November is the month most passionate whitetail hunters wait all year for! Spouses become deer hunting widows, and precious vacation time comes and goes. Here are 5 more tips to help you this month in your quest for consistent success on big bucks:
- Hunt Mid-Day
When I look back at my November success over the years, a majority of what I’ve shot has been from 11am to 3pm. Be on stand as often as you can during this time period! - Continue to Scout
It’s easy to get stuck in a pattern of hunting the same stands during November because rut action means you can get away with more pressure on specific spots. But if you’re not seeing any action, do not be afraid to get out and scout! One thing I like to do is hunt the first 1.5-2 hours of the morning, then get down and scout (if I’m needing to). This way I can be back on stand in a new spot by those prime 11am – 3pm hours I mention above. - Same Time Same Place
I really don’t know why this debate takes place every year, but the rut takes place within about the same timeframe every year, in a given area. Does come into heat consistently from year to year, within a day or two, based on the amount of daylight and their particular cycle. The idea that there’s going to be “an early rut” or “a late rut” just isn’t true. It’s the same time every year. What you see that makes it seem to vary at times is weather or pressure affecting the amount of daytime movement. Warm weather can shut down daytime movement and make a rut seem non-existent. And, you’ll always have certain does that come into heat early or late and cause people to think that it varies, but the main part of the rut in your area is the same time from one year to the next. Don’t forget this when planning your hunts. - Learn from Your Cameras
Something to watch for on your trail cameras…when does start separating from their fawns, it’s on. Pay attention to patterns on your cameras. You’ll often have your resident doe(s) with their fawns on camera all the time. When you notice a change in this, pay attention. I have a small window of opportunity on my own place each year for a decent buck to come around when one of the couple does I have living on my place enters estrous. That’s when you need to be out there. - Remain Mobile During All Day Hunts
It’s easy to get lazy and just sit in the same spot all day long, despite knowing in your heart that it’s really only good for a small window in the day. Sometimes morning, mid-day, and evening spots should not be the same…especially if hunting Hill Country Bucks. Thermals shift and what’s good in the morning might not be good mid-day. I often move 2 or 3 times during an “all day hunt”. It might be just 50 yards or it may be to a completely new spot, but don’t be afraid to get down and move to a better spot for a certain time of day. - Bonus Tip: Staying Warm
If it’s cold, the best way I’ve found to stay warm during long sits on stand is via a couple things: 1) take my boots off and use boot blankets with an instant handwarmer in them, and 2) use a lightweight sleeping bag pulled up to the waist/chest (I use my Marmot bag)…inside a camo decoy bag.
Mistakes to Avoid in November
Avoid doing the opposite of my tips above…if you’re not seeing deer, for heaven’s sake, move! If you only see deer during the morning or evening in a certain spot, go hunt elsewhere during the slow times there! I think guys come home empty-handed sometimes because they’re either too stubborn or too lazy to change things up. Sometimes we just have to take our medicine and accept that the deer just aren’t moving even though we’re in a good spot, but overall, don’t give up, keep trying and keep moving!
Good luck with your next buck!