FeaturesJuly 22, 2001
THE WEEKEND HUNTER: DEER HUNTERS: TIME TO GET READY
For us deer hunters, we have made it over the hump. When July arrived, we could start buying deer tags, and applying for managed hunts. Let me give you an update on some season dates along with the deer activity, and even some turkey activity in Missouri for this month and for the rest of the year...
Allen Morris
For us deer hunters, we have made it over the hump. When July arrived, we could start buying deer tags, and applying for managed hunts. Let me give you an update on some season dates along with the deer activity, and even some turkey activity in Missouri for this month and for the rest of the year.
July - Events
Deer tags went on sale.
You can now apply online with the Missouri Department of Conservation for managed deer hunts at http://www.conservation.state.mo.us./hunt/deer/
July Deer Activity Index
Conformity of antler growth complete except for tine tips and length by the middle of the month.
Bucks form bachelor groups.
Fawn activity is seen near beginning of month.
Fawns can outrun predators at the age of 2 weeks.
August - Events
Put Camtrakker on salt licks at beginning of month. If you have not seen one check out www.camtrakker.com
August - Deer Activity Index
Bucks start displaying dominance.
Antler growth is completed by the end of month and blood is cut off to antler, velvet dries and starts to peel "shed" off last few days of August.
Shedding of summer coat, deer need salt.
Watch edges of crop fields just before dark second half of August for big bucks.
September - Events
Results of managed deer hunts are out.
Dove season opens on Sept. 1.
If you have not started already good time to start practicing bow.
Good time to finish or hang deer stands, plant food plots and basically get ready for bow season.
September - Deer Activity Index
Majority of velvet shedding takes place by Sept. 2 and should be finished by Sept. 10.
Antler velvet is generally shed in a day.
Antler sparring among bucks begins right after velvet sheds.
Dominant bucks begin to make scrapes by the end of the month.
October - Events
Opening day of bow season is Oct. 1.
Fall turkey season opens Oct. 8t and ends Oct. 21.
Open mock scrapes Oct. 10.
"First ever" youth firearms deer season Oct. 27 and 28.
October - Deer and Turkey Activity Index
Sparring and rubbing peaks last few days of the month through the first week of November.
Majority of the rubbing activity starts for bucks of all ages.
Most scrapes opened by end of the month.
False rut should occur Oct. 10 through Oct. 15. Less than 5 percent of does are bred.
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Cooler temperatures from the north will also increase activity this time of year.
Turkey will start gathering together and looking for water if it is dry.
November - Events
Firearms deer season opens Nov. 10 and ends Nov. 20.
Second half of bow season opens Nov. 21.
November - Deer Activity Index
Does in estrus 24-hour period.
Peak of rut dominant bucks tending does, subordinate bucks trying to.
80 to 90 percent of does breed during first rut.
Bucks lose up to 25 percent of body weight during breeding season.
Some rubbing activity will continue.
December - Events
Muzzleloading season opens Dec. 1 and ends Dec. 9.
December - Deer and Turkey Activity Index.
Second estrus by doe deer not previously bred 30 days from first rut.
10 to 20 percent of does bred during second rut.
Some rubbing activity will continue.
Turkeys will be in large groups during this time of year.
Some gobbling will take place.
January - Events
Bow season ends Jan. 15.
January - Deer Activity
Movement limited
Deer switch to daytime activity, moving around when it is warmer.
Bedding and feeding on southeast exposures.
Yarding activity ongoing
Antler shedding by younger bucks begins.
Hope this gives you a leg up on this year's scouting and hunting.
Also, one final bit of information I have gathered over the years and will give you more insight will come in September and October columns. Daytime movement of whitetail deer in Missouri that I have documented occurs in the following percentages during certain times of the month. I will explain these percentages and the days that go with it in September. Low 14 percent, medium 16 percent, high 33 percent and highest 37 percent.
But no matter what the activity of deer is, when you get a chance to hunt is still better than the chance you have sitting in the house.
Hope to see you in the woods this weekend.
Be sure to listen to the new and only local outdoor radio show, 106.1 FM Cape Girardeau at 6 a.m. each Saturday. With your host horntagger and bassbuster.
The Weekend Deer Hunter
&
South Missouri Sportsmen Information Network
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