Best Week to Hunt 2021

Chris from Missouri asks,

Bill, I leased 280 acres in Illinois this year. I’m from Missouri and have never hunted outside of the state. The farm I that I have leased is planted in corn this year. My question is if you had a choice to hunt the first week of November or the second week which would you choose? I know there are a lot of different factors that would determine which week could be better. I have 10 days vacation that I plan to use and would like your opinion on what you think. I have learned a lot over the years watching your videos and following some of your tips. Appreciate your time and what you do. One more question, what is your take on Deer scents? Thanks, Chris

Bill responds,

Topic: Best Week to Hunt 2021:

Chris,

If the weather is going to be normal then the best days are usually the first ten days of November versus the next ten.  But, and this is the big but, if it is warm, the bucks will be nocturnal.  They are wearing their winter coats so they won’t tolerate much heat at this time.

Again, weather plays the deciding role.  If there is some way you can keep the dates flexible until the last minute so you can look at the forecast, that is much better. If not, you have to roll the dice and go with the first ten days. 

Possibly you can break it up and go with a couple days in late October (hoping for a cold front) and then save the rest of the vacation until about November 3.  Good luck. Should be a lot of fun. 

Regarding deer scents, I don’t have a lot of experience with them. I am kind of a minimalist. I don’t like to add lots of steps to my hunting so I never got good at using scents.

I do think that a mock scrape located near your stand with some kind scent applied would help to position a buck for the shot and keeping him distracted while you draw to shoot. That makes a lot of sense to me, but I have not done it much.  Good luck. (10/5/21)