Is It The Rut Yet?

outrider58 · Aug 14, 2017

Inigoes said:
An interesting article that compares scientific methods and traditional solar/lunar cycles:

http://wiredtohunt.com/2017/05/30/2017-rut-predictions-an-earlier-more-intense-rut-than-last-year/

Laroche and Alshiemer's formula is the one I use. I've been following them for the last few years.

The things that cross people up the most are weather and lockdown. Early ruts seem to be the worst sometimes going from fever pitch one day to complete graveyard in 24 hrs. I prefer late ruts like last year.

Pale Ryder · Aug 17, 2017

Week of Halloween, so Oct 29 - Nov 4. Middle of that is Nov 1st.

jt2100r · Aug 17, 2017

The deer that come in my yard are starting to turn a darker brown.

StaFrosty · Aug 18, 2017

Inigoes said:
Hunters Moon is October 5th
Beaver Moon (aka Rutting Moon) is November 4th

I'll go with the Beaver Moon this year

Harvest Moon is in oct, rutting/hunter's moon is in nov. Last year the rut was on nov 7 my son and I hunted the rut and the deer were crazy all over the place.

outrider58 · Aug 18, 2017

Pale Ryder said:
Week of Halloween, so Oct 29 - Nov 4. Middle of that is Nov 1st.

outrider58 · Aug 18, 2017

StaFrosty said:
Harvest Moon is in oct, rutting/hunter's moon is in nov. Last year the rut was on nov 7 my son and I hunted the rut and the deer were crazy all over the place.

The full moon occurred on the 14th. That put the 'seeking phase' a week or so before. The early does will start coming in then as well.

h2u · Aug 19, 2017

Year in/year out, I've always called the first week of November the avg peak of the rut time around my area of AA county. Obviously the rut slides back and forth around those dates, but the first week of Nov is usually a good bet to be in the woods.

outrider58 · Aug 19, 2017

h2u said:
Year in/year out, I've always called the first week of November the avg peak of the rut time around my area of AA county. Obviously the rut slides back and forth around those dates, but the first week of Nov is usually a good bet to be in the woods.

Bill Winke says to plan on being on stand Nov 4- Nov 14(or close to that). This is a general rule. Those days can be more defined fairly easily by watching the lunar cycle and weather reports.

The rut will be early this year(full moon on Nov 4th) and it will be fast and furious. That brings two problems; 1) we often experience warmer weather that time of year resulting in most action occurring after nightfall. Deer can not sweat, so they curtail there exertions to after dark. 2) early ruts mean bucks and does become interested in each other at the same time. This coincidence makes for a free-for-all for the deer. Lock down won't be far behind. Put these two situations together and one might think the rut never even happened.

I will be in a tree, all day, from 28 Oct to 5 Nov.

j_h_smith · Aug 19, 2017

outrider58 said:
Bill Winke says to plan on being on stand Nov 4- Nov 14(or close to that). This is a general rule. Those days can be more defined fairly easily by watching the lunar cycle and weather reports.

The rut will be early this year(full moon on Nov 4th) and it will be fast and furious. That brings two problems; 1) we often experience warmer weather that time of year resulting in most action occurring after nightfall. Deer can not sweat, so they curtail there exertions to after dark. 2) early ruts mean bucks and does become interested in each other at the same time. This coincidence makes for a free-for-all for the deer. Lock down won't be far behind. Put these two situations together and one might think the rut never even happened.

I will be in a tree, all day, from 28 Oct to 5 Nov.

The only difference is that you'll be hunting those days.... :innocent0

Melnic · Oct 10, 2017

Ok, maybe someone can edumacate me on Deer behavior.
I can see my feeder from my house so, about every 2 days I see the deer in the immediate vicinity of my home.
I have 2 fawns and 1 doe that had been grouped together all summer. A 2nd doe had been in and out of the group about 75% of the time. All of Sept, that 2nd doe was grouped maybe only 10% of the time. The Game cameras confirm this even in the night captures.
For the past 2 weeks, the 2 fawns have mostly been on their own. The mother doe is only with them about 1/3 of the time. They come feed then often bed down at the edge of my fence or somewhere in the field next to my home.
Is the mother doe trying to ween the fawns prior to the rut?

outrider58 · Oct 10, 2017

They are weened. They may still suckle, when Mom let's them, but all in all, they can live without the mother now. The mature does are probably feasting on acorns back in the woods.

camobob · Oct 10, 2017

The cool weather in late August/early Sept. really had them moving. The last two weeks my camera's see an occasional doe or two which is more than I've seen from my stands. Leaves and acorns are dropping but no early scrapes.

Pale Ryder · Oct 14, 2017

Found this, makes a good argument for when the rut starts.

Doco Overboard · Oct 14, 2017

Sika,(the other deer) are acting up right now. They put a few on the ground last night near Fishing bay and Bestpitch.

outrider58 · Oct 14, 2017

Pale Ryder said:
Found this, makes a good argument for when the rut starts.

This is a good thumbnail 'sketch'

It is Alsheimer's theory that I based my predictions by. :thumbsup:

It has served me very well for the last few seasons.

outrider58 · Oct 14, 2017

Doco Overboard said:
Sika,(the other deer) are acting up right now. They put a few on the ground last night near Fishing bay and Bestpitch.

Are they bugling still?

Doco Overboard · Oct 14, 2017

Yeah they're carrying on like crazy. Im not seeing alot of chasing but the stags are moving good. Some of that has to be going back in the phrag depending where your at.
Hopefully its all wound up next week for ML
Three point here got tired and opted for a permanent nap this morning.

danb · Oct 14, 2017

If you hit one of the does, they may still be in milk. Only one way to find out! Generally, though, the milk will dry up when they are ready to breed. I've seen does in milk as late as 2nd week in Nov.

I've only seen small signs of chasing behavior. Should start to get interesting very soon.

lazarus · Oct 14, 2017

One of these days I really want to hit the Eastern shore for early muzzleloader to pursue Sika. I’ve seen a few hinds out there during late rifle, but zero success so far.

Dunno, maybe I’ll go out there again for late season this year. Maybe Pocomoke this year. Neighbor and I have tried Nanticoke. I like the layout, but it seems over hunted. We both SHOULD have gotten white tail does 2 years ago, but both screwed up bad. Last year, it was near empty. I jumped a couple of hinds in a blizzard, but they were gone before I had a chance because I had my scope covers on and safety on. Took too long tumbling with it all.

Any ideas on Pocomoke and Sika hunting?

Doco Overboard · Oct 14, 2017

Go right below Vienna on the State land and get as close to the marsh/phragmites as you can. Elliots Island rd. The Chesapeake land at Henry's or even Best pitch. Get right at the edge of the phrag so you can see down into it. You can see the edge of the phrag in that picture, that's where they're at. You can catch them in the open woods but mostly right at dawn or only twilight for the most part, the phrag is where to find them. The state land is as good as any.

Is It The Rut Yet?

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