231 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:07,040 Speaker 1: It can even happen in great states like Iowa, where 232 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 1: there are supposed to be booners hiding in every wood lot. 233 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 1: There aren't, of course, and there are just days and 234 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 1: scenarios that don't work for you very well when they're 235 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:18,600 Speaker 1: supposed to. This is one. A midday mover just might 236 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 1: save your butt, and you had better be there to 237 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 1: intercept him. I had one of these experiences the second 238 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 1: time I Drew and Iowa tag. My hunt was time 239 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 1: from like I think November six through the twelfth and 240 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 1: somewhere in that range. The first few days were a bust, 241 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 1: likely due to hot weather and a lot more hunting 242 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 1: pressure than my hunting partner and I anticipated. On the 243 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: farm that we were hunting with nothing to go on, 244 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 1: he and I decided we better drop down into a 245 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:46,720 Speaker 1: valley with a small stream in it, figuring that was 246 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 1: where the best cover was and the least likely chance 247 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:52,320 Speaker 1: to run into other bow hunters. We figured they would 248 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: stay on top on the fields. The first morning, I 249 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:57,920 Speaker 1: posted up in a spot where a steep creek bank 250 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 1: met the hillside. This forced deer to either go up 251 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:04,320 Speaker 1: over the bank or drop down and cross. I was 252 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 1: hoping they'd be adverse to getting their feet wet and 253 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:08,959 Speaker 1: they would come up on my side. As the woods 254 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 1: woke up, a small six pointer started chasing a dough 255 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:15,080 Speaker 1: all through the valley. They ran up and downstream, they 256 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:17,560 Speaker 1: ran up the sides of the bluffs. They made a 257 00:13:17,559 --> 00:13:19,960 Speaker 1: ton of noise. They couldn't have made more noise if 258 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 1: they tried, and I felt at any second they'd call 259 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:26,680 Speaker 1: him a big buck, but they didn't. Eventually they ran off, 260 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:29,320 Speaker 1: and that scrapper lost his V card to that dough, 261 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 1: right in front of my hunting partner. As the morning 262 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 1: started to give away to the midday, it got warmer 263 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:38,440 Speaker 1: and more still, and started to feel way less likely 264 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:41,199 Speaker 1: that a deer was going to come in for Iowa. 265 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:44,439 Speaker 1: It was a huge disappointment until I randomly looked up 266 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:46,679 Speaker 1: and just down the creek from me, I saw rack 267 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:49,440 Speaker 1: bobbing my way. When he got to twenty yards, he 268 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:52,120 Speaker 1: busted me drawing, but it was too late. The buck, 269 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:55,320 Speaker 1: one of my biggest ever even to this day, piled 270 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:57,480 Speaker 1: up fifty yards away and made me realize how much 271 00:13:57,520 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 1: I had been considering heading in to take a nap, 272 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 1: and how little I had actually been paying attention. It's 273 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 1: one thing to believe you'll be on your a game 274 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:08,719 Speaker 1: throughout the entire rut. It's another to wake up for 275 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:11,880 Speaker 1: days in a row and then stay sharp on stand 276 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 1: when the action is just gone. This is one of 277 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: the things that separates the deer hunters from the dear killers. Now, 278 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 1: everyone in either category believes they are die hard and 279 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 1: we'll get up every morning and hunt every chance possible. 280 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 1: But deer hunters often don't do that. Dear killers do. 281 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 1: They keep going, and they keep hunting even when they 282 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 1: are tired and ready to quit, even when they're coming 283 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:40,440 Speaker 1: off two or three days of really really dead action. 284 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 1: They do this because they know it's worth it to 285 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 1: be there in a spot they really believe in. It's 286 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 1: also worth it to not give the lockdown much credit. Now. 287 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:54,280 Speaker 1: I know when bocks hole up with the doze it 288 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:56,440 Speaker 1: can get pretty slow, but I always look at it 289 00:14:56,480 --> 00:14:59,480 Speaker 1: like fishing. There are conditions where anglers will swear the 290 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 1: walleye or the small mouth or the muskies or whatever 291 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 1: they're just not biting. Sure, there might be a half 292 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 1: day or maybe a full day where they just aren't 293 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:11,840 Speaker 1: too ambitious, but not a week. They have to eat, 294 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:16,160 Speaker 1: and they will eat. You just have to figure out when, where, 295 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:20,040 Speaker 1: and on what they will nom nomb away on with deer. 296 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 1: During mid November, they're gonna rut. They have to, and 297 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 1: that means that even though the experts are going to 298 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 1: tell you there will be days with no activity, those 299 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 1: bucks are still out there doing their thing, even in 300 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:35,200 Speaker 1: low density areas. If half of your bucks are locked 301 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:38,040 Speaker 1: up by the end of this week, that leaves at 302 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 1: least one or two in your area, at least one 303 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:45,080 Speaker 1: or two still looking on good dear ground. That might 304 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: mean six or seven bucks in your section are still 305 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 1: out or more and they're covering ground and putting themselves 306 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 1: in a position to be shot, even if only one 307 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 1: or two is actually the size that you're looking for. 308 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 1: All I'm saying here is it can start to really 309 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:01,760 Speaker 1: feel hopeless, but it's not. Stay out there, keep hunting 310 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:05,000 Speaker 1: if you have the chance. That's all I'm saying. This 311 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 1: is important, but only if you take this and keep 312 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 1: grinding it out. And even as I say that, I 313 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 1: cringe a little. The hunting industry has pushed this blood, 314 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 1: sweat and tears mentality on us as if we're storming 315 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 1: the beach at Normandy or one lab experiment away from 316 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 1: carrying cancer and children. We're not. We're just hunting deer. 317 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:29,400 Speaker 1: So to be successful this week, we often just need 318 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:31,520 Speaker 1: to get out of our own way and realize that 319 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 1: even a slow day in the woods with low odds 320 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 1: is a hell of a lot better than most of 321 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 1: the other stuff we could be doing. After all, you 322 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 1: get to scroll through Instagram and check out how narcissistic 323 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 1: your buddies are with their NonStop selfies. Get to drink 324 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 1: some coffee, maybe read a book, watch nature do its thing. 325 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:51,360 Speaker 1: That's not a punishment, my friends, it's a gift, and 326 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:54,000 Speaker 1: it only gets better when you have those glimpses of 327 00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 1: action or those moments in the woods that make an 328 00:16:56,120 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 1: entire season. There's still time for those, my friends. Decide 329 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:02,680 Speaker 1: if you need to make a real move right now 330 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 1: or if your previous hunt's portends solid action for the 331 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:09,120 Speaker 1: remainder of mid November. Factor in the wind and how 332 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:10,919 Speaker 1: it works for you, and how it will work for 333 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 1: the buck who wants to sniff some butts. Put in 334 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:16,879 Speaker 1: the time you have to put in in spots that 335 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:19,480 Speaker 1: make the most sense. For what should be happening with 336 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:23,439 Speaker 1: the deer right now. Forget the locked down, forget the 337 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 1: horror stories about dead rots or bad timing or rots whatever. 338 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 1: There's nothing you can do about that but to keep hunting. 339 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:35,720 Speaker 1: And remember if it seems hopeless, it's not. There's time 340 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 1: left for great hunting. And really we're only starting to 341 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:40,200 Speaker 1: get into the land of hopelessness as a white tail hunter. 342 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:42,959 Speaker 1: Believe me, it's gonna get a hell of a lot worse. Now. 343 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 1: We won't get there next week yet, but we will 344 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:47,399 Speaker 1: get a little closer. We also get the chance to 345 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 1: bring out the boomsticks and get revenge on all the 346 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 1: deer we try to kill with archery tackle but couldn't 347 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:54,639 Speaker 1: because they stayed out of range. That's the topic of 348 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,240 Speaker 1: next week's episode, so make sure you give it a listen. 349 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:01,840 Speaker 1: That's it for to show my friends, I'm Tony Peterson 350 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 1: and this has been the Wire to Hunt Foundations podcast. 351 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:06,800 Speaker 1: If you're looking for more white tail advice, head on 352 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:10,040 Speaker 1: over to our Wire to Hunt YouTube channel, see Yours Truly, 353 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 1: Mark Kenyon and a few other deer junkies giving how 354 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:15,920 Speaker 1: to deer hunting advice. You can also visit the Meat 355 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:19,160 Speaker 1: eater dot com slash wired to read up on what's 356 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:20,880 Speaker 1: new in the white tailed world.