Outdoor Report: Best time is now for archers
This weekend (and the days leading up to it) may well mark the critical time for a lot of hunters. A strong weather front was forecast to hit the area hard in the past days and that will bring a surge of migrating birds into the area and at the same time set up the early, and vital, days of the whitetail rut. All week long we’ve talked to hunters champing at the bit in anticipation of this weekend!
Heavy weather that moves in from the north and west is key to major moves of waterfowl and woodcock. If things work out this will be a very good weekend as northern diving ducks mixed with big mallards should be on the move. Big water is the key for divers; mallards will work the big stuff but also look for back bays and smaller water.
Migrating ducks are a skittish issue with major flights coming in, resting up, and then moving on. But if things work out this weekend will be a good one.
Woodcock also should be riding the northerly winds and for those who pursue them we are near the end of the season; November 3 is the last day woodcock are legal game. Hunting conditions for both woodcock and grouse are as good as they’re going to get.
Which brings us to deer. Very simply put, now is the time all serious archers look forward to. Deer are moving into the rut and the week ahead is set up to be a very good one. A popular rut calendar singles out Friday the 31st, Tuesday November 4, and Friday the 7th as three of the best days for rutting bucks to be on the move. And that is out of only 7 days that they note. If you are going to focus on hunting bucks this week is the week you have waited for.
Bucks in the rut do not (at least not always) throw all caution to the wind. But they do move more frequently, they move during daylight hours, and then often respond to rut-specific scents and calls. There is not space here to note specific tactics but simply put, this is the week for archers.
The Outdoor Report is provided by the staff of Mel’s Trading Post in downtown Rhinelander.
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