Hunting trophy whitetails in October is definitely more challenging than any other time of the year. Here in Montana, it is both challenging and also rewarding at the same time. Due to the shear numbers of whitetail deer, you will still see plenty of animals, and some good bucks. However, most of the biggest bucks (over 3 ½ years old) will be reclusive at this time and require some form of approaching storm front (bad weather) or a favorable moon phase in order to catch them slipping up during this time of year. On a good note, we have had some great Pope and Young whitetails taken by our bow hunters during the 1st and 4th weeks of October. Our private river bottom leases provide one of the best places in the country to hunt trophy whitetails during this time of year.

The 3rd week in October is the opening week of gun season here in Montana. Which requires all hunters afield, both gun hunters and bow hunters to wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange. The last two weeks in October are where we book our trophy mule deer and trophy antelope rifle hunters. If we do not book our limited spaces that are available for our mule deer and antelope rifle hunts, late October still provides very good activity as younger bucks and a few 3 ½ year olds are getting revved up and can be effectively hunted between food sources and in travel corridors focusing on pre-rut behavior.