Deer season, Everyones favorite
Opening day of archery season in September is something I look forward to all year—the woods are still green, the air is just starting to cool, and deer are on more predictable early-season patterns. It’s a quiet, up-close style of hunting that really tests patience and skill. From that opener, the season stretches all the way to December 15th, giving a solid few months to chase whitetails through changing conditions—from warm early sits to cold late-season hunts. For me though, once firearm season rolls in, I always put the bow down. There’s something about switching gears, embracing the different pace and tradition of rifle season, and making the most of every part of the deer season here in New England.
Every season builds toward one thing—the rut—and all the scouting we do leads right up to that moment when bucks start moving in daylight and throwing caution aside. Along the way, we read the woods through sign. A rub is where a buck has worked a tree with its antlers, usually marking territory and building strength—often a sign you’re in a buck’s core area or along a travel route. A scrape, on the other hand, is a pawed-out patch of ground with an overhanging licking branch, used for communication—bucks and does both visit these, especially as the rut gets closer. After fresh rubs, you can expect continued buck movement along that line, but after an active scrape, there’s a good chance multiple deer will check it, making it a prime spot to catch action as the rut kicks in.