the 2nd rut

[Duckslayer18]

when do you think it will be starting up again, around the braham area?

[Mark Christianson]

I live in Big Lake and it was going wild starting Sunday night. Monday morning I saw 8 deer in an hour on stand. It was hard to leave but I had to go into work.

I will be out in the AM again tomorrow.

[Ferny]

Nov. 24th I almost had a nice big buck hood ornament.

He was chasing a doe that ran across the road in front of us about 6p.m. I'm glad he turned in time to miss us!

That was in Hugo. It was 1st sign of any chasing I have seen this year personally.

I did hear of a buck doing his duty in Oakdale one morning last week. I also have heard of a lot of chasing in the Withrow area in the last week.

All of these spots are only south of you less than 60 miles.

They seem to be going hot and heavy now.

Ferny.

[Hoyt4]

I think the peak of the rut just got started.I hunt in washington county and did not see much chasing before gun.Now I'm seeing more rubs and scrapes.I hunted Wednesday night and rattled in a nice buck to end my Minnnesota season.He came in running to the horns.He was working a corn field edge.

[Ferny]

Hoyt4 Doesn't it seem odd I mean late this year?

I live and work in Washington county and have seen very little deer in general this year. Usually I see quite a few going to and from work. I know they took 75 deer (some real monsters too) out of Lake Elmo Park and another 12 out of Sunfish Lake park across Hwy 5 last year. From what I've seen it really made a dent in the local population???

Interesting you rattled one in, sounds like you saw him first...right??? Last year the Thursday before gun opener I stopped at the park. I saw a tall 8 pointer and a doe in the beans. I got out threw on a camo jacket and hat with a strong wind in my face. I tried my grunt, bleat, and finally my rattle bag. I really had to smash the bag for him to hear it over the wind. He heard me and gradually circled within 75 yards of me before I lost him. He'd poke his head up every 50 yards or so and look for me. I think he finally got downwind of me and skeedaddled! It was my only buck I rattled in...ever. I think it helped seeing him first and how he reacted. A different doe and fawn also came within 20 yards to see what was up also!

I rifle hunt in Fergus Falls and have NEVER had anything respond to my blind rattling/grunting but now I now it can work! I've had young deer come in and check out the can though.

Sunday the 10th I had a little forky come by me and make a rub on a sappling 20 yards away. He was not riled up at all and just strolling through the woods casually. From the looks of the rubs, scrapes, and Cuddeback he was the biggest buck in the woods so I would have expected him to be chasing hard but no.

What park of the Co. you in? My nephew and his buddies got a buck and doe south of 94 second gun weekend. They weren't chasing either Seems awful late to me!

Ferny

[Hoyt4]

Ferny

We have seen the deer decline or just not in our area over the last 5 years.There are a ton in this area but just not moving through our property like in the past.It would be nothing to see 10 or 12 deer a night but now that has all changed with new houses being built.I did not see the buck I rattled in.But from the direction he came from it was from a cut corn field that they funnel out to feed at next to our place.I had talked to a few friends a couple days ealrier and they had deer going through the yards in the afternoon and chasing so I thought it would be good to go Wednesday night.I had new rubs since being out on Sunday last week and a couple new scrapes.The rut might be coming to the end but I think it was a lot later then usual in this year.