Late rut

[love to hunt]

It would appear that the rut is going to be a little late this year.

I went out this weekend and found that there are no scrapes to be found in our area. Several rubs so there are bucks around but no tilled earth yet. I saw some bucks but not with any does and the bucks I saw were in pairs or 3's telling me there is no fighting going on yet either.

All this would indicate the rut is coming late and the muzzle loading season should be good.

Any one esle concur with these findings?

[harvey lee]

This past weekend I did alot of scouting and these are my findings.

1-very few scrapes

2-bucks still in bacholer groups

3-doe"s are starting to kick off thier fawns.

4-hardly any bucks chasing does.

5-not seeing much for the swollen necks.

I do believe that the main rut does not start until the 10th of Nov.and that can vary 3 days plus or minus.That of course does not mean the chase phase wont start earlier.

From last week to this week I noticed no more scrapes in the woods and that is with 4-6 hours walking about and checking for new sign.

We do have a few weeks to go,at least in North Dakota and that is not much different than Minnesota.

I also do believe that the rut is onset by lenght of light of day so it does not very that much.

In my 15 years of hunting in ND,it always seems that the rut gets in full swing about the 4-7 of Nov.

[walterman]

I believe it MIGHT be a little later but things are really starting to kick off in my area, wiithin the past two weeks the scrape and rub activity has increased dramatically. My cameras are really rockin with bucks arounds does, but I would say 99% is nocturnal chasing. Have seen several shooter bucks and some little guys running around lately bowhunting. Activity has been sporatic between morning and evening.Give it another week and I would say in most areas the rut will be coming into full swing. Just my predictions.

[862]

I hunt SW Metro and in the last 3 days the bucks have been going nuts. Lots of ground scrapes and called two in with rattle bag and grunt call. Came at a dead run from 300 yards out in a cut corn field. It was great!! First one a 6 pointer Stopped 5 yards from me. Then ran 50 yards with a well placed shot. Neck was very swollen and he was on a mission. Good luck

[Stratosman]

I took off the entire week before the gun opener....that's when all hell usually breaks loose at least were I hunt! I cannot wait.

[HC Eye Hunter]

The boys should be chasing hard next week. The rutting moon is on Nov. 5th which puts the chase phase starting around Nov 2nd with the main breeding phase starting Nov. 12th.

These are my predictions and I hope I am right cause I also am taking off most of next week.

[doser]

I've noticed things are starting to pick up in my area. Starting to see more scrapes and fresh rubs. My brother shot a buck the other night that was chasing does and grunting the whole time. He used a doe decoy too and it locked right in to it and dropped him at 15 yrds. He went out the next evening too and heard to bucks fighting and lots of grunting coming from a field just off of his stand placement.

[Jeremiah Johnson]

no scrapes up here in bemidji yet...

[hookset]

I saw more ground scrapes last weekend then ever before. Its coming sooner than later where I hunt!!!!

[HunterLee]

Saw the bucks in groups tonight, but the biggest one a for sure shooter did some scraping for me at 50 yds but didnt come down the trail for me.

[paceman]

I've been seeing scrapes for a couple weeks now but in the last week I have seen quite a bit more. Last thursday night I had a spike walk right up to my stand with his nose on the ground following my "moon fire" buck lure. He hung around for quite awhile. I then tried the "Can" and I big 4 point came cruising in. He would have been a shooter except the 4 points were all on one side. The other side was broken off at the base. Thier necks did not appear to be growing yet..... Tonight I am going to try rattling.

[ccarlson]

Saw a big, mature, perfectly symmetrical 10 point last night right at the end of my rural driveway chasing a doe. His neck was swollen and he was on a mission. What a sight to see. It's the second time I've seen him this fall but this was the best view. Each time was after dark. No one has seen him during daylight in the area.

As soon as deer season rolls around, I need to hurry up and drive 2 hours away to my deer hunting ground! Isn't that the way it is? I only wish I could make time to bow hunt again.

ccarlson