September is a time with great change and transition on the landscape.
The author shows off a great early season whitetail.
Want to kill more deer in September? With HuntStand’s Whitetail Activity Forecast, it’s certainly possible. If that’s on your list of things to accomplish, read on for a detailed guide on how to set yourself up for success during the early season.
In the iconic words of Val Kilmer, who played Doc Holiday in the blockbuster hit Tombstone, “my hypocrisy knows no bounds.” I’m a Western guy. I live in the most elk-rich state in North America and have access to fantastic wapiti habitat, public and private. Elk are my jam. However, my affinity with the white-tailed deer continues to evolve. When I had the opportunity to head to northeast Wyoming for the September 1, 2025, archery whitetail opener, I jumped at the chance.
I can’t lie; I felt incredibly guilty glassing bucks and does feeding on lush alfalfa from the comfort of my buddy and guide, Michael Ontl’s, truck. Usually, I’d be glassing bulls or setting up a backcountry camp in some remote locale.
“What are you looking at?” Mikey asked me in between glances at my phone.
I could tell he was annoyed. I get it. Nothing makes my stomach churn like hunting or scouting with someone who can’t disengage from social media or “unplug” long enough to lock in.
Thirty minutes after asking me the question, Mikey had downloaded HuntStand, paid his dues, and was studying one of my favorite features of the app, the Whitetail Activity Forecast.
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HuntStand's Whitetail Activity Forecast is a very beneficial tool for deer hunters.
What Is HuntStand’s Whitetail Activity Forecast?
Developed by HuntStand Wildlife Biologist Brian Murphy, who has more than three decades of experience researching, managing, and hunting whitetails across North America, the Whitetail Activity Forecast is not a gimmick.
I note that because it doesn’t take a deer biologist to look at a weather app on November 5 and see that a front that dips temps, spikes barometric pressure, and is set to roll through on the evening of November 6 will maximize rut activity all day on November 6. Truth be told, I rarely use Whitetail Activity Forecast during the rut. However, I study it closely, multiple times per day, during September, October, and December.
Why?
I love that the app works with the Hunt Areas you create in your HuntStand app. This matters because the Whitetail Activity Forecast isn’t general. Instead, it’s extremely specific. The app uses real data and scientific research, backed by the most respected whitetail gurus in the country, to forecast exactly when deer are most likely to be moving. And HuntStand was the first to map precise rut times for whitetails across their entire range. Knowing the exact dates for each phase of the rut for an individual deer herd is the only way to establish the peak benchmark for whitetail movement — which, of course, happens during the rut. In other words, by mapping the rut in great detail, HuntStand’s Whitetail Activity Forecast has a leg up on any other predictive tool for whitetail movements.
What Are the Best Features on a Hunting App?
Where legal, run trail cameras to pattern an early season whitetail.
Using HuntStand’s Whitetail Activity Forecast During the Early and Late Season
I’ve penned this story before, but in 2023, I arrowed a Boone & Crockett Colorado brute. It was the evening of October 23, and the only app — and I checked many — that suggested I go hunting was HuntStand’s Activity Forecast. The exact Activity Score was 62, which falls into the “Decent time to hunt, but don’t get too excited” category. Temps were high, but the barometric pressure was ticking up, and I had a steady east wind. I plopped my butt in a ground blind and three hours later ran an arrow through my biggest buck to date.
September is a frustrating riddle, though. One day you’re seeing bachelor groups of giants; the next, the woods are dead. That’s where HuntStand’s Whitetail Activity Forecast separates the pros from the crowd. It’s not just a fancy weather widget; it’s a predictive powerhouse. It analyzes all the proven factors that influence whitetail movement and spits out a rating on a scale of 0 to 100.
Mikey had his heart set on a particular buck: a 150-plus-inch 5-1/2-year-old. Though I told him I’d be happy with any mature buck, Mikey wasn’t hearing any of it. He knew the property, scouted it daily, and had enough trail cam photos to piece together a plan.
On the hunt’s first evening, temperatures were hot. Thinking lazy bucks would slake their thirst before hitting the alfalfa, Mikey opted to tuck me in a ground blind 32 yards from a cattle tank.
We knew going into the hunt that it was a long shot. Temps were high, and the wind was all over the place, which was why we opted for the ground blind. The Whitetail Activity Forecast score was 49, which falls into the Poor category. Still, this was an outfitted hunt. I wasn’t hunting on my home whitetail dirt. I had five days, and I was going to hunt every second that I could. That evening, I saw two does, two fawns, and two 2-1/2-year-old bucks. Mikey, who was glassing the big ag, later told me that deer movement was “creepy low.”
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Don't forget about mast crops and other food sources in September.
Mikey and I also knew, thanks to the 15-day extended Whitetail Activity Forecast, that the following evening was looking promising. The extended Activity Forecast showed movement peaking and a score of 72 between 6:30 and 8 p.m. on September 2.
I glanced at the forecast at 6:45 p.m. on the evening of September 2. The score had risen to 75. Before arrowing that mature 5-1/2 year-old — spoiler alert, I know — I had 14 other deer visit the water. This was a significant increase in deer movement compared to the previous day.
This was a small pond surrounded by bedding with a large ag field behind the treestand. It was a perfect setup. HuntStand’s Tree Cover Overlay told us there was a lot of natural browse on the fringe of the bedding cover, and all the pieces of the puzzle fell together.
The bottom line: I’ve been using and tracking HuntStand’s Whitetail Activity Forecast for three years. It’s the most accurate forecast I’ve discovered.
Is it perfect? No. Nothing is. You might kill the deer of a lifetime on a day with a Whitetail Activity Forecast of 40. However, with the 15-day forecast and Whitetail Rut Map, you know when to call in sick and when to head to work.
Note: Cellular trail cameras are illegal in Wyoming during hunting season. Mikey and the crew at Trophy Ridge Outfitters do everything by the book, and for this reason, we used Stealth Cam’s SD Card Reader/Viewer/4.3” LCD Touch Screen digital card reader daily. I use this device religiously in Colorado as well. It’s dependable, works, and lets me view and clear cards efficiently. Click here to find the SD Card Reader/Viewer/4.3” LCD Touch Screen on HuntStand’s Gear Store, and be sure to check out other gear available to HuntStand members.
How to Chart a Buck’s Home Range and Core Area with HuntStand Markers
The author displays an incredible archery buck.
Final Thoughts on Early Season Deer Hunting
As the early days of September unfold, HuntStand’s Whitetail Activity Forecast becomes an indispensable tool for serious hunters. This isn’t just another app; it’s a sophisticated system that intelligently predicts deer movement, allowing you to strategize your hunts effectively.
During my trip to northeast Wyoming, this tool proved its worth. As temperatures fluctuated and conditions evolved, the forecast tool helped pinpoint optimal hunting windows. This boosted my confidence and ultimately led to me tagging a mature buck. In September, it’s all about understanding patterns and timing your hunts accordingly. HuntStand’s Whitetail Activity Forecast will help with the necessary planning.
Whether you’re hunting in lush fields or navigating dense timber, the insights from the WAF can elevate your experience from mere chance to calculated success. Alongside the right gear from the HuntStand Gear Store — think trail cameras, treestands, ground blinds, etc. — you’ll be fully equipped to capitalize on peak activity times.
Embrace the HuntStand Whitetail Activity Forecast and maximize your chances of success this September. It’s time to punch some tags.
