Rutting Reports

[Jarrid Houston]

Saw some deer over the weekend (finally). Even know all I saw was a buck fawn and a doe, I was still happy to see an animal. Hunting can be frustrating, but patience and persistence can pay off! Now the scrapes are going, and I am getting some bucks on the trail cams. Especially the rifle land (we have a number of nice bucks coming out earlier and earlier.. Hoping this is the year (We as hunters say this every year don't we?)

[BuckmasterG]

Made it out Sunday evening at my spot near home. Finally started seeing some rut activity! Scrapes were fresh and licking branches being worked over, but didn't see any deer.

Took a half day yesterday and made it out to my stand at 2. It was a beautiful evening all I could think of was how this is the reason I love bow hunting. Needless to say I still didn't see any deer, but I did pull my camera cards. When I got home I checked the cards and was all jacked up to finally lay eyes on some bucks. Some I didn't have pictures of earlier this fall and some that I did. Since October 23rd, I had 4 or 5 different bucks working my mock scrapes (in known scraping areas) and 1 giant! From the picture it's tough to tell if Andre is the same deer I have had on my camera the past couple years (one in which I was worried was a victim of last years shotgun season) but he sure stuck around for a few days. He was workigg a couple different scrape locations, but him as well as all the other bucks were only pictured between 7:30 pm and 5 a.m. I'm hoping they start moving during the day a bit or hold out past the first weekend so that I can get a whack on him, as I will be rifle hunting up north this weekend.

Planning on taking tomorrow off, my plans are still up in the air yet, but I'm thinking I will head up to the cabin to get one more hunt in on public land before the orange army hits it, that or sit morning around home and cruise up mid day for an evening sit (1 hour drive). Hopefully have a better report for you guys tomorrow, but I'm happy to personally see activity picking up finally!

[tipup]

My question is, with the current weather outlook this week into the weekend, how much do you think the wind effects a rutting buck? Will he tend to stay hidden and lay down during the wind, or do you think that nature takes over and he goes no matter what? I would lean towards nature taking over and him throwing caution to the wind. What is all of your thoughts?? I plan on sitting tonight and the rest of the week up until rifle season, at which time I will be with my son trying to help him get his first buck!

[96trigger]

I think they will still be on the move, but not as much as they should be. If it was sunny, cold, and calm, I think the deer would all be on their feet. I think the bucks should still be cruising looking for does. I don't think they are fair weather breeders. That said, I don't like the weather forecast either.

[skee0025]

I was out this morning to check some stand locations and saw several nice bucks chasing does. Makes me wish I had a bow.

[Sir_Sumo]

So.... Has anyone been out lately? I'm thinking of going out tomorrow. Did I miss the rut?

[ozzie]

from the sounds of it around the elk river area up to crosslake area I have heard of multiple bucks seen or shot in the past 24 hours meaning they are making mistakes and being seen also. my thought is I am excited to get to the stand in the morning and hunt this weekend!!!

[96trigger]

4 large bucks, 2 Boone and crocket, hit the dirt today. Get in a stand!

[hockeybc69]

Heading up in the morning. I really REALLY wanted to be out tonight. It just felt like a good night.

Daughter had hockey practice tonight, so off in the morn. Good to hear Trigger... Any pics of what was shot?

[96trigger]

I have pics of the 2 big ones, saw pics of the other two. The one B&C had drop tines, he hunts with my cousin, the other is brother in law, that is the other one that could make B&C. My brother said the pics don't do it justice and he should hit the 160's, maybe 170's, I'll score this morning and get results and hopefully better pics. My brother in law blew it on a nice buck earlier at 3:30, couldn't get a shot off on his right side, then shot the pig at 4:30.

[harvey lee]

I have been archery hunting for the past 3 days in NW MN. Seen some deer buck only one buck chasing a doe. That's it. Maybe today will show more sign. Last week in NorthDakota saw what I thought was the start to the rut. Just not seeing much for a rut sign this past few weeks but seeing deer. May arrow a doe today if the shot is there as the morning temps seem to b dropping now.

[MUSKY18]

Well after being shut out last weekend up north for the rifle season, I'm excited to be crawling back into the stand this afternoon with the Elite. Got home from rifle last Sunday and pulled my cards. Couple of nice bucks moving through in the daytime. Kinda funny story in that regards. We let one guy shotgun hunt on our bow land. Last Saturday he was sitting, didn't see a thing. Got down and went to check out the mineral lick for tracks. Got him on the camera looking. He then went home to warm up and eat, 45 minutes after he was on the camera, a nice big 8 came walking right past his stand! Ooops. Anyways......going to get out tonight and hopefully something will take a nap.

Yesterday while running my UPS route, I was delivering right out on Voyagers road in Alex, and there was a very nice 8 point running through the little field across from the funeral home. This was at about 4 in the afternoon.

[sticknstring]

Sat tonight for the first time since Saturday. Had a nice 8pt chase a doe by me at 20 yds grunting like a pig. Got him to stop, but no shot. First good rut action since before gun season. Maybe tomorrow!

What have you guys & gals been seeing?

[hugonian1]

I am heading to South Dakota in the morning.

A week later than I had planned but work and weather got in the way.

Hope I hit the tail end of the rut.

Lots of deer out where I am going.

[sticknstring]

Awesome - good luck! I've had some of my best whitetail hunting around Aberdeen. Shelter belts and cattails are the name of the game there.

[walleyeking19]

Was driving home yesterday at around noon and I saw the biggest deer of my life chasing a doe in the middle of a cut corn field. I pulled over and watched it for about 10 minutes through my binocs...he was a big 12 pointer. Rut is still going strong it looks like!

[leechlake]

last weekend in Gregory County it was nuts. Whitetails were chasing does and being really stupid.

[hockeybc69]

Neighbor saw a nice old 10 chasing a doe hard last night after dark.

[1eyeReD]

Is it common for the rut to be this crazy this part of November? I've read in the past that this time of Nov they should be tending and hiding in beds with their does during the "lockdown" period.

[hockeybc69]

Maybe the peak rut wasnt when people thought it was or when it should be.

[sticknstring]

Had the same breeding pair from Wed under me again last night. Of course the doe had to come directly underneath me and spooked when she caught my ground scent. 5 yds in either direction and I would've been golden. The buck who was 15 yds behind her stood motionless for 10+ minutes. He was looking my direction and there was nothing I could do, but let my bow hand slowly turn to ice. It was almost a relief when they retreated back to the brush so I could thaw out my hand. I'm sure my time is up now as she's most likely out of heat. South wind next few days won't help any either.

I think the majority of does have been bred. The peak is usually around the 13th-16th and the bell curve slides down from there. All it takes is one though to have some good action this time of year. And usually it'll mean the biggest bucks in your area. This warmup is going to feel mighty good!

[FISHINGURU]

The timing of the rut changes every year depending on a lot of different factors.

There will be a 2nd wave coming shortly when all the fawns go into heat and the does that went into heat earlier but didn't get pregnant go into heat again.

[sticknstring]

Nope, same time every year. Photoperiodism.

Factors may determine what you see in the woods on any given day, but doesn't affect the dates of peak breeding.

[ESSGuy]

Thank you. I've said this for years, because of of northern climate fawns need to be born when the weather gives them a chance to live. Read a study that said most fawns are born during the same 5 day window each year in a given area. Area 183, my dad had a chance at a decent buck this morning, just never got the right angle as he is ultra conservative on getting the perfect shot to avoid wounding. Some fresh scrapes since last Sunday.

[WallyGator12000]

Incredible day in the stand today, north metro. Saw 12 deer this morning, including a big ten who was dogging a doe all day. They bedded near me three times, and I had him at 30 yards multiple times but he wouldn't take the few extra steps he needed to for a clear shot. Lots of chasing going on, and I heard more grunting today than I have ever heard before. The big 10 would grunt at the doe while he was bedded next to her, I'd never seen that before either.

Hopefully the rain holds off tomorrow so I can get another crack at him while he's still locked on the doe in heat.

[irishbasketball]

Had had nice 10 point chasing a doe Saturday night in Wright County. He gave me about a half a second for a 30 yard shot and I missed low. Was the biggest deer I've seen on stand in my three years of bow hunting! Talk about a rush!!!!

[leechlake]

My "guess" is that most fawns are born in a 5 day window because most does are bred in a 5 day window the Fall before. Nature is amazing so maybe the does do know when to have the fawn so I could be wrong.

I saw quite a few dead deer on 494 this weekend in Eden Prairie area I'd assume there's chasing causing most of it. This time of year I don't expect that to be the reason I see deer. I hunt food or shelter and if bucks are hounding does it's icing on the cake and a real bonus.

[FISHINGURU]

Nope, same time every year. Photoperiodism.

Factors may determine what you see in the woods on any given day, but doesn't affect the dates of peak breeding.

Well to me "the rut" and "peak breeding" are different subjects.

Being a hunter I only really care about what I'm seeing in the woods during the rut and that changes every year.

[Bear55]

Is it common for the rut to be this crazy this part of November? I've read in the past that this time of Nov they should be tending and hiding in beds with their does during the "lockdown" period.

Once the bucks breed the majority of does the activity can pick up again as they search for the last few does to come into heat. It's obviously not as hot and heavy as early Nov but it doesn't hurt to be out the woods. Very similar to those early hot does, you need to be in the right place at the right time to take advantage.

[1eyeReD]

Once the bucks breed the majority of does the activity can pick up again as they search for the last few does to come into heat. It's obviously not as hot and heavy as early Nov but it doesn't hurt to be out the woods. Very similar to those early hot does, you need to be in the right place at the right time to take advantage.

Noted.