??? of the Day - Early or Late Season Archery Hunting

Founder · Dec 10, 2014

Question of the Day - For those of you who archery hunt both early and late, or have done, which do you enjoy more? When I talk early, I'm talking about August and early September. Late I would say is during the rut, maybe in snow, in November.
When have you had best success? Which do you think is less crowded?

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com
Will you LIKE MonsterMuleys.com on Facebook! I need a friend....

devobrodie · Dec 10, 2014

I enjoy both, I see more mature bucks late, but have more success early. When they are chasing the does it can be hard to sneak up on them, they don't hold still for too long, and the does always bust me when I try and intercept them on the move. Early season can feel like not the best hunting weather, especially in Aug. Nevada opens in the 2nd week, so it has been downright hot, in the upper 80's and if you don't find your buck right away after the shot you can be in trouble fast. I see more pressure early. I think that is because we have been waiting all year and no one can stay home! For the late hunts I think a lot of people have already done quite a bit of hunting and find it hard to get away. Getting ready to go to AZ the day after Christmas! Maybe I will get lucky this year!!

fullthrottle · Dec 10, 2014

Good question... I enjoy both also. Fun stalking those high alpine bucks, but really like seeing those hard horned bruisers doing there thing during the rut. I also like hunting In the cooler weather, snow makes it kinda fun. How about you founder?

nfh · Dec 10, 2014

I like our early September hunts. you can catch the whitetails right before they turn nocturnal.

I wish we a archery December but we don't but it sure would be a blast at some monster bucks

BrowningRage · Dec 11, 2014

The early August hunts generally produce more deer IMO. However, some days it feels like you are up in the dark, glass for an hour in the morning and then say, okay, its 8am, I just have 11 hours to kill before the deer are moving again... That's not always fun.

The rut hunts are more difficult for many of the reasons already stated. Unpredictable deer, never staying still, poor weather conditions, wet, cold, snow... etc.

I prefer hard-horned over velvet everyday. If I could, I would hunt the late seasons. Just a hard to time to find the time.

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24

txhunter58 · Dec 11, 2014

I enjoy high country early hunts more. The meat also tastes WAY better from an early, high country buck

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

southslope82 · Dec 12, 2014

I prefer the Early season myself, For many reasons
#1 I love hunting the high country mule deer above timberline its just more fun than the late hunt IMO. That time of year there is more hours of daylight and I can also squeeze in hunts before or after work the weather is better. I feel too I can pattern a buck better knowing that once it gets so warm he will bed down or water and shade might be scarce. I myself am also a fan of velvet bucks there is just a smaller window to hunt bucks in velvet than there is hard horned I bet there are a lot more Big Hard horned bucks hanging in peoples homes than Velvet Bucks. The late Hunt I have archery hunted turns into pretty much a land access issue to cause the late boundaries just don't have much public in it. To answer founders questions though I actually have had better success so far on the late hunt. and I would say that by far the early hunt is less crowded were I hunt..

elkun · Dec 12, 2014

elkassassin told me late the later the better depending on which light he was using !!

cabinfever · Dec 12, 2014

I subscribe to the philosophy "the early bird gets the worm". When I'm hunting late, I can't help but wonder how many big bucks hit the ground during the early season. I have hands down killed more big bucks early than late. With that said, it sure is fun chasing rutting bucks in the snow in November.

Founder · Dec 12, 2014

I like the earlier hunts too. The long mid-day hours when not much is moving is the toughest to deal with when hunting in August. But still, I like hunting the high country early.

The rut hunts are still fun, but here in Utah there are so many people out there everyday. There were a lot of people out in August also, but nothing like mid-November.

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com
Will you LIKE MonsterMuleys.com on Facebook! I need a friend....

Rizzy · Dec 12, 2014

Good discussion.
So between a Velvet Muley in his summer routine and a rut crazed Muley chasing Does all day.

I like the early seasons better because I feel I'm a more efficient hunter. The weather is not an issue, gear is lighter, and those redish coats with furry antlers stick out against the background more.

trophymuley · Dec 12, 2014

I really enjoy the later end of the early season. A lot less people, you get the chance of a hard horned Muley with that amazing short silver cape and the meat is by far better than the late season muleys. Does piss me off too much during the late season