MoonGuide subscriber Tim Spehr shot this Kansas giant during last week's Red Moon!
If you've spent any time in the woods this past week or been watching social media, you already know the woods are electric right now. Things are happening early this year — just like I predicted in the rut guide. That early full moon pulled the first wave of does 1–2 weeks ahead of schedule, and we're living in the middle of it.
From everything I'm seeing and hearing, that first wave of does has already been bred. Mature bucks aren't sitting still. They're on their feet, covering ground, and searching for the next hot doe. This is as good as it gets for big-buck movement. These are the days when a mature buck can show up out of nowhere while he's between does, and if you're not there to intercept him, the opportunity vanishes just as fast. They're not locked down long right now — they're on the move — and that window between does is exactly where you want to be.
The timing lines up in our favor. After a hot October, the cooler weather is finally here, and it should push even more of that activity into daylight hours. Starting November 2, late-morning moon times mean your best windows are morning through midday. If you can sit all day for the next week, do it. Pay close attention to the peak activity windows on the MoonGuide right now — when those does are up and moving, the bucks will be right there with them, and the biggest ones are the ones covering the most ground looking for the next one.
Right now, more than ever, it comes down to time in the stand and being in the right place at the right time. These are the days that make the whole season. Get out there.
Key Strategy for This Week
- November 2–7: Prime morning hunts. Be in the stand before first light and stay through lunch — or all day. Cruisers don't wait for you to finish coffee.
Good luck,
— Adam Hays III
