Pre rut

when do you guys/gals hunt the pre rut? I will be hunting october 11- 19 and wondering if i should bring the grunt call and estrus?

Derrick

maybe a touch early for estrus but never too early for a grunt tube ive grunted in bucks opening weekend just use it sparingly id wait on the estrus till late oct 27th on maybe just mho good luck

I agree it might be a little early to use estrus but I never go into the woods without my grunt tube or rattle bag they are always in my back back.

I agree, too early for estrus. But some fresh doe pee, a grunt tube, and a rattle bag or antlers are a must. Right now the bucks seem to be in the bachelor groups yet. I expect that will end in the next 7-10 days and at that point the rattling should really get hot. Even now they are effective when used lightly. Tip: Try leaving your rattle bag or antlers at ground level tied to the lift rope. You can easily jiggle the rope from your stand and get the noise from the right height, to a deer, and have a far smaller chance of getting busted. Insane how fast a buck will charge in and catch you with the horns in your hands.

Last year I grunted in my buck very early in the season so don’t be afraid to take them with you. I have to look back but I think I got it the 2nd or 3rd weekend early in the hunt.

Yes definitely grunting could work at that time of year, but it is never a sure thing. Let the deer tell you what they like or prefer. I guess I will go against the grain and say it may not be too early for Estrous call. Bucks are ready to breed pretty much as soon as they get hard horned. The does are not. I have taken and have read about many big mature bucks have been taken during the “October Lull”. These bucks were taken using estrous bleats. I’m not saying it will work every time , but do not be afraid to use it either. My biggest buck I have taken in ND came smack in the middle of October. This boys neck was swelled up and he was a doe chasing fool. This big boy would come into anything. I have read numerous other Archers taking mature bucks in Early October using a estrous bleat. They even say it is easier to “dupe” a mature buck into coming in at that time then any other with a EB. Remember deer are curious by nature and those big boys start bedding down wind of doe bedding areas in late September early October to start keeping tabs on the does estrous cycles. Thinking out side of the box will reward you many times in the field, just remember cause something did not work once, doesn’t mean it won’t work another time on a another deer.

Last weekend I had 3 bucks bust out of the thick and through an opening, back into the thicket. I bleated a few times and all three came back out. Mid October is prime for any type of calling IMO.

I will use various calls anytime during the course of the season if I feel like a buck is going to walk by me out of range and I need to draw him in. In regard to scents, I typically do not use them until prerut (last weekend in Oct.)

I am pretty much the same as you brad, I am willing to use any call (deer are very curious) only I do not use scents very often. Ive seen more failure than success. And I understand maybe I was using bad quality scents or something, but I dont use them for fear of ruining my hunt. Maybe this year who knows?

My boy and I used to go across the street and practice call in early sept. and had them come in all the time. A deep dominate grunt wasen’t as effective as a normal searching grunt, I think that scared the young guys too. I don’t use doe pee until its cool enough to stay cool in my coat pocket all day from the cool temps, it turns to ammonia real fast if it gets warm. If its cool enough I start in november, that dosen’t mean it wouldn’t work earlier I just don’t want it to spoil at $20 a bottle of fresh doe in heat urin. I get mine eigther from a local archery store frozen from Dan Collaras does in southern Iowa, or from a guy I know that raises deer on a smaller scale. When his does come in heat, then its time to use it.