Don't Veer for Deer
February might be the cruelest month, but October and November are two of the most dangerous months -- especially in upper Midwest states like Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. There, cars encounter deer in an intimate and sometimes deadly way in staggering numbers. While the uninitiated warning against collisions might seem as useful as warning against meteor showers or being struck by errant bowling balls, the fact is that there are an estimated 1.75 million white-tailed deer in the state of Michigan alone, and neighboring states are home to similar numbers of the animals.
Even in early season, deer hunting can be productive
The months of September and October are considered by many deer hunters to be the pre-game warmup for the "real season" when the rut begins. At that point, the mature bucks drop their guard and go into search mode for does in heat. If the truth be known many a trophy has been taken in the early period before the rut ever starts and it can be persuasively argued that during these two months quality deer can be taken because they are less wary (especially during the first two or three weeks) and because their patterns are more predictable. Let's take a look at some things to consider in this early portion of white-tail season.