What is the October Lull?

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Ethan Smith
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When archery season opens, it seems like the action can’t get any better. Deer sightings are plenty and maybe you’ve even harvested a nice buck or a doe. But then, all those bucks seem to disappear, seemingly overnight. It may even be hard to spot a mature doe as the calendar turns to October.

Hunters have deemed this the “October lull,” a period when bucks become nocturnal and even more elusive than before. Perhaps hunting pressure is to blame. Whatever the reason, as the pre-rut and rut kicks into gear, the bucks come out of hiding and the lull is gone just as quickly and mysteriously as it arrived.

Is the October Lull Real?

While anecdotal observations from hunters have certainly aided in understanding whitetail behavior, in this case, they don’t. The lack of deer sightings isn’t due to a drop in deer movement, but rather is completely related to hunter perception.

A Field & Stream article examined this very question with the help of specialist Dr. Mark Conner, who works at Chesapeake Farms in Maryland. Along with a graduate student, Conner used GPS collars to record locations of mature bucks throughout the day. What they found is that buck movement increases consistently, starting in late summer and continuing through the rut.

“Specifically, bucks moved a total distance of about one-and-a-half miles in a 24-hour period during late summer, almost two miles per day by early October, and two-and-a-half by the rut,” the article states. “In other words, buck movement in reality picks up during the so-called October lull.”

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Deer aren’t becoming nocturnal during this time period. Rather, they are changing their patterns, and not taking the same routes as pressure increases. But it’s more than that. Food sources are also changing this time of year – persimmons are fewer and acorns are beginning to dry up as well. That means the herd will be searching in areas of your property they may have not been before.

Be Mobile

Stay mobile in order to harvest a deer during this period. When the herd moves, you should too. If your sightings have decreased in the food plots, find natural browse in the hardwoods with plenty of sign around. Again, bucks are only increasing movement this time of year, so look for heavily used trails that will connect bedding areas with food sources. Those travel corridors are where you should hang a stand.

A trail camera will aid in keeping tabs on buck movement until the rut begins.

Also, put a few trail cameras around your property. This will provide insight into where the bucks have moved to. Be mindful of how much time you’re spending in a particular area. Since the deer are now being pressured, they’ll be sensitive to human presence. Don’t hunt stands or check your cameras too often. Remain mobile and have plenty of hunting locations, which is also advantageous for varying wind conditions.

While your buddies at camp blame the October lull for their lack of deer sightings, you can rest easy knowing that there’s no supernatural phenomenon at work here. Knowing the causes of the change in deer behavior, you can adapt accordingly. The action should only increase from here on as the rut approaches.

See also  7mm-08 Remington for Elk Hunting? Best Ammo (Round, Load, Cartridge) for a Successful Elk Hunt Hunting Calibers 04 Apr, 2020 Posted By: Foundry Outdoors Is the 7mm-08 Remington a viable caliber/load/round/cartridge for elk hunting? The accurate answer is “it depends”. However, the goal of this article is simply to address the question of whether the 7mm-08 Remington is within the ideal range of suitable calibers to harvest elk. As with anything, the devil is in the details. To answer the question completely, we would need to evaluate the downrange distance to the elk, the bullet type, the grain weight of the bullet, the physical condition of the firearm, the size of the elk in question, the shot placement, the local wind conditions, the expected accuracy of the shooter, the ethics of the ideal maximum number of shots – the list goes on. [Click Here to Shop 7mm-08 Remington Ammo]What we can do is provide a framework to understand what average conditions might look like, and whether those are reasonably viable for a shot from the average shooter to harvest a elk in the fewest number of shots possible, i.e., ethically. Let’s dive right in. In the question of “Is the 7mm-08 Remington within the ideal range of suitable calibers for elk hunting?” our answer is: Yes, the 7mm-08 Remington is A GOOD CHOICE for elk hunting, under average conditions, from a mid-range distance, with a medium grain expanding bullet, and with correct shot placement.Let’s look at those assumptions a bit closer in the following table. Assumption Value Caliber 7mm-08 Remington Animal Species Elk Muzzle Energy 2450 foot-pounds Animal Weight 720 lbs Shot Distance 200 yardsWhat is the average muzzle energy for a 7mm-08 Remington? In this case, we have assumed the average muzzle energy for a 7mm-08 Remington round is approximately 2450 foot-pounds. What is the average weight of an adult male elk? Here we have leaned conservative by taking the average weight of a male individual of the species, since females generally weigh less and require less stopping power. In this case, the average weight of an adult male elk is approximately 720 lbs. [Click Here to Shop 7mm-08 Remington Ammo]What is the distance this species is typically hunted from? Distance, of course, plays an important role in the viability of a given caliber in elk hunting. The kinetic energy of the projectile drops dramatically the further downrange it travels primarily due to energy lost in the form of heat generated by friction against the air itself. This phenonemon is known as drag or air resistance. Thus, a caliber that is effective from 50 yards may not have enough stopping power from 200 yards. With that said, we have assumed the average hunting distance for elk to be approximately 200 yards. What about the other assumptions? We have three other primary assumptions being made here. First, the average bullet weight is encapsulated in the average muzzle energy for the 7mm-08 Remington. The second important assumption is ‘slightly-suboptimal’ to ‘optimal’ shot placement. That is to say, we assume the elk being harvested is shot directly or nearly directly in the vitals (heart and/or lungs). The third assumption is that a projectile with appropriate terminal ballistics is being used, which for hunting usually means an expanding bullet.Various calibersA common thread you may encounter in online forums is anecdote after anecdote of large animals being brought down by small caliber bullets, or small animals surviving large caliber bullets. Of course those stories exist, and they are not disputed here. A 22LR cartridge can fell a bull elephant under the right conditions, and a newborn squirrel can survive a 50 BMG round under other specific conditions. Again, the goal of this article is simply to address the question of whether 7mm-08 Remington is within the ideal range of suitable calibers to harvest elk - and to this question, the response again is yes, the 7mm-08 Remington is A GOOD CHOICE for elk hunting. [Click Here to Shop 7mm-08 Remington Ammo]This article does not serve as the final say, but simply as a starting point for beginner hunters, as well as a venue for further discussion. Please feel free to agree, disagree, and share stories from your own experience in the comments section below. Disclaimer: the information above is purely for illustrative purposes and should not be taken as permission to use a particular caliber, a statement of the legality or safety of using certain calibers, or legal advice in any way. You must read and understand your own local laws before hunting elk to know whether your caliber of choice is a legal option.Foundry Outdoors is your trusted home for buying archery, camping, fishing, hunting, shooting sports, and outdoor gear online.We offer cheap ammo and bulk ammo deals on the most popular ammo calibers. We have a variety of deals on Rifle Ammo, Handgun Ammo, Shotgun Ammo & Rimfire Ammo, as well as ammo for target practice, plinking, hunting, or shooting competitions. Our website lists special deals on 9mm Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 45-70 Ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, 300 Blackout Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 5.56 Ammo, Underwood Ammo, Buffalo Bore Ammo and more special deals on bulk ammo.We offer a 100% Authenticity Guarantee on all products sold on our website. Please email us if you have questions about any of our product listings. 1 Comments Ted - Aug 28, 2024Shot placement is the key. I find most 140(139) grain bullets serve me well. Hunting should be fair chase. Sniping at 400+ yards is not hunting. Leave a commentComments have to be approved before showing up Your Name * Your Email * Your Comment * Post Comment
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Ethan Smith
Ethan Smith is a seasoned marine veteran, professional blogger, witty and edgy writer, and an avid hunter. He spent a great deal of his childhood years around the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona. Watching active hunters practise their craft initiated him into the world of hunting and rubrics of outdoor life. He also honed his writing skills by sharing his outdoor experiences with fellow schoolmates through their high school’s magazine. Further along the way, the US Marine Corps got wind of his excellent combination of skills and sought to put them into good use by employing him as a combat correspondent. He now shares his income from this prestigious job with his wife and one kid. Read more >>

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