BANKS BLOG

Opening day in most states comes during the seasonal transition between summer and fall. In many areas of the country, you may still be experiencing summer heat when the bell rings, but other states might already be chilly by the time it rolls around. Either way, the deer will be in tune to the drops in temperature and may change their patterns as the weather changes from the dog days of summer to a hunter’s haven fall. Check out our tips, below, for how the weather patterns might predict early-season success.

Opening day is coming up here in Minnesota on Sept. 19. If you haven’t already, now is the time to pick the prime spot for your Stump blind before the bell sounds on opening day. Setting up your blind now will give the deer herd time to get used to it, so they won’t be as startled by it when it’s go-time. Review our tips, below, for a final blind placement checklist.

Deer season is almost here! Just six weeks until opening day here in Minnesota, on Sept. 19. Since the season opens while it’s still technically summer, the deer herd will have plenty of crops to choose from before they start withering away in the colder weather. We’ve compiled some tips for how to spot early-season deer patters where the mature bucks will feed and make bedding areas.

Deer hunting season opens in less than two months here in Minnesota on Sept. 19. Between now and opening day, you can do some early research to find out if there are any bucks in the herd you want to put on your radar to target in the fall. Check your state’s regulations to find the bag limits for your area and check out our tips below for how to identify target bucks before the season starts.

Deer seek out water during the hot summer months just like we do. Having a water system on your property can help shape summer deer patterns to bring them to your property and keep them there until the fall hunting season. Check out this week’s blog, below, to learn how water shapes summer deer patterns across regions.

Our Stump blinds provide a natural concealment, but you can up the ante even more by “brushing in” your blind. Brushing in is the act of using natural vegetation and foliage on and around your blind to further disguise the blind from wildlife. The extra concealment will help you remain stealthy has you enter the fall hunting season. Check out our tips for brushing in, below.

July and August will be your prime months to observe deer herd behavior on your trail cameras before the deer hunting season opens in Minnesota on Sept.19. Trail cameras give you the ability to check out the deer herd’s habits before hunting season opens so that you can go into opening day with a game plan. Check out our tips, below, for where to place your trail cameras for the rest of the summer.

As bucks age and mature, they start to develop antlers that grow and shed on a cycle every year. During late summer, there’s a time frame where the deer have grown their antlers, but they’re not yet fully developed. They have a coating of fur known as “velvet” that covers the bone of the antlers underneath. Having the velvet on their antlers causes bucks to behave differently as they accommodate the growth during their overall cycle. Our tips, below, will help you understand these velvet-cycle routines and territories.

The work you do now during the summer off season can have a big impact on the fall hunting season. Clear your shooting lanes, give the deer herd shade and keep your deer feeders stocked to set yourself up for a success fall season. Check out our tips below and browse our arsenal of Banks Outdoors products to learn how your summer habitat projects can pay off in the fall.

Deer patterns shift depending on the time of year. During rut season, they’re seeking out mates and covering a lot of ground during all hours of the day. During the winter, they move around in light snow but bed down during thick snowfall. In the summer, they find areas of shade under heavy tree or bush coverage to get relief from the blazing sun. Learn more about how you can keep the deer herd comfortable and how the heat affects their behavior.

The summer heat can dry out more than just lakes and rivers. Food sources are also affected by summer droughts. Our Feedbank Gravity Feeders give deer easy access to the food and nutrients they need to continue building their antlers and stay healthy during the brutal summer temperatures, even when their natural food sources might be drying out. Check out our tips, below, to learn more about how our feeders can keep the herd fed and thriving during the summer months.

Summer heat waves affect us all, even the deer herd. As the temperatures rise, deer will begin to seek out areas of heavy shade and plentiful water sources to stay cool and hydrated. If your property offers both benefits, you’ll see the deer herd gravitate to your land all season, setting you up for an active and successful fall hunting season. Check out our tips below on how to identify these deer patterns.