Is It The Rut Yet?

[iH8DemLibz]

^^^What happens in the woods-Stays in the woods.^^^

 

[protegeV]

Idk about hunting, but it's gotta be here. I've seen a slew of dead deer on the road and I've talked to 3 people in the last 2 days that hit one. They're going crazy

 

[gtodave]

I'm seeing does hearded up again the past couple days. Still passing the random buck in the pre-dawn hours, but nothing like in previous years. I hope the hearded does doesn't mean they're all bred.

 

[Derwood]

My friend just reported that an eight pointed had traffic stopped in both directions on River Road in Potomac this morning. It was just standing in the road looking into the distance and sniffing.

 

[outrider58]

My friend just reported that an eight pointed had traffic stopped in both directions on River Road in Potomac this morning. It was just standing in the road looking into the distance and sniffing.

He was smelling the money.

 

[danb]

I am finding the chasing is slowing a bit. I actually kind of prefer it because the deer return to some food plots to recharge for a longer time, whereupon I thwack them.

During full on rut sometimes deer run around like they are on a NASCAR track and refuse to slow down even if you yell at them.

 

[j_h_smith]

With temps in or near the 70s yesterday, it's gotta turn them off a little. Now this weekend, sightings should pick up a lot. They said there could be a small chance of SNOW on Sunday. We may get into some type of rutting weather next week. Lets hope so, cause I'm not seeing any chasing going on around here. I've only seen 2 deer on the side of the roads, when normally, I would have seen more than a dozen by now.

 

[Overboost44]

With temps in or near the 70s yesterday, it's gotta turn them off a little. Now this weekend, sightings should pick up a lot. They said there could be a small chance of SNOW on Sunday. We may get into some type of rutting weather next week. Lets hope so, cause I'm not seeing any chasing going on around here. I've only seen 2 deer on the side of the roads, when normally, I would have seen more than a dozen by now.

They must all be down here...the dead one's. The body shops must be loving it.

 

[HogCommander]

I had a 8 pt come in Sunday morning (colder weather, less windy than Saturday)...he got close enough to look/sniff for does, then turned around and left without giving me a shot. He was clearly looking for some action.

Separately, I haven't seen as many road kill deer this year compared to last two years. Have also noticed they don't stay on the road as long as previous years. Think the state or county are removing them or people are salvaging them (PG, AA, and Calvert counties are where I drive the most). Suspect we'll see more road kills as the moon gets full again this month.

 

[City Rat]

In what must be a cruel irony of Ma Nature, after spending more than a week I tree stands freezing and sweating and seeing nothing, I pull into my driveway Sunday evening and as I turn the car off a beautiful big, broad chested 8 pointer STROLLS behind my car and down the street not a care in the world...

 

[Derwood]

I did a managed hunt yesterday. I killed a mature doe at 6:58 am. Killing a doe allowed me to kill a mature buck under this hunt's rules.

The rut is definitely in full swing.

I had a fork buck come up behind me around 9:30 am with complete disregard for his safety and surroundings. He stood about 20 yards away from me. My tree was midway up a hillside and he was near the top of the hill, so we were at eye level. He eventually noticed me and didn't care at all, he was working the trail of a doe I'd shot about 90 minutes earlier. We weren't allowed to shoot young bucks in this hunt so he lived to see another day.

A little bit later there was a drive and a fine buck was pushed out of a thicket about 60 yards in front of me. He stood perpendicular to me, so I couldn't see his antler spread at first to determine if he was a shooter. By the time I could see that he had a fantastic 10-point rack, it was too late because he took off running the moment he completely got into the open. He ran the same path that three does had run about 5 minutes ahead of him. I won't shoot at running deer so all of these deer escaped. But I was happy to get my second deer of the season. I ordered a chest freezer from my phone for delivery today I got home around 3:00 and completed butchering it and sealing everything up around 8:00. I really took my time with butchering and sealed up individual portions this time. This was my fifth deer. I've got two more hunting outings planned and will continue to hope for a buck.

 

[City Rat]

Wow great job! Who ran your managed hunt?

 

[oupa]

Nov. 17 has long been regarded as the peak of the rut in W. MD. Of course there are other influencing factors, but as a general rule of thumb it's been very reliable. "Rutting behaviour" will of course continue for weeks, just as it does leading up to. Then of course there is the opportunity factor males of any specie are familiar with.

As a general rule though, for making long term plans, Nov. 17 is a date to remember.

 

[Speed3]

Nov. 17 has long been regarded as the peak of the rut in W. MD. Of course there are other influencing factors, but as a general rule of thumb it's been very reliable. "Rutting behaviour" will of course continue for weeks, just as it does leading up to. Then of course there is the opportunity factor males of any specie are familiar with.

As a general rule though, for making long term plans, Nov. 17 is a date to remember.

Glad to see you posting and chiming in again.

 

[iH8DemLibz]

You managed to handle all of that quite well.

You bagged a deer.

Twice...

 

[danb]

Seeing does herded up, but also being chased off a bit by younger bucks. Feels like we passed the peak and are getting to the second mini rut, but hard to say with the weather.

 

[outrider58]

Seeing does herded up, but also being chased off a bit by younger bucks. Feels like we passed the peak and are getting to the second mini rut, but hard to say with the weather.

My thoughts are trickle rut due to late lunar cycle(the warm weather didn't help) and we are still in the first rut period but petering out. "Second rut" would maybe kick in second week of Md. gun season, I'm thinking.

 

[Striper69]

Idk about hunting, but it's gotta be here. I've seen a slew of dead deer on the road and I've talked to 3 people in the last 2 days that hit one. They're going crazy

I was riding my bike on a country road out here in Iowa and saw some car parts on the side of the road. In the ditch was a nice 8 point buck.

Is there a way I can get the antlers off without messing them up? I want to use them for rattling etc. They felt like they were on there pretty solidly. There's also water in the ditch and it's snowing today so it may be awhile till I can get at it.

 

[Derwood]

Question for you knowledgeable folks: I'll be hunting in Augusta and Highland Counties in Virginia next weekend. Elevation 3,000-4,500 feet. Will the deer there be "ahead" of the deer in the lowlands in terms of the rut cycle?

I'm more curious than anything. I've only got two possible stand locations and I'll just pick based on the wind.

 

[Erno86]

The "second rut" should be around Dec. 21. especially for the doe fawns, who should be coming into estrus at that time.