Why October is the Perfect Time for a First-Time Hunter

October is known for having beautiful weather in much of the United States. The leaves are changing to the classic yellow and red colors and the temperature is in the sweet spot between cold and hot, but it’s also the perfect month for hunting. The last part of October is part of rut season, it’s usually within a month of opening day of the season, and the days are starting to get shorter, which means you don’t have to wait as long for a prime sunset hunt when deer are active. All of these benefits make hunting in October a great choice for a first-time hunter. Check out our tips below for why hunting in October can give a new hunter an edge.

Rut Season

Late October to mid-November is prime rut season. Hunting in October should give a new hunter an extra edge because the bucks will be traveling frequently throughout the day in search of does. Set up shop near a fresh rub or scrape and watch does and other dominant bucks check out the area. Our blinds, like the Stump 2 Scout, are incredibly easy to move around the woods, so you can hitch it up to your ATV with the rigid steel hitch and drive around looking for fresh scrapes until you find a great spot. The extra signs and movement will give a new hunter a good sense of deer behavior so they can start to learn what to look for.

A Month After Opening Day

A lot of states’ opening day is in September, so hunting in October will allow the rush of opening day hunters to move through and let the hunting pressure settle down a bit. If you’re still seeing a lot of treestands and blinds in October, check out the back of the hunting property and set up your Stump blind there. The hunting pressure at the front of the hunting property might push the deer back further into the woods toward your blind. Avoiding hunting pressure is great for new hunters because they’ll get a chance at a buck that might have otherwise been harvested by another hunter.

Sunrise and Sunset Hunts

Deer tend to move around to feed an hour before sunrise and an hour before sunset. With the shorter days of October, you can go out to your blind right after dinner and take advantage of an early sunset. This is beneficial for first-time hunters because they can go out with their hunting mentor and spend time learning everything there is to know without hunting late into the evening.

Hunting in October is a great choice for new hunters because it’s the beginning of the active rut season, the weather is mild, you can hunt earlier thanks to the shorter days and earlier sunset, and the pressure of opening day hunters has had time to cool down. If you choose to take a new hunter out to hunt this month, you’ll be able to talk to them freely in the Stump blind thanks to the insulation. If you’re a new hunter yourself, check out our Stump blinds and pick one up now to take advantage of the prime hunting days of fall.

Do you prefer to hunt in October? What month was your first hunt? Let us know in the comments below!