Every deer hunter knows the frustration of the October Lull - that period in mid-October when deer activity seems to slow down just before the rut. Bucks that were visible in early season suddenly disappear, and it feels like the woods go quiet overnight. But the October Lull isn’t a time to hang up your bow - it’s an opportunity to adapt, refine your tactics, and set yourself up for success when other hunters are giving up.

What Causes the October Lull?

Deer behavior shifts in October for a few key reasons: 

• Changing Food Sources: During the lull, deer often shift off green fields and hit acorns, cut corn, or browse. If you can key in on these changing food sources, you’ll up your odds. It also pays to supplement with attractants in front of your stands to keep deer moving in daylight. Springhill Outfitters carries Lucky Buck Mineral (20lb Bucket) to help pattern bucks and hold them on your property.
  
  
• Increased Hunting Pressure: Early-season success doesn’t just fill tags, it also teaches deer to be more cautious. By mid-October, mature bucks have often seen hunters in treestands, smelled human scent around food plots, and heard calls that didn’t end well. This added pressure makes them change their movement patterns, stay in thicker cover, and push more activity into the night, which is why daylight encounters can drop off sharply.
  
  
• Seasonal Weather Shifts: October’s unpredictable weather plays a big role in deer movement. Sudden cold snaps can spark activity, while warm spells often slow it down. Add in shorter daylight hours and shifting moon phases, and deer naturally adjust when and where they move—often outside of typical hunting times.

Understanding these changes helps you adjust your game plan.

Strategies for Beating the October Lull

1. Hunt Smart Food Sources
   During the lull, deer often shift their patterns, feeding closer to cover and bedding areas. Key in on acorn flats, fresh-cut fields, or natural browse where bucks feel safe moving in daylight. Keep deer frequenting your area with Lucky Buck Mineral (20lb Bucket) (in-store pickup only), draw them in with Deer Calls, and boost attraction using Deer Attractants & Scent Products.
2. Pay Attention to Bedding Areas
   During the October Lull, bucks often stay bedded longer and only move short distances in daylight. Getting closer to these bedding areas—without spooking deer—can tip the odds in your favor. Stay concealed and comfortable with Hunting Blinds that blend seamlessly into natural cover.
3. Adjust Hunting Times
   Instead of evening hunts on fields, try midday hunts on travel corridors. Bucks often stage or scent-check areas when other hunters have left the woods.

• Stay comfortable on longer sits with a Summit Treestand.
  
  

4. Use Scents & Calls Wisely
   While it’s not peak rut, curiosity can still draw a buck in. Light grunting or using a doe scent near scrapes can spark interest.

• Explore Deer Scents & Calls.
  
  

5. Don’t Forget Trail Cameras
   Patterns change quickly in October, and running cameras helps you stay one step ahead. Move them to scrapes, travel routes, or staging areas to catch new movement.

• Set up with Trail Cameras & Accessories.
  
  

Final Thoughts

The October Lull may test your patience, but it’s also a chance to outsmart pressured deer. By shifting your focus to food sources, bedding cover, and subtle calling strategies, you can turn a tough stretch into an opportunity. Stay adaptable, trust your gear, and remember that persistence often pays off when others stay home.

Build your deer season success at Springhill Outfitters—shop Deer Hunting Gear today.