September Habitat & Hunting Strategy Checklist

September = Deer Season for Many of Us

It's finally September! That means the beginning of many different types of hunting season, from small game seasons to deer and other big game species seasons. Some States opening as soon as September 1. 

The question is, are you prepared?

This is a time where either the rubber meets the road, or it is a time to wrap up habitat and hunting strategy projects on our properties. If hunting Public Land, it is the perfect time of year to be out doing a little speed scouting. Perhaps even setting a secluded, out of sight out of mind trail cameras for critical intel. 

As I write this, our expected daytime temperature today, September 2nd, is expected to be near 90 with high humidity with little to know rain in the near future. But generally, September, for me especially, is a month that we all look forward to with generally cooling daytime highs, making it more of a pleasure to appreciate all of the projects we have completed up to this point. And also more desirable conditions to wrap up any last minute projects we may have before hunting season begins.

My Personal Checklist

 - Brassica food plots receive a top dress of a minimum of 100#/acre of Urea Nitrogen fertilizer just prior to an impending rain.

- Clover and/or alfalfa food plots will receive a minimum of 100#/acre of potash fertilizer to help root systems build carbohydrates in preparation for winter dormancy. It's kind of a golden rule in which a soil test for this application generally doesn't apply. It's more of a common sense approach.

- September is a great time to seed small cereal grains such as winter rye, winter wheat, winter oats, triticale, peas, and even crimson clover. I utilize these forages either mixed as a stand alone crop or to fill gaps in thin soybean or brassica plots. and even perhaps in a corn field that I know will be harvested for ensilage or grain. A harvested field will eventually lead to little to no food source. if on a permission farm or lease, please be sure to talk with the land owner.

- Now is the time to make sure all stands, box blinds, ground blinds, etc. are in place, brushed in with access/exit strategies in place. And also accessorized with safety climbing  lines, bow hooks, bow ropes for pulling up and letting down your bow, accessary hooks for your daypacks, etc.. I will even go the extra mile, because I will have family and other guests out to my properties to hunt, to flag out stand access and locations with flagging tape and reflective thumbtacks.

- All shooting lanes are created and cleared for maximum draw and shot opportunity.

- If I absolutely have to, and if applicable, now is the time to top off any water sources that must be manually filled.

- Continually shooting at least one arrow a day with my bow. We all have at least 5 minutes in our "busy" lives to shoot our bows on a continuous daily basis. Practice makes improvement, even if you think your perfect.

- Making sure our clothing is as scent free as we possibly can. No, you cannot fool a deer's nose. But to me, scent control via scent free detergents, soaps, and ozone or air tight storage containers are absolutely worth the extra effort.

- Now is a great time to make sure your favorite hunting boots are in shape for the season. Nothing worse than finding out the hard way, like crossing a creek only to find out then that there was a hole in my boots.

- Purchasing the proper licenses.

- And above all, just having fun and living each day as though it could possibly your last.

In Summary

This is just my list that I go through this time of year in preparation for the upcoming season, which for Wisconsin is September 17th this year. Your checklist may be a little different, and that is perfectly fine. but for some of you reading this, I at least you found this list somewhat helpful. 

Good luck this season! And PLEASE, be sure to share your harvest success photos!