As summer heatwaves roll in, many hunters pack away their gear and wait for cooler days. But the truth is, what you do right now could make or break your success when the season opens. If you’re serious about tagging out early this fall, summer is your time to grind. From scouting bachelor groups to dialing in your gear, here’s how to set yourself up for success before that first arrow flies.
1. Scout Smart: Pattern Bucks Before They Shift
July and August are golden months for watching bachelor groups. Bucks are still in their summer patterns—feeding consistently in bean fields, clover plots, and along field edges before retreating to thick bedding areas during the day.
- Glass from Afar: Use quality binoculars or a spotting scope in the evenings to observe deer from a distance. Stay out of the woods to avoid contaminating your future hunting spots with human scent.
- Trail Cameras: Deploy cameras along food plots, mineral sites, and travel corridors. Cellular trail cams are ideal for monitoring activity without intrusion.
- Key Insight: Pay attention to entry and exit routes. Once velvet sheds, bucks may relocate—having intel now helps you predict where they’ll move.
2. Hang Stands and Prep Access Routes
There’s no better time to quietly hang stands or trim shooting lanes than in the summer.
- Set Early, Stay Out: Hang treestands and set blinds now to allow deer time to get used to them.
- Stealthy Access: Clear trails to your stands, marking routes you can take quietly even in the dark. Think about prevailing winds and avoid crossing primary deer trails.
- Scent Control Starts Now: When working in the field, wear rubber boots and gloves to minimize scent.
3. Dial In Your Gear Before It’s Crunch Time
Nothing’s worse than realizing your bow is off or your boots leak on opening day.
- Bow Tuning: Check your bowstring, sight pins, and broadheads. Practice shooting from elevated positions to simulate real hunting scenarios.
- Boots and Clothing: Break in new boots now, not when you’re dragging a stand into the woods. Invest in lightweight, breathable camo for early-season hunts.
- Pack Checklist: Rangefinder? Headlamp? Thermacell for mosquitoes? Build a checklist and start packing.
4. Condition Your Body for the Hunt
Early season hunts are no joke—high temps and long hikes to stand locations can be brutal.
- Hike With Weight: Load your pack and start walking trails in the heat to build stamina.
- Hydration and Recovery: Get used to carrying water and electrolyte packets. You’ll need them during warm early-season sits.
5. Plan for Changing Food Sources
Summer food sources like soybeans and clover won’t last forever. Be ready for deer to shift their patterns as crops are harvested and acorns begin dropping.
- Scout Oaks and Hardwoods: Once acorns hit the ground, bucks often abandon fields. Map these areas now.
- Mock Scrapes: Consider making mock scrapes in August to inventory bucks as they shift into pre-rut behavior.
Final Thoughts: Grind Now for Opening Day Glory
Summer prep isn’t glamorous. It’s hot, sweaty, and full of mosquitoes. But hunters who put in the work now are the ones posting photos with big velvet-rubbed bucks while others are still “figuring it out.” Whether it’s long evenings glassing bean fields or early mornings hanging stands, every hour invested now is a step closer to tagging out early.
So lace up your boots, grab your optics, and embrace the grind—because success in October starts in July.
