September 2010

Food is King

For bowhunters across much of the country, September is the month that kicks off the entire hunting season.

While there is plenty of ink spilled on the importance of finding a bachelor group and hunting them on the opener, the reality is most hunters would benefit from taking a walk through their hunting area with an open mind while noting the available food and the likelihood of it changing in the next 30 days or so.

Food is king this time of year, and while there are constant sources that exist in the wild, many of the preferred food sources will change this month. Soybeans will be picked, alfalfa will be cut, acorns will begin to drop, and field corn will be harvested for silage. The result is that hunters need to stay ahead of the deer and the changing agriculture as well as the wild food sources.

Many hunters plant food plots to ensure a constant food source, which is a great idea. Others utilize products like Record Rack® Golden Deer Nuggets™, Record Rack® Super Premium Deer Block or Record Rack® Super Premium Deer Corn to maintain or establish feeding stations (where legal) in an attempt to create areas where deer can count on food being available. These feeding stations encourage consistent deer movement throughout the entire season.

Whatever method a hunter chooses, the best bet is to think beyond the food available at the moment to what’s going to be available in a week or two. Deer will react almost immediately to a change in their food source and savvy hunters should capitalize on those changes. Also, it’s important to note the needs bucks have during September as they attempt to put on serious weight in order to stay healthy while they run themselves ragged during the rigors of the impending rut.

For those that don’t bowhunt, but have the itch to be productive in an effort to ensure a quality firearms season, September is a good month as well. Establishing food stations, planting late food plots, and of course, working on a few treestands can all add up to a few filled tags come November and December. The often-pleasant temperatures and conditions of the ninth month of the year certainly make the work more enjoyable.

September Soybeans and Apples

Bowhunters and firearms hunters should pay close attention to the available food sources in their hunting areas. The key to consistent success is to stay ahead of the deer and to recognize what food sources they’ll hit in the future. Food plots and feeding stations that utilize Record Rack® Golden Deer Nuggets™ or Record Rack® Super Premium Deer Corn also provide a great option to encourage consistent deer movement.

Food is king during September and bowhunters should not only hunt food sources hard, but they should also plan ahead to capitalize on changing agriculture and natural foods that may ripen or become available to the deer throughout the month.