By Heath Wood

October is a month of transition and opportunity for bowhunters across the country. As bucks begin to shift their focus from feeding to checking does, knowing where to set up can significantly increase your odds of tagging a mature buck. During the early season, hunters base their game plan around patterning bucks still on a summer-like feeding pattern. Fast forward to November, and we know our hunting strategies typically revolve around the rut, bucks chasing does, and finally locking them down until ready to breed. Yet, October is the in-between month that honestly is all over the place when trying to narrow down a tactic that is best to harvest a mature buck.

Location is critical when hunting October whitetails. Where are the best hotspots to take an October buck? Whether you’re hunting on agricultural land, thick timber, or wide-open fields, understanding how terrain, food sources, and hunting pressure influence deer movement is essential to find the best hunting locations.

Understanding Deer Activity in October

Photography by Tes Jolly

Feeding patterns, the October lull, and the pre-rut occur in the so-called “Harvest Month” of autumn. It is up to the hunters whether they are harvesting crops or a mature buck. October hotspots revolve around the understanding of deer activity changes. As bucks transition from summer feeding patterns into pre-rut behavior, their movements become less predictable, which is when some hunters declare a lull in deer activity. Early in the month, bucks feed heavily on freshly fallen acorns or readily available crops. Yet, soon after, they begin covering more ground, laying down sign like rubs and scrapes, and increasing daylight activity. Their focus shifts toward monitoring doe groups and scent-checking potential breeding areas. This heightened activity offers bowhunters unique “hotspots” such as intercepting bucks moving between bedding and feeding areas and checking for estrous signs.

Because bucks are expanding their range during this time, selecting the right location—whether it’s a secluded thicket, a transition zone between timber and open fields, or a food source surrounded by heavy cover can make all the difference.

Top October Hot Spots

Agricultural Edges and Crop Fields

Agricultural edges and crop fields are among the top hunting locations for bowhunters in October. As bucks increase their movement, they often use agricultural fields as feeding sites or staging areas before venturing into the woods. Soybeans, corn, and alfalfa fields attract both bucks and does, and as the rut nears, bucks will start scent-checking these areas for early estrous does. Field edges that border thick cover provide a sense of security for deer transitioning between open fields and wooded bedding areas. I have always found success hunting these areas in the evenings, before deer feed throughout the night.

When hunting the edges of fields, I typically look for rubs and scrapes commonly found on field edges. I try to position my stand downwind on a trail or along a transition zone where the timber meets the field, as bucks are likely to scent-check these edges during the last daylight hours.

Food Plots

Food plots are typically planted in late summer. Yet, when hunting over them on a cool October morning or a chilly crisp evening, food plots become magnets and are most effective for deer, especially mature bucks. A green food plot provides consistent nutrition that keeps both bucks and does coming back to eat. In October, food plots are often the first stop for bucks after they rise from their beds and the last place they visit before bedding down for the night. As bucks increase their activity, they’ll begin scent-checking food plots for does and often visit during the last few daylight hours.

Hunters should set up along a trail leading into the food plot, preferably one that bucks use to approach from downwind. Bucks often linger in the shadows or brushy areas surrounding food plots, scent-checking for does before entering the open. Position your stand on the downwind side of the plot.

One of my favorite spots to saddle hunt is in a staging area near a food plot. These zones are where bucks pause before entering more exposed fields or plots. These areas provide a place for deer to observe and scent-check open areas, check their scrapes, and observe from a safe distance. There is an old saying that the big boys come out last, and many times, that is the case when hunting over an evening food plot.

Natural Funnels

Deer use natural funnels and travel corridors to move between feeding, bedding, and breeding areas. Terrain features like creek bottoms, ridgelines, or narrow timber strips between open fields create funnels. As bucks start covering more ground in October, these areas become high-traffic zones. You can identify natural funnels by looking at topographic maps or aerial imagery on a hunting app such as Hunt Stand. Before stepping a foot into an area, you can locate narrow strips of timber, creek crossings, or pinch points between fields. Once you get to these areas in person, look for well-used trails, fresh tracks, and rubs and scrapes along these corridors.

After finding a natural funnel, I typically put up a trail camera quickly to pattern bucks’ movement. Camera info will help determine where to position your stand. Bucks naturally use these narrow travel routes as they move between bedding and feeding areas. Unlike the food plots or feeding areas, morning hunts can be particularly more effective, as bucks use these corridors to return to bedding areas after a night of feeding.

Public Land, Out-of-the-Way Hotspots

Public land can be challenging, especially during October when hunting pressure increases. However, locating out-of-the-way hotspots that other hunters overlook can lead to success. Bucks often adjust their patterns to avoid heavily pressured areas, making remote or difficult-to-access locations prime hunting grounds.

Using maps and aerial imagery can help identify areas that are hard to reach, such as steep ridges, dense thickets, or isolated creek bottoms, which are basically places where most hunters would typically not hunt. Many won't attempt to hunt if it is not easy to get to or the terrain is too rugged for hunters to carry all their gear. Those are the areas to check out in October.

If your schedule allows, focus on hunting mid-week or during non-peak times when pressure is lower. For years, an older man who had lived in my hometown his entire life was known for being a die-hard bass fisherman. Yet, he is adamant about only fishing on weekdays, vowing never to fish on weekends when most others typically fish. Another scenario is the opening week of firearms season near my hometown. Weekday hunting is always more productive due to less hunting pressure than when everyone is hunting on the weekend. If you can, hunt during the week and set up in remote bedding areas, overlooked ridges, or secondary trails that bucks use to skirt around other hunters. Being willing to hike farther and hunt when others are not will set you apart from other public land hunters.

October is a dynamic month for bowhunters as bucks increase their activity and shift their focus toward the upcoming rut. By understanding how different terrains and regions influence deer movement, you can strategically select hunting locations that increase your chances of success. Whether targeting agricultural edges, thick timber transitions, or isolated food plots, paying attention to deer signs, wind patterns, and hunting pressure will help you locate the best October hunting hotspots.

Remain adaptable, use your scouting observations, and employ innovative strategies to make the most of this transitional period. With the right approach, October can be one of the most rewarding times of the year to be in the woods, offering an excellent opportunity to harvest a mature buck before the chaos of the rut begins.