Go Green for Warm Weather Deer

The harvest is well under way, but these temperatures are more August-like than October! Not to mention the dry south winds have really been blowing over 30mph the past few days! Although warm conditions are relatively enjoyable to hunt in, they can cause some serious problems for your typical hunting approach. Here are some tactics I use to beat the heat for early season Whitetail.

Set up your tree stands and ambush sites for the two dominant wind directions in the early Fall. Southeasterly winds (coming from the south or south east) will often come before our low pressures and foul weather. Hunters should have a few stands set up for this wind direction since this is our average wind for about 1/3 of October. Westerly to northwesterly winds will blow in behind storms as High Pressure moves in and this is the predominant wind direction in Fall here in the Central Plains. It is also the most likely wind to go along with cold weather!

During dry seasons, position stands directly over or within 30 yards of a game trail intersection with a creek. With above normal temperatures, action can be slow, but animals still have to drink. Generally hot conditions come with southerly winds, so I'll set up my stands to the north of these intersections. Lately, the majority of the deer I have seen have been feeding in green alfalfa fields. I have also noticed quite a few along strips of green pasture or grasslands. These are preferred feeding sites for early season deer as the beans and corn turn brown. Plants that are still green are desirable and contain water which is essential in hot, dry weather. So stick close to water and go green for warm weather Whitetail.

Good luck!  

Wild Ride This Fall

Lately, I've heard one common question from folks: "Why the heck is it so warm?"

Check out this animation . It shows the Northern Hemisphere looking down at the North Pole. If your geography is a bit rusty, no worries. North America is at the bottom of the circle and Iowa is pretty much in the middle. Notice the growing blue blob on the lower left of the image. Over the last month two enormous and persistent areas of cool, stormy weather are setting up. One is to the west, and the other to the east. We will be sandwiched somewhere in-between. Anytime this happens, it usually spells warmth for the heartland. In fact, you can expect hot/above average conditions for about 2/3 of your outdoors adventures this October.

You can also expect wild swings this Fall! Pictured to the left is a three month forecast from the Climate Prediction Center with my forecast overlayed. It looks like we'll see above average temps and generally dry/sunny conditions the majority of the Fall season with periodic cold spells in-between.  But  we're losing three minutes of daylight with each passing day, and the sun angle is getting lower- so winter will come. The cold spells will come in surges that will last several days a piece. Because most of the storms will be coming from the NW, rain and clouds will be limited. With sunshine, the cold will generally lose it's grip within a week. This warm/dry pattern will spell comfortable conditions for us to enjoy this fall. Heck, maybe even a lower energy bill!

When the weather's like this, deer still move around. Later this week I'll blog about the specific strategies I use for hunting a warm weather pattern. They are simple and very effective so keep checking in and tell a friend about this blog. Send me a message if you want me to talk about a specific topic, or have a weather question. I'll be happy to accommodate. Good luck out there!

Warm Week Ahead!

Opening weekend is under our belts, so let's shift focus to the long-range pattern.

Long-range forecasts are like most long range shots. The further out you aim, the harder it becomes to hit your target and the same thing happens to our forecasts. For example, the same Jet Stream energy that is traversing the US now will create a blizzard later this Winter. It's true. It will circle the Northern Hemisphere 5-10 times before then, interacting with oceans, mountains, deserts, etc... picking up traits from each of these varied environments and evolving each time. That makes it nearly impossible to predict. With that said, let's look at the next week or two.

Pictured here is the 6-10 Day Temperature Probability from the Climate Prediction Center. This forecast is generated by blending together different computer model projections into sort of a climate model smoothie. The idea is, if one model is out of whack one way, and a different model is outta whack the other way, the average of all the models is relatively close to reality. Iowa is in the 50% chance of Above Normal temperatures in the next 6-10 days. Just check out the summer-like 7-Day 10 to 20 degrees above average almost every day! 

We're all operating on a time budget in the Fall. For hunters, knowing the long-term pattern will help you decide where and how to devote your hunting time and resources. In my next blog I'll focus on that and I'll break down the weather pattern for the next three months for all outdoors enthusiasts. In the meantime, expect to enjoy cool, comfortable nights, warm days and perfect evenings for the next several days.

Fantastic Opener

Deer Season is upon us, and for many hunters it is a magical time of the year. Opening Day full of anticipation and excitement like Christmas morning. The sun comes up and unwraps the terrain presenting the day like a gift to us hunters. In years past, it has always been a must hunt! Here are the environmental factors that should make your hunt successful, and a few that might blow it this weekend.

This will be the best opening morning weather I have seen in my decade of bow hunting. Frosty conditions are likely and this is fantastic! The first frosts of the year almost always evoke an increase in activity from deer. In fact, the most deer I have on trail cameras this year was underneath a high pressure right after our first frost touched the state with that cold surge early in September (see more about high pressure in my post below). This weekend's cool lows are a definite plus for morning sits, but the wind will also be a huge factor, and in an odd way. I am forecasting a very light NE wind at daybreak to switch to the ESE by 9am, but wind speeds will be under 5mph.  This tiny zepher will often foil a good plan because even Iowa's subtle topography creates its own wind currents. This, plus the shifting high pressure could bust your hunt with a very light swirly wind in the wrong direction for your morning hunt.

The moon should be a non-factor this weekend. The waxing crescent moon will rise after noon and set by 9pm (check out the link to the right). It might help play into some early feeding activity, but I don't forecast a substantial influence on our quarry.

Based on the fight I heard and then saw in a frosty river valley last weekend, I'll take along the rattling antlers. Bucks are showing Pre-Rut behavior and a few big boys will be moving tomorrow morning, I'll have to see who's curious about my mock battle.

So set a loud alarm, and try to get some sleep. Deer Season 2011 will be off to a great start! Good Luck!