What were the weather conditions for your best deer harvest in your area.I dont want rut harvest because any male thats horny loses sight of what they are doing in order to get what they want.I want what the moon,wind,temp,and rain or snow or shine was for your best harvest of a deer.And what state. :coffee:
My biggest bucks have come on clear cold mornings. Seems like when the moon is right first thing in the morning, I see more deer, but to be honest I can't remember if that has been the case on the "big" bucks. We don't get to play in the snow much here in AR and I don't hunt in the rain, I am color blind and have to go get my 6yo boy to track my deer. If I hunted when it was raining, I would be afraid the trail would wash away before I could my kiddo there.
It was a cool crisp day back in 2002. The day before Halloween. Don't remember the rest of the weather or moon phase. This in New Jersey, hunterdon county, Holland township.
Almost all my best hunts have been on cool(when you can see your breath), drizzly rain days, between 7-10am, not much wind, just light breeze on and off. Late Oct.
Mio, Mi Oct 4,1994 temp in the 40s light mist,kill made at 745AN.
The best days I saw big bucks were partly cloudy and cold in the am about 35-40 degrees.
Once the deer are in their winter coat forget them moving if the temp is over 50 degrees until night/dusk and very early morning when it is cooler. The last few years at our Ohio trad deer hunt in November, the deer movement was non-existent mid-day with temps above 50 degrees. We actually wound up with temps near 70 a few days and the hunting was terrible on those days.
There is also more movement before and after a big rain or snow front comes through. If the weather is slighly cloudy with light rain for for a number of days then I have seen more deer out during daylight hours.
Just some observations,
The Best days I can remember were Cool partly Cloudy Mornings 30-45 degress,in Illinois with one of my Hummingbird Longbows,
Kurt
A clear cold morning after 2 0r 3 days or rain.
well I have only harvested one deer with a recurve, but I am quite good at getting within range of mature deer. My notes say what follows . . . October seems to be my month, about 45 degrees, misting in the morning, with a half moon phase.
I love a good misty morning:)
My journal for the day (2008 CT)
Sept. 17
52F. Slight SE wind. 0600. Went to the convent. In tree at the deadfall. 0645 an eight point came from the field, into the corner of wood line. 0700 a second buck arrived from same field. Deer browsed on leaves. Eight walked away into adjoining field, the smaller racked nine point thrashed some branches, then came into clearing at 18 yards. Took shot at 0714. Hit far back into stomach, pass through.. Deer ran 15 yards and stopped in front of me. Second shot took him through the right shoulder, pass through. Ran approx. 70 yards and piled up. Found first arrow, covered in stomach contents. Second arrow not found. Goal met. 8^)

Deer seen: 2
Shots: 2 (both hits on same deer)
Hours: 1.5
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c318/b1r9i6a6n/Recurvebuck9pt7.jpg)
Rain and more rain. Did I say rain.
Western Washington, Heavy mist after a heavy rain. 45 degrees or lower temp. The deer are cold and hungry. This means they are up and moving any time of day. They stick to the heavier brushed in trails they like best. The woods are real quiet and still hunting is very productive in this situation.
NY, October mornings, 40's, right after rain
My two biggest buck I shot in the pouring rain, your scent is down, and the deer seem more relaxed to me.
Cool days ( 5-10 degrees below avg temp)steady breeze out of north /west. Any time between halloween and Thanksgiving. No moon to quarter moon.East central ohio. Any mature buck.......
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............................ Sorry drifted into that happy place only a bowhunter can know.
A.M. conditions for most observed buck activity; clear and cold @ first light and again about 3 hours later. Also just after a hours long heavy rain has ended.
P.M. conditions for most observed buck activity; during a light steady rain or just after a hours long heavy rain has ended.
Almost forgot to mention mid-day. Now if its one of those days its raining so hard a duck needs an umbrella, stay home. Other than that, if you can go mid-day, GO!
For what thier worth, these observations are based on my experience hunting west-central Georgia since about 1980.
-Dave