Traditional "best days"

[BSK]

I'm still working on cataloging all my trail-camera data from past years. What I found interesting is how often particular dates are top-notch for older buck movement. I've got 12 years of trail-camera data entered, and I ran an analysis looking for dates each year that produced a lot of older buck pictures on trail-cam. Turns out there are definitely "hot" dates that show up year after year as particularly active for older bucks. Anyone else notice this?

 

[beefydeer]

Yep. I always try to be in the woods November 21st. Its a perennial magical day.

 

[philsanchez76]

Yes that's wild! My number one day for kills and sightings is Nov. 19th

 

[BSK]

For my own property, the hot dates are Nov. 7-9 and Nov. 18-21. And if you're looking for the best post-rut date, Dec. 9-11.

 

[philsanchez76]

of course this year the primo dates were after thanksgiving when I could not be in the woods. Lets hope we don't see that happen again for a long time.

 

[BSK]

of course this year the primo dates were after thanksgiving when I could not be in the woods. Lets hope we don't see that happen again for a long time.

How true!

 

[CrossVolle]

Part of me wonders how much during this time period those big deer are daylighting but just staying on the fringes scent checking from a ways off. I buy into the "Magic Day" stuff i really do because i also have years of data to back up those claims. But my real question is, how much are we missing in that time period because that big buck walked behind the tree instead of in front of it....?

For me at my spots in Cumberland County November 14th or 15th is always really active. I used to have a farm in Union County and December 3rd and 4th was always dynamite. At the lease we have in Ohio, i am starting to think a man's best bet to crack a sure fire mature buck might be a late October cold front over a scrape. The deer density is so high and there are so many deer over 4.5 its really hard to pin it down.

 

[Ski]

I've not really looked for any particular days like that. However, on my Ohio place October 30th always seems to be big buck on cam day, if not bog buck kill day. That's the only day I can for sure I will not miss.

 

[BSK]

Part of me wonders how much during this time period those big deer are daylighting but just staying on the fringes scent checking from a ways off. I buy into the "Magic Day" stuff i really do because i also have years of data to back up those claims. But my real question is, how much are we missing in that time period because that big buck walked behind the tree instead of in front of it....?

I think this is a valid point when you're talking about small data sets (a couple of cameras run over a couple of years). But currently I've gone through 184,000 images/videos over 12 years (almost always 7 cameras running on 500 acres each year). That's a lot of data! Eventually, the "he went behind the tree" stuff works it's way out of the data.

 

[CrossVolle]

I've not really looked for any particular days like that. However, on my Ohio place October 30th always seems to be big buck on cam day, if not bog buck kill day. That's the only day I can for sure I will not miss.

SAME HERE MAN

see my above post

 

[CrossVolle]

I think this is a valid point when you're talking about small data sets (a couple of cameras run over a couple of years). But currently I've gone through 184,000 images/videos over 12 years (almost always 7 cameras running on 500 acres each year). That's a lot of data! Eventually, the "he went behind the tree" stuff works it's way out of the data.

Yea i certainly do not have THAT much data fortunately because i would be divorced. I would be a kid in a candy store in the worst possible way.

 

[BSK]

Yea i certainly do not have THAT much data fortunately because i would be divorced. I would be a kid in a candy store in the worst possible way.

Oh, I have Powerpoint files with hundreds of graphs of this data. Endlessly mind-boggling info. Thank goodness I do this for a living or I would probably be divorced as well!

 

[Mr.Bro]

No statistics just from my worn out brain. Bigest bucks on camera were mostly late August or 1st week in september. Best kill dates? November 12th. My last 3 bucks and my best friends buck were all killed in the evenings of Nov 12th. Another interesting thought? None were with a doe or trailing one.

 

[LenS]

November 14 for me, western Montgomery county. I saw 9 different bucks on that day this season!

 

[tree_ghost]

I'm still working on cataloging all my trail-camera data from past years. What I found interesting is how often particular dates are top-notch for older buck movement. I've got 12 years of trail-camera data entered, and I ran an analysis looking for dates each year that produced a lot of older buck pictures on trail-cam. Turns out there are definitely "hot" dates that show up year after year as particularly active for older bucks. Anyone else notice this?

November 9 for me is an absolute go hunt day

 

[JCDEERMAN]

November 10th

 

[Rick Dillard]

I have been keeping notes for 20+ years on mature buck movement in Mississippi and have noticed the same thing on specific dates. However, it's amazing that these dates will vary by regions of the state, sometimes only 20-30 miles apart. On one property, it is December 7-9. On another property it is December 28-January 5. On another one it is December 21-22. But regardless, the thing you can count on is that during those dates, in those areas, there will be mature buck movement during daylight hours.

 

[BSK]

I have been keeping notes for 20+ years on mature buck movement in Mississippi and have noticed the same thing on specific dates. However, it's amazing that these dates will vary by regions of the state, sometimes only 20-30 miles apart. On one property, it is December 7-9. On another property it is December 28-January 5. On another one it is December 21-22. But regardless, the thing you can count on is that during those dates, in those areas, there will be mature buck movement during daylight hours.

I have to assume these dates are linked to the rut. The rut will be different on different properties, but usually around the same dates year after year on the same property. I strongly believe the "hot" dates on my property are the peaks of buck activity just before and after peak breeding, as well as right around the 2nd rut.

 

[deerhunter10]

Yes. Take this year out. December 12th through 14 I get multiple shooters and usually a new deer on those days and have for 10 years. And I have a few in November the 17th is one. It is crazy when you've been running then for a while to see trends and patterns. What else is interesting is how those days are good on multiple places across the county.

 

[knightrider]

Most bucks nov 11, biggest bucks dec 5, 2 most bucks dec 19, ofcourse this year was nothing like that lol, just got my biggest buck of the 22-23 season on camera in daylight this morning trailing a doe

 

[fairchaser]

Seems like most lucky dates to be in the woods are early November but for West TN, it's the first week in December when mature bucks are chasing does with little regard for danger. If temps are normal or slightly below normal and high pressure exists, all the better.

 

[tellico4x4]

Week either side of Pearl Harbor Day (12/7) for us last 20 yrs.

 

[TNTreeman]

I don't keep extensive records but my largest bucks have all been killed before or after the rut. My favorite time is late December in cold temps when most have hung it up for the season.

 

[Ridgeline300]

Yep. I always try to be in the woods November 21st. Its a perennial magical day.

My best day as well. Probably killed more older bucks on this date than any other

 

[Ski]

just got my biggest buck of the 22-23 season this morning trailing a doe

Congrats!!!

 

[knightrider]

Congrats!!!

Sorry I should've been more clear had to edit it lol best buck of the year on camera in daylight season ended here on the 8th

 

[batten_down]

I don't have the data to go off of like some of you do. But based on my experience and past successes (and failures) my absolute favorite day to be out there is Veterans Day, hands down.

Second choice would be week of Thanksgiving.

Now @BSK what else can we extrapolate from your data? I'm curious how buck movement correlates to weather. What is the preferred temperature range for peak daylight movement? 20-30°, 30-40°, etc.

Also moon phase. I'm torn on moon phase. I've got a bunch of books on it and have done a bunch of reading. In my younger years, I was overly caught up with moon phase. Was a big fan of Charles Alsheimers work. More recently, just get me a cold, crisp day in November and that's good enough for me.

 

[Ski]

I wanted the moon theories to be correct because it would make choosing hunting days easier. Using trail cam data and harvest reports I've tried finding patterns & correlations with the moon and haven't been able to do it. Whether it's phase or position I cannot consistently correlate deer activity with the moon often enough that it's predictable. Just by happenstance those moon theories prove true some of the time, just like a broken clock is right twice a day. Just my personal observations so don't take it for gospel.

 

[knightrider]

I wanted the moon theories to be correct because it would make choosing hunting days easier. Using trail cam data and harvest reports I've tried finding patterns & correlations with the moon and haven't been able to do it. Whether it's phase or position I cannot consistently correlate deer activity with the moon often enough that it's predictable. Just by happenstance those moon theories prove true some of the time, just like a broken clock is right twice a day. Just my personal observations so don't take it for gospel.

I agree, i laugh every time i see an advertisement for that huntersmoon crap dude has made a fortune fleecing poor good ole boys who think it gives em and edge! If seasons open and you have free time get in the woods, nothing beats being there every time uou can!

 

[BSK]

I don't have the data to go off of like some of you do. But based on my experience and past successes (and failures) my absolute favorite day to be out there is Veterans Day, hands down.

Second choice would be week of Thanksgiving.

Now @BSK what else can we extrapolate from your data? I'm curious how buck movement correlates to weather. What is the preferred temperature range for peak daylight movement? 20-30°, 30-40°, etc.

Also moon phase. I'm torn on moon phase. I've got a bunch of books on it and have done a bunch of reading. In my younger years, I was overly caught up with moon phase. Was a big fan of Charles Alsheimers work. More recently, just get me a cold, crisp day in November and that's good enough for me.

I've not linked my trail-camera data to weather conditions yet, but I have linked weather to hunter observations. And interestingly, there is no link that is very strong. It is primarily just trends in data, not absolutes. I don't have this year's observation and weather data run through my programs yet, but from all the previous years, the general trend is cooler is better temperature-wise (within reason - buck sightings drop off dramatically below about 15 degrees). And this trend is just a trend. Some warm days have been great days. Some cold days complete busts. But the trend is, for both morning and evening hunts, is cooler lows and cooler highs produce about twice the sighting rates as the warmest lows and highs. As for wind, the lighter the better. East winds produce the highest buck observations.

The moon is an odd one. I look at moon data a little differently than most. I've always assumed, that if the moon has an influence, it is because of the amount of light it produces at night. So I evaluate the moon by the percent of the surface that is illuminated, which is a backhanded way of looking how much light it produces. I also look at these percentages based on whether the moon is waxing or waning. As I've been able to add more and more data over the years, moon conditions (illumination and wax/waning) have basically all washed out, with one exception. There is a lull in hunter observations of bucks when the moon is waxing (getting more full) from about 50% illuminated up to 99% illuminated. But this lull is only a drop in sighting rates of about 20%. However, this lull has proven very persistent over the years, and I don't know why.