THE ABSOLUTE BEST WAY TO HUNT DEER

[T.R. Michels]

Okay - the title was just a means of getting you to open this thread, but, I do intend on turning this into a LEARNNG EXPERIENCE  for all of us - provided you play along.

I originally got interested in deer research in 1987, after reading several deer articles and books, and talking to, my good friend Dr. Ken Nordberg.

To further my knowledge of deer, and learn how to conduct a valid deer research project, I contacted well known and well respected deer biologist and rsearcher, and outdoor writer, Dr. Larry Marchinton, who was a professor of wildlife at the University of Georgia, and who I consider the "father of whitetail biology and behavior as it applies to management, and to hunting".

Larrry sent me dozens of his research papers, and then put me in touch with many of the top deer biologists of the past two decades, and they each taught me something. And they all received my 10 or so deer and elk research papers of my 10 year deer research project, and commented on them - and asked me to keep them updated.  

Although I have not personaly met most of them, we have all become friends as a result of our interest in deer biology and behavior. I enjoy learning about deer biology and behavior...


Anyhow, here is a question - that you can all answer, and we can come to some conclusions on deer behavior and biology at the end of it ...

WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE DAYS IN NOVEMBER  - DO YOU THINK ARE CLOUDY IN YOUR AREA???

10%  - 30%

31% - 50&

51% - 70%

71% - 100%


 God bless,

T.R.

[dakids]

51-70 is my pick

[GRIZ]

I would guess that 40-60 percent. Depends on if you mean totally cloudy, partly cloudy? Just my observation running traps that I see more mature bucks when the wind is 25-30 or better. I think they get nervous as they lose hearing.

[BiggA]

51-70 I would say have at least partly cloudy conditions.

[HUNTER2]

51-70

[MnDeerStalker]

51-70 

[tmjhamann]

71-100 

[guythathunts]

There are no cloudy days in November!

[T.R. Michels]

We need more answers - before I will conclude this. Say 20 ...

Just guess....

God bless,

T.R.

[Mayfly]

31% - 50%

[guythathunts]

Fine... 10%-30% Seems the sun is always up durring deer hinting.

[Crazy4Outdoors]

31 - 50%

[T.R. Michels]

Thanks guys only 18 more to go.

[The General]

31-50%

[DroptineDC18]

31-50%

[boomer.6]

71-100

[stevejedlenski]

51-70%

[jamieheiden]

51-70%

[schwinger]

51-70%

[deadeye]

November is a gray month, especially when compared to those on either side of it.  During November the angle of sunlight declines dramatically and we also lose two hours and six minutes of daylight.  On average, it is the cloudiest month of the year, as more active weather patterns begin. 

November averages,
Clear           -  5 days
partly cloudy - 6 days
cloudy        - 18 days
% cloudy   -  60%
% cloudy or partly cloudy = 80%         

[T.R. Michels]

Good insight - and great information.

T.R.

[guythathunts]

Sooooooo........ "THE ABSOLUTE BEST WAY TO HUNT DEER" is by knowing that 1 of 5 days in November will have clowds? Ok...... I don't know what this helps. Maybe I missed something...  Insight anyone?

[deadeye]

I'm with you there, guythathunts, I also don't know where this was headed.  Ok, so it's cloudy most of the time in November, now what?

[T.R. Michels]

You might want to read the first post again - this has nothing to do with the best way to hunt.

If breeding of whiteatails is affected by the light of the full moon (which is a new unproven idea), but there is often cloud cover in November (when peak breeding often occurs) - then the idea is pretty far-fetched.

In fact, data from MN shows the idea does not work.

Don't predict the rut by the moon phase.

God bless,

T.R.

[Jeremy (Yeti)]

71-100

[guythathunts]

I alwasy thought the "Rut Clock" had to be set off by the ammount of day light. It seems of all the theories the length of day is the only thing consistant, which would put the rut at the same time every year. I think it is the same time every year, so does the dnr and the QDM guys.

[JCAMERON]

I alwasy thought the "Rut Clock" had to be set off by the ammount of day light. It seems of all the theories the length of day is the only thing consistant, which would put the rut at the same time every year. I think it is the same time every year, so does the dnr and the QDM guys.

I've even read that it's set off by a specific full moon (the amount of light triggering a hormone release).

[T.R. Michels]

I've even read that it's set off by a specific full moon (the amount of light triggering a hormone release).

Yea - you read it, and it is wrong. Period.

[GRIZ]

I don't know about deer as they breed in fall. Most furbearers breed in late winter. Now I know that from experience(at least mine) that even a yard light will mess up the breeding time of fox and mink. I don't know of a single fur rancher that does have a yard light as all of em I knew claimed the same. That is how fur primes in the fall also by lack of light. I've heard of some trying to manipulate light conditions to boost production but don't know of any results other than higher mortality.

Sorry to get off topic but I'm just thinking that it prolly has something to do with light conditions.