Rifle Opener and Deer's reactions

[1eyeReD]

I'm an archery hunter. I only have public options for this season. My goal was to get on a buck before the rifle opener. With my luck, I might be hunting well into that season...

Question is.. After the rifle opener & chaos, do the deer get really spooky to where it'll become harder for me to get deer under my stand?

Thanks in advance....

1eR

[vister]

they only get spooky if they are in a heavily pressured area. also, some deer tend to start going to their wintering grounds late in november, especially if there is nothing for them to eat.

[96trigger]

Yes it will get tough, I bowhunt lots of public land, once the lead starts flying, it is very tough to get something close and not going 100 mph. It can happen, but your odds go way, way down. Last year during the last week of the season. I had deer all around me during the firearm season ini the middle of the week. It was very unusual but it can happen.

is it heavily hunted public land?

[Bear55]

I agree it all depends on the area and the pressure. Most places will calm down during the week so I'd say get out there and hunt then if you can. It my opinion usually around the 2nd week in November is the best time to be in the woods so there is no reason you won't have luck with a bow.

[1eyeReD]

I'm not sure if it's heavily hunted or not, but I imagine so. I just recently moved here and have only had enough time to go out and get a mediocre feel of what to expect. So far, I've been out there two Sunday afternoons in a row and seen 1 pair of smallgame hunters on the most recent Sunday while on the Sunday prior, I seen 2 bowhunters. The heaviest use of the property is from people with horses.

However, I'm keeping my hopes high as this piece of public has a lot of deer sign and activity. On my way out and while driving, I'll always see a few does along the dirt road but that's obviously during the dark.

Thanks....

[Lunker]

If you are in a pressured area, the deer get kicked around quite a bit just because of the sheer number of people in the area. I know in one of the areas I hunt, after one day of rifle season the private hay field near our property that usually attract deer only during evening hours turns into where the deer go to bed....all day. You can literally drive by and see 20 does laying out in the field. Rifle season does change habits. Then again, if a buck is really chasing, they do some stupid things.