Pa pre-rut activity?

early in · 10-10-2008, 08:04 AM

I was wondering if any of my fellow Pa bowhunter's have noticed any pre-rut activity yet? I haven't even seen my first scrape yet, and still very few rubs. How about you guys?

HuntingBry · 10-10-2008, 08:09 AM

I saw a big boy make a scrape on Tuesday with a smaller buck hanging around to check it out once he was done. They were also bumping does and harassing them a little. I've also heard some guys hearing sparring and fighting and saw 2 1.5 year olds straight up brawling about 2 weeks ago. On the other hand, I too have seen very few new rubs this year.

Rob/PA Bowyer · 10-10-2008, 08:15 AM

Scrapes have been popping up, same with more rubs but remember, the bucks would breed in July if the does would let them.

bawanajim · 10-10-2008, 08:34 AM

I took this picture of a fresh scrape this morning.

Mikey S. · 10-10-2008, 08:53 AM

Haven't seen to much rubbing in the places I usually do this time of year either.Kinda wierd though, Marylands season opened in mid sept, and I scouted with a buddy up there a week before the season, and we found a cr*pload of rubs on this one little flat. I couldn't believe it.

Keep tabs on the scrapes you find now, those sometimes turn out to be the ones they frequent once things start getting fired up in early november. The rubs will start showing up like magic here soon too. As long as we keep having thechilly nites, things will progress nicely. What sucks is the past few seasons, we've had some warm days in november that kinda slowed daytime activity. But the early mornings were a lot of fun.

Pops423 · 10-10-2008, 12:00 PM

Just throwing something out here. There's been a lot of talk across this and other forums about early rut activity. I believe it is just boys being boys and like Rob said the bucks would be doing it in July if they could. But with that said, obviously, many are seeing different activities than they have normally seen in all of their years hutings.

So do you think this could be a result of a better buck/doe ratio in many areas? I know that was a big goal and it was way out of balance before all of the recent herd changes. Not trying to start a battle on what you think of AR/HR, just curious what everyone thinks a more balance B/D ratio does? and could it affect what a lot are seeing?

Mikey S. · 10-10-2008, 12:25 PM

I think it depends on the area. One placeI hunt has a nice size heard, plenty of deer, and the rut is basically a bunch of your typical 12" wide 8 pts' running around harrassing does from the first chilly day in october tillend of the season. An occasional 17-18" 100inch buck will show himself here and there, but it's mostly "teenagers" on the prowl. Another spot I hunt, which is about 30 miles from that place, is a differnet ball game. Again, a decent number of deer, but the buck herd is a little different. Better genetics, some older bucks too, and the rut seems to operate differently there.Everything just seems to be calm, the boom, one day you climb a tree, and some good bucks are on the move, fighting, scraping,trailing does and running the show likeitshould be.

Some places are still out of wack as far as the ratio goes, other places are ghost towns, and some seem to be sporting a good balance. We'll never get balance statewide, but it is better in some places, but not so good in others.

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Pops423

Just throwing something out here. There's been a lot of talk across this and other forums about early rut activity. I believe it is just boys being boys and like Rob said the bucks would be doing it in July if they could. But with that said, obviously, many are seeing different activities than they have normally seen in all of their years hutings.

So do you think this could be a result of a better buck/doe ratio in many areas? I know that was a big goal and it was way out of balance before all of the recent herd changes. Not trying to start a battle on what you think of AR/HR, just curious what everyone thinks a more balance B/D ratio does? and could it affect what a lot are seeing?

HuntingBry · 10-10-2008, 12:28 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Pops423

Just throwing something out here. There's been a lot of talk across this and other forums about early rut activity. I believe it is just boys being boys and like Rob said the bucks would be doing it in July if they could. But with that said, obviously, many are seeing different activities than they have normally seen in all of their years hutings.

So do you think this could be a result of a better buck/doe ratio in many areas? I know that was a big goal and it was way out of balance before all of the recent herd changes. Not trying to start a battle on what you think of AR/HR, just curious what everyone thinks a more balance B/D ratio does? and could it affect what a lot are seeing?

The buck to doe ratio might have something to do with it, but even on heavily managed properties with great buck/doe ratios the rut still falls on a patternable schedule. I think the activity we are seeing is due to the cooler temps we've been having. We had frost on the ground earlier in the week here in SE PA and this is the earliest I can ever remember that happening since I've lived here. Now I know cool temps don't put does into estrous, but as Rob said the bucks are ready any time and when that tempreature drops it seems to always fire them up.

PABrent · 10-10-2008, 01:04 PM

I shot an 8pt while it was working a scarpe on the first day. I have a stand up now over another large scrape for my roomate to hunt in the morning. The buck I shot was following a doe already too

elkhuntinut · 10-10-2008, 06:10 PM

As of yet I haven't found a scrape or a rub. I know that they are they as I have plenty of pics onthe Cuddeback. Usually my area doesn't show much activity in the early parts...last year I only saw 6 deer the first 3 weeks. Then I finished the season seeing deer everytime in the stand with a total of 14 different bucks.