'Tis The Season

I hope you've had a happy holiday season, and a happy hunting season too! Many of us take advatage of the time off during the holidays to do some hunting or ice fishing, and lately the weather has been pretty agreeable. We're facing a few storm systems moving in for New Year's Eve and when you combine a storm system's low barometric pressure with low hunting pressure, this spells late season success! Many deer are finally returning to areas they were chased from during shotgun season. Deer know areas that are pressured, and they are very sensitive to hunter activity this time of year, so it's very important to play the winds and be careful getting into and out of your hunting spots. Pressure often wont keep them from coming to the same fields night after night, but it can push them into late movement or nocturnal movement. Switching topics to the weather pressure, a large low pressure system is stirring up the atmosphere bringing in southerly winds, fog/drizzle/mist ahead of a sharp cold front that will slam Iowa on Friday. Hunting should be excellent in the days preceeding and following this storm. But most game will likely be hunkered down during the worst conditions on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Good luck!

Tough Conditions

The weather is cold and snowy, and deer are being pressured by hunters - making hunting conditions pretty tough. I walked through a few corn fields the other day, taking advantage of the fresh snowfall to determine how many deer were using the fields and at what time. Our last snow ended early Thursday morning (2am central Iowa) and several of the tracks were partially covered in snow indicating that deer were using the field, but they were coming in late at night! Deer are feeling the need to feed, but hunting pressure has pushed many animals nocturnal. It doesn't take much hunting pressure to turn a deer to the darkside, and night-time activity can leave very deceptive tracks and sign in food sources. You will see the sign, set up on the trails, and see nothing. The trick is to be mobile, and don't be afraid to get aggressive. Make a move closer to the bedding areas and thick cover, setting up stalks and drives. If you're a stand hunter, and deer are staying out of range, plan a stalk on deer that you see. Between the harsh weather and hunting pressure, the end of shotgun season can be pretty frustrating. But if you use the conditions to your advantage, you can put the odds in your favor on the final days of shotgun season.

A Near Miss Might Help Hunters Score Big

Lately, clouds have been streaming in sending signals from Mother Nature that another storm is brewing. This winter storm will be a near miss for central Iowa depositing most of the snow in NE IA. It appears this storm will take nearly the same track as the one 2 weeks ago (opening day of shotgun 1), and that is a great thing for hunting in central Iowa the next few days. Wednesday afternoon, light freezing drizzle or snow showers will develop between 3pm and sunset. I don't think the precip. will be heavy enough to keep the deer bedded down. In fact, according to my journal some of the best feeding activity happens on the eve of a winter storm system with clouds and an easterly wind. Light accumulations are likely in central Iowa, but 3-6 inches will fall from Mason City through Waterloo and down to Davenport. Thursday and Friday the low moves out and another cold, Canadian high pressure will settle in. This system will gradually clear the clouds, reinforce the cold with a northerly flow, and drive the deer to their favorite fields. Weather conditions will kick start the feeding activity early on, so sneak up to those food sources, play the wind right and you could score big on a near miss from Mother Nature. Bundle up and happy hunting!

Snowy Second Shotgun

Well, I'll be first to admit the latest winter storm's fury was much stronger than anticipated. But our new found blanket of white is a gift to shot gunners. Snow makes it very easy to scout recent activity and really highlights the dark deer in the timber. Snow also makes it easy to track, whether it's cutting a big buck's track or going to recover your trophy. The winds and bitter cold today will make conditions hard to hunt, but the reward will be worth it. Saturday's low pressure and blizzard conditions kept both hunters and deer hunkered down, especially in the afternoon. Now an arctic high pressure will be building in, slowly backing the winds down and making perfect conditions for late season tactics. Hunt the food sources and the thick small pockets of cover. Hunting pressure can push deer off of your property and onto your neighbors. If you're not seeing the activity you want, be mobile and go scout fresh tracks in a food source. Deer drives are working quite well, especially if you find some sanctuary where they are holed up. This evening and the next few days will be great to go hunting. Activity will be good Sunday evening and excellent Monday and Tuesday afternoons! This weather will test your gear but good luck, dress warmly and enjoy the snow!

Shaky Start to Shotgun 2

What a perfect end to the first shotgun season in Iowa! This is on the eve of another major winter storm, and a storm of 50,000 shotgunners ready for the season opener. Unfortunately, our next storm system will be opening the door to the arctic on opening day. We'll start off with a little freezing rain or sleet north of highway 30 early Saturday morning. Temperatures in central Iowa will likely hover just above freezing, so expect some cold rain showers, drizzle, and fog with a south wind before noon. Around 7-8am, the arctic front plows through with strong northwesterly winds. There will likely be a brief mix of freezing rain or sleet before we go to all snow showers. Light accumulations of a dusting to one inch are possible in central Iowa, with northern and northeast Iowa getting blizzard conditions. Temperatures will plunge to the teens by sunset, winds will gust over 35mph, that means wind chills of 10 to 15 below zero! This arctic chill will have a choke hold on Iowa for awhile, so get ready for the cold weather gear and late-season style hunting. Saturday morning movement should be good with the storm still approaching, but once the winds turn to the NW, the deer will likely hole up in the thick cover. Sunday morning will be brutally cold and windy, but Sunday evening the deer should hit the fields pretty hard as the bitter-cold puts them in survival mode. Dress warmly, and good luck!

Cold High Pressure = Happy Hunters

According to the Iowa DNR, about 70,000 hunters are expected over the five day (December 4-8) first season. Another 50,000 should be pursuing whitetails in the nine day (December 11-19) second season. Deer patterns are noticably disrupted in many locations that see hunting pressure. Even if your honey hole doesn't see too much hunting traffic, expect odd deer behavior such as lower daylight activity, or sporadic waves of activity. The weather end of things couldn't be better; high pressure = happy hunters. Flurries aside, we have high pressure settling into the area and that will work to clear the sky and keep the winds reasonably low. Throw into the mix, bitterly cold numbers that we don't normally see until January, and you have the recipe for some great hunting. Deer are struggling to stay bedded down with conditions this cold, the instinct to feed and keep warm will usher them to the fields. If you play the wind right, fields and food plots with lower hunting pressure become deer magnets this time of year. Good luck, and enjoy this stretch. It looks like a big storm will crash the party by the weekend. 2nd season shotgunners, get ready for some plowable snow (especially south of I-80) on Saturday followed by the type of cold that could make a polar bear shiver...

Cold Shotgun Opener

A big snowstorm is clobbering the northeastern 1/3 of Iowa with half a foot or better blanketing the Iowa countryside in fresh,white powder. This is going to make shotgunning excellent once the storm blows out of here Saturday afternoon for our friends to the northeast. For most of central Iowa, an inch or less is expected and in/around Des Moines, I actually don't expect much over a dusting. It will be cold though! Northerly breezes 12-20mph early Saturday morning will make the 20's fell more like single digits! Low barometric pressure will be rising but I think the cold will have a lot of deer hunkered down or coming back from food sources early. Outside of random spurts of activity from the deer drives, I think morning and midday movement will be slow with some pretty harsh conditions for hunter and deer alike. But the evening is looking fantastic! High pressure will get closer, our sky will clear up and the cold winds will back down a bit NW at 10-15mph. Deer will be flocking to food sources in the evening! Sunday looks even better, with bitter cold morning lows in the the single digits and low teens, clear sky and Canadian high pressure. Highs will top only in the 20s with a light northwesterly. Sunday will be an excellent day for shotgunners across Iowa!

High Pressure Before The Hunting Pressure

We are entering the calm before the shotgun season storm, and bowhunters know the next few days are a must hunt! If hours of stand time this season have left you still holding your tag and dissapointed, keep your spirits up. Time may not be on your side, but the weather will be! Deer are settling back down into more patternable behavior after the November Antlerless season, and this cold weather has them feeling the need to feed. Another key factor, the last storm system has departed. High pressure is moving into Iowa, clearing the sky, and relaxing the winds. Wednesday afternoon is shaping up to be perfect hunting weather and a great way to start December! With the exception of occasional clouds and a few Thursday flurries, we will see quiet and chilly weather through the end of the week. The moon might also become a factor. Current moonphase is a waning crescent, so lunar light wont be significant. But the moon will be rising in the early morning hours, and setting mid-late afternoon and I think this will accentuate deer activity. Post-rut can be a tough time to hunt, but this stretch of weather will be as good as it gets. And shotgunners, this is the perfect time to get out and scout your areas for sign and sightings so you can get the jump on a big buck.

Survival Mode

Another big storm has plowed right over Iowa and the next few days we'll feel the aftermath. Temperatures have tumbled, the wind is relentlessly chilling, and snowflakes are flying here and there. Conditions are pretty brutal with the coldest air of the season blowing in on strong northwesterly winds. Deer are switching back to survival mode with a bed-to-feed-to-bed pattern. Many deer will move into their out-of-the-wind sanctuary such as cedar thickets, blow downs and steep southeast facing draws close to food sources. These are all attractive options for the winter wary whitetail. While the 20s are nothing compared to the bitter-cold we'll see in a month or so, deer will still seek some additional thermal protection. They'll also be feeding. Burning calories helps the whitetail stay warm, and many herds will feed periodically throughout the day. Evenings should be good in those preferred food sources where the deer haven't seen too much hunting pressure. Typically, corn fields see more action but bean fields are still producing good numbers in the evening. This wind is rough, but it's enough cover noise for a stalk, and if your mobile you'll stand a better chance to see deer. It's not the best hunting weather, but with just a few short days before Iowa's first shotgun season, your time to arrow that trophy is running out. Good luck and stay warm!

Monday's a Must Hunt!

A lot of hunters took advantage of the November Antlerless season this holiday weekend. According to the Iowa DNR, last year, 10,000 licenses were issued and hunters reported harvesting 2,980 deer. This year antlerless quotas are higher and many folks have taken to the timber. Normally all the extra activity would have the deer hunkered down in sanctuary for a few days, but their need to feed is once again going to put deer on the move in central Iowa. Falling pressure and another very large storm system will be blowing in for Monday bringing more wind, clouds and rain showers. Temperatures will be mild in central Iowa with most of the rain shower activity around the midday hours and relatively light. So morning and evening sits should be as good as we could expect from the middle of a powerful November storm. I think the evening will be the best, with drizzle and fog likely, very low barometric pressure and an arctic cold front knocking at the door. That will make Monday a must hunt, so if you haven't filled your tag yet, a food source or travel corridor sounds like a good plan to me!

Cold Weather Feeding Pattern

Facing the polar chill is a tough sell with hot turkey and football at home. But now that the holiday is over it's time to hunt! Lows the next few nights will be in the teens and 20s, and highs in central Iowa will struggle for the 30s Friday and 40s Saturday. These types of temperatures can kick activity up several notches as more deer move during the daylight, feeling that urge to pack on the pounds before true winter arrives. East facing slopes will become a deer magnet, as they try to warm up in the sun while staying out of the westerly winds (which will stay on the brisk side except for at dawn and dusk). Still hunting these haunts should prove productive especially if your early morning spots didn't pan out. But watch out for the backdraft effect hills will have on wind currents (see the graphic on the upper right of the blog). Otherwise, good field feeding has been observed lately, sometimes several hours before sunset in areas that aren't pressured much. I expect that to continue so you should see good activity both Friday and Saturday evenings. So if Black Friday shopping isn't your thing, go grab the shotgun, muzzleloader or bow and take advantage of the special antlerless season for deer. It starts Nov. 26th and ends Nov. 28th. I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving, stay warm and good luck!

Good Evening, Bad Wednesday

With a Canadian high settled in, and some chilly numbers (Most of us still below freezing for highs), this evening will be fantastic to be out hunting. Hunt it if you can! Most areas the winds are light but turning southeasterly and the pressure is high, but starting to fall. Our next storm is gearing up out west and this one is going to be a doozie bringing some icy and raw weather conditions to central Iowa Wednesday. Clouds will move in overnight followed quickly by some freezing drizzle starting around 6am. Temperatures will be right around the freezing mark through mid-morning which will make for some slick spots as the precip. picks up. Between 10am and 1pm most of the freezing rain will become just plain rain thanks to temperatures warming above freezing. If you're reading this and you hunt north of Des Moines, the icy/nasty weather will last a bit longer up there. North of Highway 30 we will see ice accumulations from a glaze up to 1/4" thick. Travel will be a bit hazardous as long as temps are below freezing, and the treestand wont be comfortable or safe. Not to mention the wind will be howling out of the southeast at 17-25mph putting the windchill in the 20s and putting the deer to thick cover and bedding. Activity should be quite low with such foul rainy conditions, but if there is a break in the action I'd hit the fields for an evening hunt. Temps will be just above freezing, fog drizzle and mist will be whipping in the wind, pressure will be quite low and a few deer will use the break in rain to grab a quick bite to eat. Most will stay hunkered down for the storm which doesn't sound like a bad idea to me ;-)

The Cold & Calm Before The Storm

Our chilly grey overcast and scattered pockets of drizzle and mist might make it a little miserable outside, but the deer are still moving. I've noted outstanding nocturnal movement on both my trail cam and just in front of the hood of my truck the past few nights. I'll credit the bright moon, low pressure and rutting activity. The Waning Gibbous moon (still 98%) full has been shining through the clouds casting a dim bluish light over the fields at night. Several low pressures are tracking overhead which is also stirring the pot, encouraging the deer to feed and prepare for the storm. And the rut may be locked down, but its not out! Big bucks are still jumping from one spot to another although the weather and any remaining hot does may have been limiting their movement recently. But great news is in the forecast, a Canadian high pressure is building in signaling the end to this storm. Light northerly winds will turn easterly by evening and with near freezing temps, Tuesday will be a perfect day to go afield. I'm expecting great morning activity with thick clouds eventually breaking apart. But the evening will be decent as well. The Iowa crop fields will be filling up with deer as our pressure plateaus and then begins to fall. The next storm system will be bigger and badder than the one we just saw and the clouds filling the western sky will tell the deer its on the way. This active weather pattern means good deer movement, and a great time to be in the woods!

Foul Weather Hunting

Low pressure is tracking across the state today, and this unsettled weather can have adverse effects on both the hunters and our game. But if you can brave the chilly, drizzly weather, you might snag this season's trophy. Lately, I have seen most of the does on a feeding pattern and this is being enhanced by the stormy weather overhead. As low pressure moves in, we hunters usually stay indoors thanks to the uncomfortable conditions surrounding the storm and the gravitational pull of football and a comfy couch. But the next few days we will see most of the precip missing us to the north (drizzle/Freezing drizzle) and east (strong to severe storms), meanwhile the overall storm system stays right on top of us and that should make for decent hunting weather. A cold front has pushed through and deer are switching from breeding to a feeding pattern. The bright moon is really enhancing the nocturnal and morning activity as well. Many mature bucks are still locked down, but immature bucks are running around like crazy searching for leftovers and pushing a lot of young does. This time of year will test your patience, but if you've got a good area near some doe bedding or a good food source where a big buck has been seen, that's where I would hunt. Calling has also been quite effective the last few days. Good Luck!

November High Pressure = Happy Hunters

"It was 11 degrees as the sun emerged on the horizon. A thick frost blanketed the foxtail and turned the bent over brome a silvery white. The CRP field behind the stand looked like a picture and the timbered valley lay frozen in silence in front of the stand. Suddenly, the quiet was shattered. A wide, old,  8 pt carelessly crashed through the brush after a doe, cutting diagonally across the trails and plowing through some of the thickest multiflora rose bushes. He slid to a stop broadside at 8 yards from the base of a Hackberry tree where I stood at full draw 15 feet above. He wasn't the one I was after, but here was an opportunity at a mature Iowa Whitetail." - Nov. 18th 2008. 

That is from my journal and a testament to productive hunting with November high pressure. Good news for hunters, that is exactly the weather pattern settling in for the next few days here in Iowa! A compact storm system will completely miss the state Wednesday, sliding to the south, and making room for a high pressure in the Midwest. As a result we will all enjoy, light winds and relatively clear skies, especiall Thursday. Mornings will be cold, crisp and frosty, and afternoons will be cool but pleasant. Deer have been flooding the fields at night and lingering well into the morning hours. I'd find a food source, some bedding and hunt in-between. Might want to buckle down for the ride; the weather will be quiet, but the hunting shouldn't be!

Great Stretch, Go Hunt!

On my way into work today I spotted no less than 22 deer amidst the frosty fields. Only a handful were bucks, and small ones at that, but after a stormy weekend it looks like we should see a great stretch of hunting weather! Here's what will make it so great; rut activity, high pressure, chilly nights, weak weather disturbances casting clouds, and a bright moon. Hunters in central Iowa are reporting spotty great movement with big buck sightings and all out chasing in the fields a few days ago. More signs are pointing at 'lockdown' in central Iowa. And this can be tough to hunt, especially if your idea of a trophy is 150 or better. But the weather for the next few days will cooperate as the rut continues and chilly nights should prolong morning activity. Fields should be smokin' hot in these cool conditions as will pinch points between them. Big woods ought to be a good bet for random midday activity, especially if you can find a preferred doe travel route. The moon is coming back around to a waxing gibbous and in my notes, I have seen muted evening movement when it hangs bright in the afternoon/early evening sky. But one thing we all have going for us is the high pressure which is giving us relatively comfortable, quiet weather. Weak disturbances at the roof of the atmosphere will cast clouds suggesting a storm is brewing on the horizon. So, does will be instinctively switching to survival mode and feeding more to prepare for this, while the bucks' attention will be on them. You wont want miss the mornings this week. Go hunt!

Storm Moving Out, Good Hunting Moving In!

Our first winter storm of the season is spinning through Iowa right now! The foul rainy weather on the front side has cooled just enough to fling snowflakes across parts of the state. I will attest firsthand to the difficulties of hunting in rainy foul weather on Friday, and most deer were hunkered down for the storm. Rutting activity was about the only thing pushing them to their feet and that will likely be the case for most of Saturday with wind and snow showers. But strong winds and wet ground is nearly the perfect weather combination for spot and stalking a big rutting Iowa Whitetail! Slink around the thick bedding cover and you might score an opportunity at a big bedded buck! A dead giveaway for this setup is an immature buck who refuses to leave a particular area, his attention will be on the doe the big buck is guarding. If stalking isn't your thing, this evening will be great to hunt the fields as bedded deer get to their feet to feed. Many does will be dragging bucks with them even though a lot of big bucks are already locking down with ready does. High pressure will build in this evening, winds will relax, and conditions will improve for hunting. But tonight pails compared to tomorrow. Sunday might be the best day of the year for a bow hunter! High pressure will settle in, and after being cooped up for a few days of foul weather, deer will be very active. Rutting activity should be very high, and if you're not seeing anything either be patient and wait for a cruising bruiser, or go stalk the bedding. We'll have a light westerly to southwesterly breeze and highs wont break 50! For any outdoorsman who has a chance, Sunday will present amazing conditions afield. I hope you're able to enjoy it!

Colder Conditions, Hotter Hunting!

Warm weather has been suppressing the rut for many areas in central Iowa. A lucky few are seeing the big boys moving, but overall, activity has been low. The moon says the rut is here and with a little forecast good fortune, deer activity is about to be kicked into overdrive!

This should start Wednesday evening as a cold front moves in from the west ending a warm sunny day with a few scattered storms. Thursday morning, a stout west wind will blow cool air in from Nebraska heralding the new weather pattern and keeping deer on their feet most of the morning. Thursday evening round two begins. A new storm gathering strength over Kansas and Missouri will drop the pressure and switch our winds to the northeast. Hunting should be good as the does head to food sources with big bucks in tow! Friday will be just what the deer doctor ordered as rain showers change to rain/snow showers central to northeast Iowa by Friday evening. Saturday will be breezy & colder with clouds and flurries the first half of the day. Deer might bed down during the worst of this storm, otherwise I am expecting almost non-stop movement Friday and Saturday. Cold, calm conditions will grip Iowa Sunday morning and make for another perfect day of hunting. Based on where we are in the rut, and the sudden plunge to cooler/wetter weather, Thursday through Sunday should be the best days to hunt this year! Bag a big one!

Midday Movement

Our warm weather this weekend hasn't helped the rutting activity any! While the high temps might be lying to us about what time of year it is, the calendar is still getting closer to the peak of the rut; November 9th-10th. Temperatures the next few days will be 15-20 degrees above average and weather that warm often restricts movement to dawn and dusk. Sometimes it can even turn animal activity nocturnal. Mornings will still be reasonably cool and this will be the best time to see deer movement. One thing I've been noticing the last few days is some great mid-morning to midday buck movement. This secondary surge is peaking from 9-11am with predominately mature bucks wandering during this time frame. The warm weather for the first half of this week will likely put the does to bed quickly, but the rut cycle will still push bucks to cruise from one doe group to another. Hunting will likely be feast or famine and not seeing a deer for several hours after the morning rush will test your patience, but if you've got a stand playing a southerly wind along a travel route you're in great shape! Not to mention, deer hunting in the 60s and 70s makes for a pretty comfortable sit in the woods. Get out there and enjoy it!

Hunt Strong Winds and Wrong Winds on Purpose

That windy storm system we have been talking about is blowing in, and winds sure can be a pain! It's a hassle to fight the gusts, you can't hear the game as well and can you say; w-w-w-wind chill? An even bigger problem; swirling winds! It happens to all of us, you go to your favorite valley and the wind is backwards, busting the game and re-inforcing your desire for couch-hunting on VS. But even swirly winds in the hollows happen predictably, so here's how to hunt the wrong wind on purpose! Remember three key factors; overall wind direction (what the forecast calls for), direction of the valley your hunting, and stand placement on the hillside. When the forecast calls for strong winds in a direction oriented the same as your valley, hunt ridge tops and the side of the hills facing the wind and you will be fine. The winds really get squirrly when strong winds cut across your valley. On windy days, hunt the ridgetops if your a glutton for gusty punishment - your reward will be a true wind direction. But if you want to get out of the wind, hunt anywhere from a bench just below the top of the ridge to the middle of the hill on the side of the valley the wind is coming from (west side of valley and a west wind), and then plan for the wind to actually be backwards from what is forecasted. It works best with valleys 100-500 yards wide, at least 100 feet deep from ridgetop to valley floor and homogenous cover around your stand either all pasture, all hedge thicket, all oak trees etc... I also try not to hunt the very bottoms or halfway up the windy side since the flow is usually inconsistent. This trick will put you out of the wind and give you a shot at a big buck doing the same thing! Check out the diagram on the right and give it at try. It works!

It Has Begun

The Whitetail rut is under way and the next two weeks could be your best chance at a big Iowa deer! Our recent plunge into regular frosty mornings and cooler afternoons in the 50s has been the spark igniting some serious wildlife movement. Central Iowa has seen a substantial increase in buck movement sighting many new (and mature) bucks during daylight! Bucks are bumping does, pushing them a couple hundred yards then leaving them alone, and we are on the threshold of the seek-and-chase phase. The most prolonged activity seems to be on the frosty mornings with high pressure and clear or partly cloudy skies. I've been focusing on travel corridors right outside the bedding areas and I have seen twice the numbers of deer.  Rest of Monday Nov. 1st: High in mid 50s, light ENE winds 5-10mph, high pressure overhead and mainly clear skies. There is a cold and windy storm system brewing, so if you like quiet and comfortable sits get out the next two days! There will be good deer movement tonight, great movement tomorrow morning!
Deercast for Tuesday:
Sky:          Rise; Clear          Noon; Sunny      Set; Mostly Sunny
Temp:       Rise; 29-32         Noon; 48-52      Set; 54-56
Winds:      Rise; ENE 3-6       Noon; ESE 4-7       Set; SE 2-5  
Pressure:   Rise; Hi Steady     Noon; Hi Steady      Set; Hi Falling

The Windiest Day of The Year!

Get ready for powerful, long duration winds in central Iowa Tuesday! Sustained winds will be above blizzard strength, but not quite tropical storm force at 35-45mph... some gusts between Noon and 4pm will be above 60mph! That is some extraordinary wind strong enough to even cause some minor structural damage! So hunting... might be best spot and stalk. Either that, or seat belt yourself to the tree and take a barf bag because you will be swaying more than a ship in rough waters! Wind always makes the game spooky. Their sensitive hearing is overwhelmed and they are vulnerable. Deer will be hunkering down either in the thick, deep hollows where they can take some refuge from the relentless gusts, or they will be out in the open areas. I have often seen them in a small swale of tall grass, or a fence line with some cedar trees where they have a bit of a wind break and a great view. Field edges late-day should be productive. These winds will be borderline dangerous, but it could be a great time for you to brave a stalk and sneak up on the deer of a lifetime!
Deercast for Tuesday:
Sky:         Rise; Partly Cloudy   Noon; Cloudy            Set; Partly Cloudy
Temp:      Rise; 45-49               Noon; 53-57                Set; 49-54
Wind:      Rise; W 15-25          Noon; WNW 29-39     Set; WNW 27-39
Pressure: Rise; Very Lo, Rising  Noon; Very Lo, Rising  Set; Lo, Rising

The Warm Before The Storm

We have been really warm this month! Central Iowa has seen 90% of October with above normal high temps and only about 1/3 of an inch of rain! Once again the hunting weather problems on Monday will be temperatures and humidity, both of which will be high. So I think deer movement will be more nocturnal. But that's about to change! Strong storms will form in W. IA Monday evening along the leading edge of colder air. This air mass will blast through the area bringing chilly temperatures for a change, and that is sure to ignite some serious deer movement! In addition, the bright moon now Waning(past full) Gibbous (more than half) will be setting in the mid-morning hours. I've usually seen this scenario favor morning sits and deep-woods stands as the most productive. All this will combine with more pre-rutting activity currently being observed to make for a great end to the week and the month of October. Good luck!
Deercast for Monday:
Sky:       Rise; Mainly Cloudy  Noon; Mainly Cloudy Set; Partly Cloudy
Temp:    Rise; 49-53               Noon; 66-70              Set; 71-68
Wind:     Rise; SE 6-12           Noon; SE 12-20         Set; SE 14-22
Pressure:

A Storm is Brewin'

I've almost always observed more movement ahead of a storm, so the deer movement should be getting better, right? Well, not exactly... thanks to one thing- warm temperatures. Friday will start off clear and cool, and the morning should be a good one to hunt. But like we've seen many times this past month, the air will warm way up pushing highs into the 70s. The sky will fill with clouds by the evening, and it will look like a storm's moving in to you and the deer. So, I'll bet evening activity is still good even though it's warm. The problem comes this weekend, when most folks can actually get out and enjoy the woods. A big slug of moisture will swing in and that means rain chances, which can be good. But since the storm is moving up from the south, it will be dragging warm and humid air kicking and screaming up from the Gulf of Mexico (where it has been vacationing for the last 4 weeks) and planting it in Iowa. So despite having clouds and showers, the warm, sticky humidity will accompany this storm, and that might in turn slow activity down for the weekend. But get out there anyways and prove me wrong! A ground blind on Saturday morning would be a smart choice ;-)
Deercast for Friday:
Sky:          Rise; Scattered Clouds Noon; Few Thin     Set; Mostly Cloudy
Temp:       Rise; 38-43                 Noon; 65-69           Set; 66-69
Wind:        Rise; SE 4-7               Noon; S-SE 6-12    Set; SE 5-8
Pressure:   Rise; Steady Hi           Noon; Falling Hi       Set; Falling Hi

Harvest Time

The last several weeks have been above average and very dry. Des Moines checking in with the driest October so far! All of this means the harvest is being brought in very effectively and according to the US Department of Agriculture almost all of the soybeans and 66% of the corn has been harvested! So it's no wonder I've been seeing a lot of new faces in the woods with more deer showing up every day. Just the past few days more small bucks are sparing and checking does. The activity is really ramping up as we edge inside 10 days from November! The moon is pretty bright through most of the night, and over the next several mornings it will be hanging in the sky a bit longer each day. This should really make mornings the better time to hunt. Cool, clear mornings should be great in the deep woods stands but don't forget about the terrain currents when you're hunting those hollows!
Deercast for Thursday:
Sky:         Rise; Mainly Clear      Noon; Clear               Set; Few Thin
Temp:       Rise; 38-42               Noon; 56-59             Set; 58-55
Wind:        Rise; WNW 3-7      Noon; NW 5-10        Set; W 4-6
Pressure: Rise; Hi Rising            Noon; Hi Rising         Set; Hi Steady

Great Day for Hunting

If you've got a chance to sneak out of work Monday, it will be a great day to be in the stand! Comfortably cool temperatures will make for an enjoyable sit, and cloud cover with scattered light showers should keep the deer on the move a bit longer. Winds will be light, but steady, and the chill in the air and the way the sky will look will remind wildlife that winter is just around the corner, so food sources are a great spot to concentrate on. Travel corridors, especially those closer to bedding, should be a good bet for seeing a lot of activity almost all day. I have often noticed a "2nd wind" in the deer activity around mid morning with this type of weather, so if your out early, you might consider sticking it out until noon. Sometimes this pays off very nicely!
Deercast for Monday:
Sky:         Rise; Partly Cloudy  Noon; Mostly Cloudy   Set; Mostly Cloudy
Temp:      Rise; 43-46              Noon; 52-56               Set; 54-58
Wind:       Rise; ENE 4-8         Noon; NE 6-10           Set; NNE 5-9
Pressure:  Rise; Lo Steady      Noon; Lo Rising           Set; High Rising

Cool Temperatures, Better Hunting!

Finally we're going to be around average for our highs! A cold front has pushed through the state, and cooler air is filtering in as I type this! Sunday will be a nice day overall with sunshine and a steady cool breeze in the morning. Some clouds will begin to fill the sky by the afternoon and evening as our next storm system gears up out west. The cooler temps, northeasterly winds, and falling pressure plus some clouds should make for an excellent afternoon afield! These weather conditions have typically produced increased wildlife movement, so Sunday looks like a great day to get outdoors! Good luck!
Deercast for Sunday:
Sky:       Rise; Mainly Clear      Noon; Few Thin      Set; Mostly Cloudy
Temp:     Rise; 39-42                Noon; 53-58            Set; 58-61
Wind:      Rise; NNE 4-8          Noon; ENE 3-7        Set; E 2-6
Pressure: Rise; Hi Rising       Noon; Hi Steady        Set; Hi Falling

Forecasting Deer Movement Can be a Cloudy Situation

Cloud cover, and the type of clouds seems to influence movement much more with weak fronts. Yesterday's weak cold front stirred up a lot of dust, but not too much activity. The deer seemed to hang back from the fields in transition areas until dark. Earlier this week we had a similar weak front, but some clouds, showers and storms. I observed much more deer feeding activity that night than I saw last night with a no-cloud situation. Of course, this is pure conjecture, but it seems logical that the deer can recognize the signs of a storm moving in based on the clouds.

We'll have another front cruising through tomorrow, so watch the winds! They'll pull a 180 over the course of the day, but once again it will be warm, with little cloud cover. I'd forecast the best movement in the evening back in the deeper woods, as close to the bedding areas as you can get. And consider hunting the bottoms, since winds will be light. Daily thermals will take your scent downhill during deer happy-hour right at sunset! Feel free to post a comment and/or question if you have any? The more interactive this is, the more we can share and hopefully get one step closer to that trophy! And tell your friends about this, the more the merrier!
Deercast for Saturday:
Sky:          Rise; Clear        Noon; Mainly Clear  Set; Mainly Clear
Temp:       Rise; 42-46       Noon; 71-75            Set; 65-69
Wind:        Rise; SE 4         Noon; SW 8-12       Set; NW 8-10
Pressure:   Rise; Falling Hi  Noon;  Falling Lo     Set; Rising Lo

A Real Cold Front? Finally!

It's true, a bona-fide cold front is finally letting some cooler air loose from Canada and that will be in Iowa by Wednesday! Animal activity often picks up before a front, and this cold front will be cruising through central Iowa by 5pm. That's pretty bad timing for hunting a consistent wind but at this point it looks like the wind direction will only change 30 to 45 degrees, from the WNW to the NNW around 5pm. Even Tuesday morning, winds will be tricky. Thermal wind currents, like the illustration to the right, will be the biggest factor until about 8 or 9am when a light westerly wind takes over. It will be warm before this storm, and that might even be enough for a few hit or miss T-showers right along the front Tuesday evening. Odds are in your favor for staying dry, but if you see storm clouds to the west around 4-5pm, it might be a good idea to get out of the stand and brace for 15-20 minutes of rain. This evening's activity will be good with the front moving through, it would be better if there were more clouds and cooler temps though. That really cool weather is only a week or so out, long-range models are hinting at big changes by the end of October! Deercast for Tuesday:
Sky:          Rise; Mainly clear       Noon; Mainly Clear    Set; Partly Cloudy
Temp:        Rise; 50-55                Noon; 70-73              Set; 69-72
Wind:         Rise; SW to W 2-5    Noon; WNW 5-10    Set; NNW 10-15
Pressure:  Rise; Steady Lo          Noon; Rising Lo         Set; Rising Lo

Wildlife Barometers

Deer and other wildlife are pretty good barometers, and their activity can tell you if a storm is moving into the area. It has always been my experience there is a distinct increase in wild game movement before a storm system. Most of my best hunts and fishing trips were right before a front or low pressure moved in! It's almost as if the animals sense it coming and it makes them restless and usually eager to stockpile some food. If you think about it, the same thing happens with people right before a blizzard when we find our our grocery stores are packed! It's just a natural reaction when anticipating a big weather change. And we have a big storm just to our west. It will be casting clouds and lowering the pressure giving wildlife all the signs that a storm is coming. This should make for a pretty good day afield, despite the warm temperatures! One thing that will be tricky for Monday, the winds! They will be light and variable in many locals thanks to that storm nearby. I've got the latest forecast for central Iowa below, but as always things change so keep up-to-date with Central Iowa's Most Accurate Forecast with Chris and Brad by clicking the links under "Chris' Hunting  Weather Favorites."
Deercast for Monday:
Sky:        Rise; Thin Clouds   Noon; Mid-High Clouds   Set; Mid-High Clouds
Temp:      Rise; 57-61           Noon; 73-77                    Set; 72-75
Wind:       Rise; W 2-5          Noon; SW 3-7                 Set; S 4-6
Pressure:  Rise; Lo Steady    Noon; Lo Steady           Set; Lo Falling

Feeling the Heat

Near record temperatures can really turn deer nocturnal! But the season is wearing on, the harvest in full swing, and there is plenty of movement to be had. You just have to find it! Most daytime activity is confined now to sanctuaries or cool, shady hollows. Minimal movement can actually be a good thing though, since you can get out and scout or move stands around without spooking too much game! The pressure is also lowering a bit, and with a few more clouds on the horizon this subtle weather change should kick up a bit of activity.
Deercast for Sunday:
Sky:          Rise; Few Thin        Noon; Mainly Sunny  Set; Partly Cloudy
Temp:       Rise; 55-60             Noon; 74-77             Set; 72-75
Winds:      Rise; SW 4-7          Noon; S 5-12            Set; SW 3-7
Pressure: Rise; Lo Falling       Noon; Lo Falling        Set; Lo Steady

Stayin' Summer-like

We've got more summer-like temps in that forecast for the weekend. And with the hot weather, some places are really seeing slow deer activity! Other places, the deer movement is just as hot as the weather! Be sure to give yourself some extra time to get out and do some scouting on your way in and out of the stand to find those active areas! This weekend might be a bit warm for hunting, but it could make for a great opportunity to fine tune the details on your stand placement. Also, cool air settles into valleys, so if you have a stand in a big, shady draw, that might be the bucks first choice. These areas can be 10-15 degrees cooler than surrounding terrain! Harvest continues unabated in this dry weather, so the odds of seeing a nice mature deer are going up every day!
Deercast for Saturday:
Sky:         Rise: Clear        Noon: Few Thin     Set: Partly Cloudy
Temp:      Rise: 55-62       Noon: 76-81          Set: 79-83
Wind:      Rise: SSW 5-10 Noon: S 6-14        Set: SSE 5-10
Pressure: Rise: Hi Falling    Noon: Lo Falling   Set: Lo Falling

Quick Shot

We've got a fast moving cold front blasting through the state this afternoon. The big thing when you hear meteorologists talking about fronts is 'change.' Fronts change the wind (sometimes reversing it), they change the pressure and often times when there's moisture, they change the sky cover or increase precip. chances, but primarily they change the temperature. This can make for tricky hunting conditions since you have to pay attention to the timing and all of it seems to be changing, but the payout can be great and in the form of heavy horns in your hands! Fronts and storm systems, especially the big ones, almost always increase the deer activity! Today's system is just a quick shot of 'cool' air, so no huge speed bumps are expected in the forecast, just some subtle changes that can make all the difference. Deer movement should be decent this evening if you're lucky enough to slip out of work early but it will be breezy. High pressure settles in tomorrow for a chilly, calm morning and a warm, tranquil afternoon. Movement should be great along travel corridors in the AM and in transition zones in the PM. As always, the harvest is helping hunters out by squeezing those deer out of the fields. It's an exciting time to get out and hunt! This evening: Skies will be mainly clear, winds will pick up from the NNW 12-18mph, Pressure will be low but rising and temps in the 70s.
Deercast for Thursday:
Sky:       Rise; Clear        Noon; Clear                Set; Clear
Temps:   Rise; 45-48      Noon; 66-70               Set; 65-69
Wind:     NW 3-6           Noon;WNW 5-10      Set; S Light
Pressure: Rise; Rising Hi Noon; Steady Hi Set;   Steady Hi

High Pressure Means Little Change

Wow, I hope you're getting out and enjoying this fantastic Fall weather! Here's Monday evening's forecast; Sky; Clear. Winds; SSE 3-7. Temp. 63 falling to 59. Pressure; Steady Hi. And the forecast will stay pretty much the same almost every day this week with light winds and cool temps at night, and warm and sunny afternoons. The good part about this stable weather pattern is; it's easier to pattern deer! The weather wont be changing their habits too much, so chances are if you're seeing activity stay put, it will pay off. But if you're not seeing much, be mobile and get out and do some interactive scouting either still hunting or spot and stalking to find areas that have good activity. Farmers are also taking advantage of this dry stretch and the harvest is well under-way. This adds an X-factor of unpredictability as deer are displaced from their summertime habitats! Expect to see more activity over the coming weeks. The warmer weather will subdue deer movement some, but it sure makes for a comfortable sit. Watch out for the light winds with high pressure, terrain effects will mess with the wind direction. The picture on the right and the blog below illustrates the effects. Good Luck!
Deercast for Tuesday:
Sky:        Rise; Clear        Noon; Clear           Set; Clear
Temps:   Rise; 39-43       Noon; 59-63          Set; 67-64
Winds:    Rise; SE 3-6     Noon; S 6-12        Set; SSE 5-9
Pressure: Steady Hi throughout the day.

Feelin' The Chill

We're feelin' that fall chill this weekend, isn't it great? A powerful cold front has swept on by, and a Canadian high pressure will settle overhead the next few days. High pressure tends to calm down the atmosphere, but it can really hype up the deer feeding activity! Field edges will be hot as temps cool quickly the next few evenings and travel corridors should be good with very chilly starts in the mornings. High pressure also means light winds which can really ruin a hunt. In the mornings, if possible I stay on hill/ridge tops due to the terrain creating a small wind current that flows uphill in the morning. During calm evenings, I feel more comfortable hunting closer to the bottom of the hill. As the temperature cools, the air sinks and flows like water towards the bottoms which adds a downhill component to the winds. In the mountains it's a common phenomenon, but it only really shows in Iowa when the winds are calm/light. Test it out tomorrow, it works! Good luck!
Deercast for Sunday
Sky:      Rise; Clear            Noon; Clear         Set; Mostly Clear
Temps: Rise; 31-37           Noon;  54-58       Set;  55-56
Wind:    Rise; NE 3-6        Noon; E 2-6         Set; ESE 2-7
Pressure: Rise; Steady Hi  Noon; Steady Hi  Set; Falling; Hi

Opening Day!

Opening day is finally here, and what a beauty it will be! We are still in a dry pattern with cool nights and warm days, and the moon is still fairly bright which I think playing a major role in activity. Right now the moon rises around midnight and doesn't set until mid-afternoon, making late night through mid-morning feeding a likely bet. I have noted more morning activity on days when the moon is bright on my early walk in, and when it hangs in the sky throughout the hunt. Cool temps in the morning boosts deer activity even more! The afternoon will be warm, but a cold front is coming. It wont get here in time for the evening hunt, but the front will set the stage for a very cool Opening Weekend! This front could help nudge activity up a bit as the deer feel the pressure drop. Afternoon activity will be fair and most likely late. Good Luck!

Deercast:   Get Sunrise & Set times by clicking the link ----->

Sky Coverage:   Rise; Clear           Noon; Clear           Set;Thin Clouds
Temps:                Rise; 40-45         Noon; 69-73          Set; 73-77
Winds:                 Rise; NW 2-6     Noon; W 5-11       Set; W 4-8
Pressure Trend:  Rise; Steady Hi   Noon; Falling Hi     Set; Falling Lo

Right Around the Corner

Iowa deer bow hunting season is just days away, and the weather couldn't be better! It's a bit warm with highs in the 70s and 80s. The last few days I have seen much less feeding activity during the daylight hours in the evening, but the mornings have been great! The waning moon (Click on the link under Trail Cam Picture for the current moon phase) is still pretty bright and lingers in the western sky throughout the morning hours. Combined with the cool mornings, this is making early and mid-morning activity pretty good! The bachelor groups are starting to break up a bit, with the larger deer establishing more dominance, but I am still seeing 'waves' of bucks passing by the trail cams. If your in an area around known rubs or scrapes, stick around and your patience will likely pay off.

Deercast: Wed. 28th; we'll see temps in the mid 80s as winds switch WNW 10-20 late evening. It wont be the best to hunt, but transition areas or right next to bedding should still be ok. Thurs. 29th; It will be breezy throughout the morning with winds picking up NW 10-20. The pressure will be rising as high pressure moves in with clear skies and winds should relax by evening NNW 5-10. Opening Day Friday; High pressure is still overhead making for a chilly start in 40s with west wind 3-7mph! This will be a great morning to hunt! Winds will likely switch  from westerly to NE 10-15 for the evening, and a cold front will be backing in from the north. This might make the evening surprisingly good even though it will be warm (70s). Sunset activity should be fair especially NE of Des Moines! Keep tabs on the forecast with  Central Iowa's Most Accurate Forecast

Season is almost here, and the deer of a lifetime might be waiting right around the corner. Happy hunting!

Fall Feelin'

If this cool weather doesn't make you want to go afield and enjoy, you might start considering a new hobby! We have had a powerful cold front work through, and a quick temperature drop of 10-15 degrees for our highs will surely kick the deer activity up a notch. The waning, but nearly full, moon is also lingering well into the morning daylight hours and I have almost always seen good activity on those days.
Deercast: Friday, clearing skies but breezy & cooler. We'll see great morning activity and fair evening activity. Bigger bucks will be on their feet earlier moving more in the daylight thanks to the cool-down! NW Winds 15-25 switching to the west by afternoon 10-15 and light SW 5-10 by sunset. Saturday, another system is pushing in bringing chilly and rainy weather. Partly cloudy am, cloudy with showers by midday. Temperatures only in the 50s with a SE wind 5-10 in the am, switching the full 180 degrees and going NW 10-15 mid-am into the afternoon. Movement should be fantastic with cool air before the storm system! Get out and hunt (where legal :) ! Too bad archery season didn't start today, but it's only a week away!

The Countdown Continues

Welcome to the Outdoors Weather Guide Blog! We've got just over a week until October 1st  (the start of Iowa Archery Season) and I can hardly wait! With many hunting seasons already beginning, let's get straight to the good stuff; how weather impacts hunting. September weather can be a very fickle thing, but typically it is still relatively warm. Deer and other game are often glued to a lazy late-summer feeding pattern, and their movements often slow and subdued due to the heat. It makes sense. You probably wouldn't be all that excited about running around with a fur coat on in the Iowa heat and humidity either, right? That makes this month a good one to be mobile if you have a chance to go hunting or if you're just scouting and glassing. Cold snaps and foul weather like what we saw this past weekend are perfect days to get out and take a look around. Cold snaps put the deer on their feet, and the wet weather makes for great tracking to find those fresh prints and active trails. If you're not finding deer, its probably because their simply not there, or they only come by at night. Think cool, early and late and shady river bottoms. We've got some major weather systems cruising in the next few days, and the rapid pressure changes will be making the game move more now. Keep tabs on the weather with http://www.myabc5.com/