Peak rut.

Do you think we are there yet ? Seems a little warm and seems all the big boys by me are still staying nocturnal? Made me question if the peak is still ahead of us.

Happens same time every year.
Last weekend

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

Happens same time every year.
Last weekend

I think it depends what part of the state you’re hunting.

I don’t think it’s peak yet in my area (181)

I see lots of scraping and rubbing, as evident by the sign I’m seeing, but chasing has been close to nill. But, it’s always peak rut when a buck comes walking by, so once I get my 180″ Iowa monster, I’ll let you know when the rut started, I just need to make sure I don’t miss this time.

I subscribe to the thought processes of the YouTube guy, Whitetail Habit Solutions as deer hunting isn’t something I’m highly intellectually invested in…or maybe I should say I do read and watch a lot but don’t practice the whole minimal scent thing, just play the wind and hope a deer reads the script.

Had a doe nearly step on my lit cig sunday and a few minutes later I shot the buck that was chasing it. Yes, I picked up the cig… just didn’t want to burn my fingers if I decided to shoot the doe(s) was actually two of em.

Apparently there’s a second rut Thanksgiving. Sightings as evidence of rut peak or whatever depends highly on being in eyesight of deer… we all know results may vary there.

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

I subscribe to the thought processes of the YouTube guy, Whitetail Habit Solutions as deer hunting isn’t something I’m highly intellectually invested in…or maybe I should say I do read and watch a lot but don’t practice the whole minimal scent thing, just play the wind and hope a deer reads the script.

Agreed. Setup where it makes sense, play the wind, and cross the fingers. Scent control is such a gimmick. I was reading an old hunting book by Jack O’Connor, and he recommended smoking while hunting because it showed the direction of the wind. He seems to be credited as a pretty good hunter, more so then most YouTube QDMA big buck hunters in their scent lock clothing.

Agree with the wind idea 100%. I won’t sit somewhere if I think the wind sucks for that location. As for the rut, at least where I hunt west of little falls, I think the peak is here now or very soon based on camera pics and family out in the ag fields and what they have been witnessing, not what I have been witnessing though lol

It has seemed odd/late this year. I was out from Thursday last week till Wednesday this week, had 2 big bucks come through 20 minutes before shooting, maybe the moon had them running at night. Tuesday saw 5 bucks and missed a nice 8 that came in with another smaller 8 at 730 AM. One other nice buck at 430 pm. Had 2 does bed within 60 yards and none of the bucks were chasing them. Also saw 4 does Sunday night and shot one. No bucks to be seen. One doe had fawn with her still. Hoping the chasing picks up this weekend.

Peak rut is when you have the most does on your property in estrus. That could have been Halloween or next Tuesday. They are pretty fired up right now in the metro, I’ve grunted in some immature bucks 2 nights in a row. One was swolled up the other was A fork whose nuts prolly hadn’t dropped yet and was just figuring it out. But lots of sign and lots of daytime movement.

I’m looking forward to this weekend and on..
When smaller bucks are going crazy the big boys seem to be week or so behind,id assume they’re looking for last hot/mature doe’s,I’m excited about the temps!
Good luck!

My son took a pic yesterday of a suburban Twin Cities metro buck that was pretty impressive. Said he’d just been chasing two does in his backyard just before the pic was taken.

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I believe it was around opener or shortly thereafter based on the number of deer I saw compared to the past few days. The warm weather and rain severely limited deer movement during the week.

Monday had tremendous activity. By far the most deer activity I saw in 8 days of hunting.

Our mature does disappeared over the last few days. I was seeing them with fawns up until Thursday morning. Prior to that was seeing a bunch of smaller 8s chasing. I did shoot a mature buck on Monday that was chasing. That was the first mature buck seen during the gun season.
DT

Where I hunt the peak seeking phase was last weekend (bucks on their feet all day) with some chasing going on.

Yesterday and today so far has been slower. Had a small 8 with a doe locked down by me this morning….

The actual breeding phase of the rut sucks, unless you catch a buck that’s finished with one doe already and out looking for more.

Too many people think of the rut as a 100 yard dash instead of as a marathon.
Peak breeding is Nov 15th every year. More does will be in heat on that day then any other day of the rut.
Now you will have early cycling does (Nov 1 for example) as well as late cycling does (Nov 25th for example).
When it comes to seeking and big mature deer. Weather is king. If it’s warm they will move but it’s late in daylight, night and early morning. I am not much of a moon guy but throw in a full moon and warm day time highs and that spells night movement.

One thing I have seen over the years. The little guys don’t know any better. They see or smell a doe (that isn’t ready to breed) and they are chasing. This pushes does to not move as much and to hide more.
The big guys know when a doe is getting close.

Every big mature deer I have seen chasing the doe was very close to be ready to breed or was ready.

I did read a study on does with twin fawns. Over half of the twins had different fathers.

Zone 342 this week it seems like they are in heavy rut right now and chasing and traveling with does.

We got two nice bucks this morning and I don’t believe they were in rut. I had to track mine and I didn’t see any scrapes. There necks are normal not solon.

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