pre-rut ???

midwestxpress · 11-04-2002, 12:16 PM

Saw two young bucks this morning. Overall it was extremely quiet. Seems things are dragging along. Maybe the guy in Deer and Deerhunting magazine is right. Slow trickle rut, end of November being the hot time to be in the tree.

jerseyboy · 11-04-2002, 12:24 PM

NO WAY!! READ my bustin a gut post!@!!

BOWHUNTERCOP · 11-06-2002, 05:45 AM

MIDWESTXPRESS, I READ THE SAME ARTICLE, MAYBE HE'S RIGHT, IN MY ARAE OF ZONE 4 ITS SLOW FOR ME AND HUNTERS IN MY AREA, BUT THEN AGAIN OTHERS I KNOW WHO HUNT OTHER PARTS OF ZONE 4 CLAIM TO BE SEEING RUT ACTIVITY.

jerseyjoe · 11-06-2002, 06:59 AM

2 wks ago I seen a big 8pt make 5 scrapes on a field edge. Last Saturday I had a small spike grunting like mad chasing a young doe. I also had a small 6pt that showed no interest whatsoever. It should be soon MWX...

NJ_Bowhntr · 11-06-2002, 10:22 AM

I've seen really good buck activity since about October 22nd. Almost every time out I see bucks moving, making scrapes, rubs, grunting and chasing does. I've seen more of that activity this year than I have in any of the previous 23 seasons. I've already seen numerous bucks sparring and some pretty good fights have developed from that. My brother saw what he estimates to be a 140"+ 8 pointer birdogging a doe last week. The buck was only 7 yards away, so I'm guessing he got a pretty good look at him. He has already killed a big nine pointer that is at the taxidermists now. I have seen many little ones, but no big bucks yet. My other brother (there are 3 of us that hunt) killed a 10 pointer in regular bow, and has seen even more intense activity the last 3 weeks. He has used the can call and grunt call to bring in bucks. He even rattled in 3 bucks last week, but a big 8 point heard him draw and spooked. He had 5 bucks running a doe last Thursday, and has seen that type of rutting activity consistently since Oct. 17. We all hunt different properties too, a total of 15 between the 3 of us, in 3 different counties, so it's not confined to one place. They are definately moving, just not far because of the heavy mast crop. You just have to find the right place.

Strange Biller · 11-08-2002, 11:14 AM

Opening day in Maine I was with my father (I couldn't hunt because it was residents only and I no longer live in ME) and we saw a nice 8 pointer early in the day who charged right out into the field just after daylight. The big bucks in this area never come into the fields until the rut starts and makes them crazy.

My father didn't have a shot, but about two minutes later my uncle took a six pointer out of the next field over - maybe 300 yards away. That buck was hot on the tail of a doe and again charged right into the field. My father and I assumed the other buck was close on their heels when he came our way.

The six pointer was absolutely stinky and his rear legs were literally dripping with scent.

I didn't see too many scrapes the rest of the day, but I'd say the rut may be earlier than some are predicting. (This was above Augusta)