RE: Where is the IL rut right now???
Based on my sightings, is the rut was about 2 weeks ago. All shotgun hunters from last weekend thatI talked to reported nearly no chasing. All the bucks I saw that were with does had been jumped up by other hunters.
To me I would say they are locked down on the does in my area at least. Never been a big believer of the "second rut" just because I have never seen any chasing that happened late in the year. I have seen bucks being locked down as late as December 14th, but never seenany actual chasing or seeking after the initial first phases of the rut.