Read This If You Want To Kill A Buck During Halloween Week 2023

Dear Fellow Land Steward,

WE MADE IT! The rut is finally here! I am writing you from the deer woods. (I love technology.)

Having spent the last two weeks in the field, from Northern Pennsylvania to Southcentral Kentucky, I am confident in my predictions to help you land your target buck in bow range over the next 7-days, so buckle up and take notes. This is the magical time of year we deer hunters lose sleep over and significant others dread. The 2023 whitetail rut is officially ON!

Here are three considerations before choosing a treestand this upcoming week:

The deer are still relating closely to acorns, so hunters should too! Hunting has been relatively slow over the past two weeks, with the two driving forces being the weather (hot and dry) and the spectacular abundance of acorns flooding the woodlots. The heat is (temporarily) suspended, so let us focus on the “Akerns.” My family has been on the farm in Whetstone Hollow for seven years, and I have never seen a bumper-crop year like this. The white oaks and chinquapin acorns are all on the ground, and (I expect) they will begin to germinate after the soaking rain event on the front end of this cold front, which started on Monday.

What does this mean for hunters? The deer will transition off the white oaks onto the red oak acorns. For those of you who are curious as to why the shift happens, here is a quick biology lesson:

White oak acorns are pollinated, mature, disperse, and germinate in one growing season. They are usually the first acorns to hit the ground, and they are also the first to germinate if they are not consumed by wildlife. White oaks are the most desirable acorn to deer before germinating, but it is vital to remember that deer seldom consume sprouted acorns.

Let’s contrast this with the white oak’s counterpart, the red oak family. Acorns from tree species in the red oak family take two growing seasons for an acorn to mature and fall off the tree, meaning even though they flower every spring, the acorns that hit the ground in the fall were pollinated the previous year. Why is this important? It’s not.

But what makes red oak acorns so unique stems from the fact that they hit the ground in the fall yet hold off germination until the following spring. Why is this important? Because the red oak acorns contain tannic acid, acting as a preservative to increase their “shelf-life.” Although these tannins are bitter, deer will still prefer a red oak acorn to no acorn, food plots, or corn piles.

In short, acorns are still the food source to target for hunters, but the species of oak you hunt over should be transitioning from white oak to red, like the deer.

Doe family groups will bed and occupy the space closest to the desired food source, this case, your oak trees. I don’t care how big and bad your target buck is; the matriarch of the doe family group will establish their bedding territory adjacent to the best food source, and the big-bad buck will most likely be bedding downwind (or uphill) of her zone. Bucks will be cruising the downwind side of doe bedding, trying to catch a whiff of the first receptive doe. 

I will reiterate this: Does will establish new bedding areas to accommodate the heavy acorn drop. They won’t be where they were bedding all summer. This means hunters might need a little mid-day scouting to find them. If you know where the producing oaks are, you shouldn’t have to look farther than the nearest deadfall, topographic bench, or Timber Stand Improvement (TSI) project. If you are hunting mature timber, the doe bedding area might not be more than a patch of ferns.

If you'd like to encroach on these bedding zones, I suggest waiting until conditions are damp. The leaves sound like potato chips; even a ninja would struggle to close the distance. The more appropriate approach will be to hunt the travel corridors heading to and from the bedding areas, which brings us to our next consideration:

**This would be an excellent time to take Mr. Blanton's advice and use a decoy and calling sequences to lure a lustful buck away from the doe bedding areas. Get as close as you can without disturbing the bedding.

 As tried and true as the sky is blue, hunting pinch-points during the pre-rut works. There is seemingly no rhyme or reason for when the bucks are up on their feet, so you might as well be situated in a stand he is forced to walk past. Creek crossings, topographic saddles, and artificial or natural funnels can all be successful locations during the rut. Time in the stand is time well spent.  

 Your Rut Adventure Awaits!

As we dive headfirst into the excitement of the 2023 whitetail rut, your journey as a deer hunter and land steward is about to reach new heights. The rut is the time we've all been waiting for, and it's time to put your knowledge and skills to the test.

You are now well-armed with the know-how to land that mature buck. The woods are calling, and the chase begins now!

Before entering the wilderness, respect nature, follow all hunting regulations, and prioritize safety. Make unforgettable memories and savor every moment of this magical time of the year.

But it doesn't end here. If you're a landowner looking to enhance your property for the 2024 season, don't wait. My schedule for habitat consultations is filling up quickly, and I operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Be sure to contact me as soon as possible to secure your spot and give your land the attention it deserves. Click the button below to tell me more about your farm!

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Good luck, stay safe, and may Halloween Week 2023 bring you the buck of your dreams!

Happy hunting,