The best time of day to hunt bucks changes as the season goes on. It is true that you can take a buck at any time of day and on any day of the whitetail deer season, but there are times when the odds are better. On this episode I talk about the best time of day to hunt bucks in the early season, pre-rut, rut, late season and everything in between.

Take Aways

• Deer movement tendencies will differ by region, landscape, micro-climate, and local food sources and cover. This episode provides broad recommendations that must be measured against what happens in your local area.
• There is no better way to determine the best time to hunt than by real data from your hunting spot. Trail cams provide the best objective measurements of when bucks are moving.
• Consider reviewing last years trail camera data for the time you plan to hunt this year to get a sense of how deer typically use the land.
• Early Season – Deer may still be in their summer habits and habitat and may be less skittish and more forgiving until hunting pressure pushes them to moving less during the daylight.
• Pre-Rut – Bucks are up and covering ground looking for does, they are active much more during daylight.
• Rut – Bucks are active around the clock, chasing does, fighting, and looking for the next moment of excitement, until they putter out and enter a rest phase.
• Late Season – Bucks are still interested in breeding but begin to return to their regular habits, specifically eating and looking for thick cover.
• Listen to the episode to hear about the best time of day to hunt bucks in each phase of the deer season.