Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Recommended Posts

Posted

Anyone been seeing the signs of rutting activity in the Northwoods as of late? I know there are many theories on the timing, but was wondering with the later opener and unusually warmer fall, how things will play out Can't wait for the season to start.

Posted

Up here in NW MN there are a lot of scrapes showing up...the bucks we're seeing have swollen necks and I've seen 5 chasing does...I saw two bucks chasing a doe this morning...they crossed the highway in front of me and headed out across some CRP...I like to use the moon phase as an indicator...we'll have the "rutting moon" on Friday...prime chase period is on now through about the 12th and the peak "breeding" window will run from the 13th through the the 20th or so....Fun Stuff...Can't wait!

Posted

Full moon is 11/6 according to the calendar.

They're moving, drilled a buck with my truck last night, or more accurately he drilled me. Did the whole sideswipe thing down the driver's side.

Fortunately this buck was 4-5 months old & weighed about 65 lbs dressed out. I was driving my old truck. The only dents he hit were already there... My buddy went & got a possession tag from the Sheriff's Dept & we hung him in his garage.

Posted

Some experts go with the moon phase to trigger the rut or breeding to begin, others believe that northern deer have a short window when fawns need to be born to ensure survival at birth and their first winter which means photo period drives northern rutting activity more than moon phase. I have always believed in photo period or length of day to the rut. What does everyone else believe?

Posted

I have always believed in photo period or length of day to the rut. What does everyone else believe?

full-11633-50606-dogzt.jpg

Posted

In my experience the northwoods rut is strait up photoperiod, the fawn window plays a significant roll in survival and those genes get passed along. There is more leeway in central MN and even more in southern MN so things are a little more spread out. Up north history has taught me that the older bucks don't really start moving until a week into Nov so anytime around 7th or 8th to the 15th or 16th are the best days to be in the woods, after that they are locked down and it can be hit or miss with very little movement. Within that week the 10th to 12th have been very good to us in past years.

That and aliens, they can totally drive the rut.

Posted

In my experience the northwoods rut is strait up photoperiod, the fawn window plays a significant roll in survival and those genes get passed along. There is more leeway in central MN and even more in southern MN so things are a little more spread out. Up north history has taught me that the older bucks don't really start moving until a week into Nov so anytime around 7th or 8th to the 15th or 16th are the best days to be in the woods, after that they are locked down and it can be hit or miss with very little movement. Within that week the 10th to 12th have been very good to us in past years.

That and aliens, they can totally drive the rut.

X2

Posted

The only thing I am sure of that causes the rut is does coming into estrus. Last year, I would have thought that the deer would have been rutting hard the 1st two weeks of November, when in reality, it didn't start picking until the 3rd week in November in my area. I saw more big bucks on their feet the week after gun season than ever before. That was totally different than years past. This year the rut seems more normal. There is a lot more activity right now than I saw all last fall during the 1st three weeks of November.

Posted

It should be noting that our gun season can shut down the rut in a big big way, once the guns shut down and most of the does are bread there does appear to be a flurry of late Nov movement when the bucks are searching for anything that hasn't been bread yet.

Posted

Moon phase and timing of the full moon can effect photoperiodism though no? Full moon is additional light is it not? But the DNR still swears by the bulk of the fawns being bred November 10-15. I say it varies a little either way but not by weeks

Posted

I agree that the photoperiod is the most significant factor that drives reproduction...it is the amount of light that triggers birds to reproduce as it also triggers does to come into heat for the first time...IMO the best times to get a crack at a big buck is during the "chase" period of the rut, when bucks begin their search for does in heat...this usually goes on for about a week or so before they actually find any receptive does...and then when the majority of does do come into heat, the bucks don't usually have to travel too far to find them and most of the "breeding"/rut activity begins to take place at night...especially if the deer feel pressured by hunting activity...the next best time is when the rut is done, the bucks are wore down and they're hitting the food sources to try and build up for winter...

Posted

Every area can be different. I've been in the woods a lot lately, and have been monitoring trail cams in a number of areas, and my impression is that we are right where we are every year at this time... That is, people are so excited for "the rut" to get here, that they will hang on every word of every report about buck sightings. The bottom line is that in any given section of land, there could be rutting activity at any moment this time of year (and "rutting activity" is a whole animal in itself, and really is a several month long process). Give it another 7-10 days, and we'll be in the thick of things.

Posted

Moon phase and timing of the full moon can effect photoperiodism though no? Full moon is additional light is it not? But the DNR still swears by the bulk of the fawns being bred November 10-15. I say it varies a little either way but not by weeks

It's very possible but this was a northwoods post, up there the dates are pretty locked in. In central MN I have seen more does come into heat early, I'm sure there are even more in the bottom 1/3rd of the state. Like mentioned it can be very area specific, a lot of what we see can depend on our area doe population and the timing of rifle season.

Posted

That is, people are so excited for "the rut" to get here, that they will hang on every word of every report about buck sightings. The bottom line is that in any given section of land, there could be rutting activity at any moment this time of year (and "rutting activity" is a whole animal in itself, and really is a several month long process). Give it another 7-10 days, and we'll be in the thick of things.

Good point!!!!

Posted

This pic is a buck scrape but he dug holes and completely smashed this shrub to almost nothing. At first glance I thought it looked like the start of a prairie dog community (no dogs in the area). Anyone see a scrape like this before? what is he doing with the hole digging? full-1309-50651-019.jpg

Posted
Posted

Up here it always seems peak activity is around the 10th give or take a couple days. I definitely believe in photoperiod, based on the timing being so close every season. Moon has'nt been much of a factor so far. Cloudy every night and dark going to and leaving my stand. Rubs and scrapes are showing up much more the last few days up here, but deer numbers are down. Really gonna have to work for it up north this season.

Posted

I was out Monday looking for a decent tree to use my climber on and the Bucks were dogging does pretty hard. I had one buck come within 20 yards in open land and he didn't even notice me. That was one of 3 I witnessed in about a 30 minute time period (between about 9:30 and 10am). This was not Northwoods, but about 40 minutes east of Minneapolis, the rut is on now.

Posted

I bow hunt the Duluth area. Last weekend a doe was pushed out of our food plot by a buck. He was all over her, grunting and chasing. Last night I hunted a different area. No sighting of deer, but a lonely boy working a field near my area. Grunted 25 to 30 times then laid down in the field for a rest. Definetly less deer in the woods, but the bucks are certainly cranking it up.

Posted

They use to say the peak rut was from Oct. 28th thru Nov. 10th in MN.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • monstermoose78
      Ok the ice was 15-16 inches and less than 2 inches of snow. It’s was -15 this morning and the weekend looks to be cold again. The fish were there but not biting with change in weather. 
    • Dash 1
      I guess the vikings are a lot like fishing.  Very entertaining but frustrating at times. I've probably been cheering the vikings for 50 plus years  that i can remember and once again it's all about (there's always next year).  
    • Dash 1
      I remember Jeno's boxed pizza years ago.  Mom made it every Saturday night while dad and I watched All Star Wrestling.  
    • smurfy
      Chef boyardee box pizza. Good stuff 
    • smurfy
    • leech~~
      Smurf, still trying to get his lure jigging down when using the camera!  🤭   https://www.facebook.com/reel/517510734635573
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore... Ice fishing is going great on the south shore of Lake of the Woods, with resorts and outfitters reporting thickening ice conditions with two feet of ice in some areas.  Many ice roads are now open to 1 ton vehicles pulling a wheelhouse.  Every road has different weight limits, check with each resort for details before traveling up and out on the ice.      Some good fishing this past week.  As a rule, fishing activity is happening in 28 - 32 feet of water.  Resorts do just about everything they can to get customers on fish and this past week, some resorts made some long runs, resetting fish houses in new areas miles off shore.  Most are reporting good fishing as a rule.     It is common to sort through some small walleyes and saugers to get your keepers on LOW.  Naturally, some big fish are showing up, especially in deeper water.  In addition, this has been a very good year for jumbo perch with good numbers being caught.  Other fish in the mix are eelpout (burbot), pike, tullibees and an occasional sturgeon.      Anglers are using the one-two punch of jigging in one hole and deadsticking the second hole. In the jigging hole, a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head or tail in gold / pink, gold / glow red, glow white / pink, or Wonder Bread have worked well.     Especially in the deeper water, some anglers are finding success on rippin raps or using jigging spoons with a rattle as well.     On the deadstick, a small jig with a live minnow hooked behind the dorsal fin set 6 inches - a foot off of the bottom is working well.  One day the jigging line catches most of the fish, the other day a deadstick is hot.     Electronics are very helpful to see suspended fish, know when fish are coming through and adjust your presentation to the mood of each fish.  Most resorts, outfitters and bait shops in the area rent electronics by the day.   On the Rainy River... The Rainy River is still producing some nice walleyes and saugers, primarily in the mornings and evenings.  A jig and minnow working well.   Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing continues to be good for those targeting them.  An oversized hole, or three holes drilled together, with nightcrawlers or frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig fished on the bottom are what anglers are using.     Ice conditions on the river can vary significantly due to the current. To stay safe and maximize success, always work with a local resort or outfitter familiar with river conditions.    Up at the NW Angle... Ice fishing continues to be very good up at the Northwest Angle. Resorts have fish houses set up on various pieces of structure as well as adjacent to structure in deep mud.  A consistent mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, pike and tullibees in the mix.     Shallow structure is best right away in the morning and as the sun starts going down in the late afternoon.  Mud is more of a slower bite but all day.   The ice road from Jerry's on the mainland (Angle Inlet, MN) to island resorts (as of this past week) was open to 1 ton vehicles.  Guests drive right to their island resort after picking up a road pass at Jerry's or Point North Services.  Venmo is also available at all resorts.  Work through your resort for specifics.   Ice fishing is in full swing across Lake of the Woods and there are openings for lodging, fish house rentals, sleeper fish house rentals and meal plans across the area.  Ice fishing is extended on LOW with fish houses allowed on the ice through March 31st, walleye / sauger season open through April 14th and a pike season that never closes.  
    • Brianf.
      From your fingertips to God's ears...  Finally got some snow!   Several inches of new snow fell before and during the weekend.  Sunday eve when we left, the high winds had already begun to create some drifting on the lake.  It was fun riding for sure.  Lots of folks on the lake this past weekend too.  We fueled up the sleds at Shamrock and saw as many people fishing in that area as I've ever seen in the Winter on Lake Vermilion.     Our weekend results were decent.  Jeff and I and a buddy caught probably 50 walleyes between the three of us, mostly fishing a jig/plastics with our three biggest being 24", 25", and 25.5".  We also got one large pike of unknown length.  During the midday on Sunday, we targeted whitefish and Jeff managed one big one.  We released all of our fish, except for three small walleyes that our buddy wanted to bring home for a meal.  Definitely a fun weekend on Lake V!   
    • leech~~
      The Vikings are the Vikings so it's nothing new.  It is kind of sad that Darnold's off season stock is now going to drop like a rock after these last two games. It kind of shows he's not a big game guy.  🤔
    • smurfy
      I'm blaming leech... his food selection has been lacking game days recently  🤣
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.