I was wondering if you guys could give me some help on deciding when the bestdates would be to take a weeks vacation during the rut. Having a hard time trying to decide on my own. Your help is appreatiated.

My opinion although every year may differ a week or so. A safe bet would be from Nov 9-15 . That is when I see the most bucks running. But like I said it could be different depending where you are in the state.

Will be hunting Southern Minnesota. I was kind of leaning towards Oct. 31 until Nov. 4. That way I could get a 9 solid days of hunting in and get a few days before slug starts up. But Tribal sounds like you think I should try for a week later in the month?

I prefer the last week in Oct. but a good bet is the opening week Mid Sept. before they get educated by all the rookies and bird hunters!

maybe this will help you decide.
the dates given are for deer above the 40th parallel.

pre-rut
sep 1 - 21 rubbing.

dispersal
sep 22 - oct 15

pre-primary breeding / scraping
oct 16 - nov 7

primary breeding
nov 10 - 21

rest
nov 22 dec 7

pre-late breeding
dec 1 - 14

late breeding
dec 7 - 21

I firmly believe that from halloween till the end of the first week of november is the best time to catch those elusive monsters. That's just me though. Good luck this season and be safe.

After reading this again, I agree that Halloween on would be great. I was thinking you were asking when was the peak of the rut and to me it seems that the dates I gave above are usually the peak. But catching or calling one of those monsters in would be better before the peak in the first week of November. I do see alot of Halloween bucks takenon shows and stories from other hunters on Halloween. So if it were me just taking a week to hunt go with the dates you mentioned. Thats the perfect time in my opinion here where we hunt.

For bowhunting I don't think it gets better then the week before gun hunting. the rut might be on after the gun season but it's going to be mostly at night.

oops i had to edit the chart i listed above.
i should have had the primary breeding dates as 10 - 21 instead of 15 - 21.

mind fart guess that comes with old age.

BTW, these dates are from a biologest report and studies listed in a book he wrote.
not of my own knowlage. i have actually seen scraping happen before the dates listed. he also says that this is an average guide of his studies so, take it for what is worth.

PT

I agree with the guys about the last week in october--the deer are moving and they haven't been invaded by the 500,000 gun hunters yet