LATE RUT

[GREEK HUNTER]

WHEN IS THE LATE RUT AND WHAT DO YOU DO DO YOU STILL RATTLE AND GRUNT OR JUST USE SENTS

[lou-lou2]

I'm still waiting for the regular rut, maybe it's gone already, I don't know, haven't seen very many bucks with does, they all seem to be ignoring each other around me. As for your question , some calls still work but don't be as aggressive as you were in the pre-rut. Don't use doe in heat, consentrate on feeding area's and the few active scrapes in the area, big boys are still looking for the last doe to come in heat. If there's not a doe in heat in the area your scents might not work.

[Strut&Rut]

Yes, by now, most of the peak breeding has occurred in the country, with a few strangler areas. So in essence, the peak of the rut has passed, and the bucks are in the resting and secondary/post-rut phases.

Don't use doe in heat

No, definitely use doe in heat. Doe pee or doe estrus may bring in that wary buck. Do not use mixed scents, tarsal scent, buck scent, rattling, or aggessive calls.

Basically, during the rest-phase, the secondary peak-rut phases and the post-rut, the bucks will return to their core areas to rest & to regain nutritional stores. They will rework their rublines and freshen scrapes within their terrority. You may see some smallish scrapes near food sources, which the bucks will return to in late evening and into the night.

Best times to hunt are similar to pre-rut...early-late evening and dawn, trying to catch the bucks (and does) going from bed to food sources and vice versa. Of course, as always, weather system fronts and cloudy days work wonderfully for this time of the year.


S&R

[lou-lou2]

As for the doe-in-heat, your right you may get a shot at that wary old buck or you may scare him into the next time zone too, those old bucks know every doe in there area, from my own personal expierence it's better to hunt the food sources in the late season, it all nothing but a chance you take, who knows what really works out there any way, every trip to the woods is different. One thing remains you got to be there in order to score on a deer.

[lemond33]

there may b a late rut in ur area, but there is a second chance the second week of dec or so. if there are any does that have not been been "hit" they will come into the cycle again. soooo, a doe in heat urine will work

[White-tail-deer]

After the guns start whaling I like to go noise and scent free. Those older buck everyone is talking about have already encountered all the bow hunters blowing grunt tubes, rattling antlers, and spreading doe pee everywhere. Your best bet is to find an area where doe and heavy cover exist, where that buck can scent check doe and feel comfortable in the cover. IMO that's your best bet!!

[Jimmy S]

Ya'-soo Greek Hunter...Personally, I think after the rut the bucks now need to focus on food. They have not eaten (much) since the rut began and they need to increase their input to be able to deal with the upcoming winter. They will certainly entertain new does that come into "heat" about 28 days later but that intensity will be much less than the first rut of the season. I would focus on food sources, especially those area that are frequented by does. I would leave the rattling antlers at home but I always bring my grunt, which at this time of year, I use to call a buck closer after I see him.