It is that magical time of year for outdoor recreationalists because there are so many different options of what to do. Archery season began October 1, the salmon are running in the Salmon River, pheasant and duck seasons begin this Saturday. With so much to choose from, how can you decide what to do with your limited time off? What the weather does can help you decide.

If rain is in the forecast, consider skipping an archery hunt and hit the swamp for wood ducks. Rainy days are often called ducky days. The churning of the water from the rain mixes up invertebrates and plant seeds in the water and makes them easier for the ducks to feed on. Rain makes it harder for the ducks to see hunters hiding in the tall grass so they will come in to shooting range easier. A spinning wing decoy will get incoming ducks to try landing with it so put this where you want to be shooting and leave a little pocket around it. This early in the season, a small decoy spread is all you need to lure birds into range.

If it is supposed to be warm and dry, an upland bird hunt can be a great way to enjoy an autumn day. The DEC stocks pheasants on some pieces of state land, so put on your blaze orange and either some buddies and/or your hunting dog. Work into the wind with your dog so they can get the scent of any birds. If hunting without a dog, walk in a line with the hunters spaced apart so birds can’t run through between them. Just be mindful that archery season is open so make sure you are following proper safe handling of your firearms and are careful of your shooting directions.

Warm days may also call for getting cooled down in a creek or river. You might catch the tail end of the salmon run up north or you might find brown trout getting ready to spawn in rivers locally. Fall bass fishing can be fun as they are feeding aggressively to get ready for winter. As they chase baitfish in shallow, topwater baits can lead to some spectacular action.

If a cold front comes in, it may be best to sit in a treestand or ground blind. Cold overnight temperatures can cause deer to feed longer into the morning before heading to bedding areas. This delay may put their movement after sunrise so you can get a shot. As the day length gets shorter, bucks will start to use scrapes and rubs to mark their territory as the rut approaches. Rattling can be a good technique as the bucks are establishing territories and the sound of fighting bucks can draw other bucks in to get in on the action. The first does will start to come into heat in late October and the bucks will start cruising trying to find the first receptive doe of the year. Usually around the 25th of October, putting out doe-in-heat lures can get cruising bucks to come in.

Do not be afraid to double-dip or mix-and-match your days. Duck hunt in the morning and then bow hunt in the afternoon, or bow hunt the morning and then hit the pheasant field after lunch. With so many options available, there’s no excuse to stay at home!