October means the opening of deer season, but it is not typically associated with big bucks. The first few weeks of the season are often considered slow in terms of harvesting trophies. Most hunters consider later October and early November the prime time for filling a tag, reserving the early season for last-minute fishing and pheasant trips. But what if I told you early October is the perfect time to harvest the big buck you have been watching all summer?

Like most hunters, I have long believed that late October and early November are the best times to target whitetails. Does are in heat, and bug bucks are on the move. Overcome with the possibility of love, the bucks are moving during the daytime, venturing out of cover, and a little less cautious — the perfect scenario to place one squarely in your sights.

Despite knowing this, I can not help but hit the woods as soon as the season opens. After months of waiting for the season to arrive, I have to take a few days to sit in the stand. While doing this, I noticed something — the deer were there, too. Bucks may still be in bachelor groups, and does have not yet caught their attention, but this doesn’t mean that they will not offer you an opportunity to fill a tag.

Chasing buck in early October requires a different approach. The rut is still a few weeks away, so doe scents, decoys, and calls will have little effect. Nor are you likely to catch a big buck off guard and out in the open. But you can still catch them off guard.

Early in the season, the Bucks are still in semi-summer mode. This means they are still moving very early and late, reducing your chances of catching one moving about during shooting hours. But there is something that every deer does regardless of the time of year — they eat. This is the key to targeting bucks.

Pre-rut deer have yet to move into high-carb diets to pack on the winter weight. They are still feeding on soybeans, alfalfa, and clover. If you can hunt a field holding one or more of these food crops, your chances of filling a tag increase 10-fold. It may be the best time of the season to hunt these spots as most deer will switch to mast crops and corn as the rut approaches.

Although early-season hunters face several disadvantages, only some things are in the deer’s favor.

Hunting pressure is generally light, meaning deer are more likely to stick to summer patterns. If you have been watching a favorite buck via trail cams, targeting him before other hunters push him to change his behavior gives you an edge.

The foliage has not yet died off, so you have additional cover as you sneak into your stand and take up the watch. Although this can also provide the deer with some cover, it does make them a bit more visible than the soon-to-arrive browns and oranges.

Because there is no rush to fill a tag, you have time to scout, learn, and plan. Hang back, use binoculars and a camera, and learn what your target is doing. Learn his movements and then make a plan to intercept them.

While you are scouting, learning, and sitting, do not let the possibility of filling a tag early keep you from filling a tag at all. Resist the urge to hunt your best stands. Do not attempt to take your target unless it is a near-perfect setup — blow it now, and you may not see him again until December. Suppose the hunt is not going in your favor, back out and try another day. Remember to have escape routes that allow you to exit without alerting other deer while you are doing so.

Instead of waiting for the perfect rut scenario, take advantage of the opportunities that early October can provide. Get out and fill a tag before the deer know what hit them.

Good luck, good hunting.