Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

I have not been out since Sunday night. Is the actions starting to pick up in Illinois. What are you Illinois hunters seeing this week.

Thanks

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

All I'm seeing is paperwork, e-mails and pictures of bruisers like your big buck.


I'm looking for a place to hunt this weekend!!!

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

Starting this weekend I expect to see scraping and rubbing really pick up... I'm saving my time to put full effort into it the second week of November.

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

guys gear up, the dance is getting ready to start. was out last weekend here in central illinois and hadn't noticed a whole lot besides a couple rubs and 1 scrape at this particular stand, went out last night same stand and noticed 2 more scrapes and several more rubs. have seen several does as always and a couple bucks together, shouldn't the bucks start to seperate? anyhow, a buddy had witness a buck 1/2 rack following closely to a couple does. things are getting interesting.
As Rangeball said scraping and rubbing have picked up dramaticly, time to spend longer hours in the stand. I am going to pay close attention to this post to see how our fellow illinois ar doing. Really have the fever now. love November! but nothing gets done around the house<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> good luck

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

Just talked to my brother in law... His house looks out over a bottom with a fresh picked corn field bordering heavy cover. He's been wathing the deer every night. Last night, several does in the field, a few bucks, NO interaction, just normal feeding activity. It's coming soon though, and I told him to keep an eye on the deer and let me know as soon as he starts seeing some chasing going on. Will report back if he does.

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

Thanks for the update guys.

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

I,ve been seeing quit a few rubs and scrapes and a few bucks running after does. the were small bucks probally trying to get an earily start.

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

Well, haven't had a chance to get out much but here's my situation. Last weekend i went out with a friend of mine and he said a nice 8 or 10 was starting to chase off some smaller bucks. northwestern illinois timber with corn fields on 2 sides and a nice bean field just to the north side of the timber.
Shoot straight and shoot often.

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

All im seeing is trees, squirels and an occasional racoon. But that is all. No does, no bucks.

Forever Hunter

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

I hunt 30 miles south of st louis,by Red Bud,Illinois(randolph county) took a nice Doe today(Sunday the 27th) at 4:30pm 118 field dressed. lots of Does Running together,did see a few bucks running with does the other day,been out the last 3 days in a row.had a herd of 19 Doe come in on me yesterday evening,but just too far away,about 50-60 yards out,they were playing,jumping around,acting all silly and stuff. it was funny to watch.i was expecting that buck to show up any minute,but no luck.oh well have one more tag to fill yet,hopefully it will be a buck,but i'm not going to be picky right now.i see alot of deer running in herds right now,mostly Does.although i have seen a few bucks over the weeks,i don't see any rubs.i have found 2 scrapes at the edge of a field next to the woods.but like ruttnbuck says &quot;guys gear up, the dance is getting ready to start.&quot;

Edited by - deadcenter on 10/27/2002 21:17:13

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

i have yet to see a buck while hunting. i am seeing scrapes and rubs. one guy at work told me yesrerday he had an a 8 point and a doe come in and then a 10 point and a doe and in both cases the doe's were following the bucks it is just about to all change

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

I've seen quite a few does, but no bucks yet. Our neighbor has 200 acres of standing corn, so I'm sure they're camping out in there. Once it's gone I expect to see some good action. I'm excited about this REAL fall weather we've had so far! Next weekend can't get here soon enough for me.

I just drove around the area I'm now living in late this afternoon. I saw a lot of deer out right around sunset. Most in picked cornfields, and some in hayfields.

---
Live: Oregon, IL
Hunt: Knox County, IL

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

Hope it kicks in this week because Im headed your way to hunt for five days. Hunting this week and back on Nov.8 for a week if we dont have any luck this week. Its got to be pope and young for me to pull the trigger. Hunting around town of Chrisman in eastside of state.

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

I hunt northern Calhoun County about 6 miles south of Pike County. Seeing a lot of deer in the food plots during the afternoon/early evening. The bucks are moving. Watched a decent 8 or 10 point buck chasing 4 does on Friday night. Called in a 6 pointer to the base of my tree using one of the can calls. Amazing how they can pinpoint the exact location of your calling.

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

Southern Lake County, IL

Saw a doe with hoof or rack marks raking down her flanks & back. She was VERY skittish. Seemed like she was just &quot;worked over&quot;. I witnessed this at a distance of 10 yards.

She still had a yearling with her so I don't think that she's &quot;ready&quot; yet, but the buck seemed to be ready.






&quot;It's not the kill, it's the adventure and challenge! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>&quot;

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

Hunt in Ogle county outsie of Oregon. Sunday morning had a nice 8 pt. chasing 3 does with his nose to the ground grunting like nobodys business. After this week I have 2 weeks off. The time is near gents....

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

saw a young spike that looked totally lost yesterday. He was walking acrossed an open field. Had that look on his face like his mommy just gave him the boot. A pretty good sign, I thought...

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

i'm with &quot;drop em&quot;. i've been hunting the oaks and acorns and all i see all day is squirrels chasing each other around. i hunt western illinois and no sign of the rut yet.

Stop anti-hunters!

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

Hi guys I just want to say I'm glad to see hunters from Il here
and this board makes it easy to find people in your area or at least
close by anyway.. I am waiting for my vacation in the second week of Nov. and hoping to my first deer Ever!! I havebeen bow hunting 3yrs now and have a few chances but nothing yet.. I am still determined to get my first Deer and am not giving up till i do... I just wanted to say hi and what a great bbs this is and all the great info you good people provide.. I hope you all have a great season.. and be safe.

Shoot stright &gt;&gt;&gt;----&gt; and knock em dead.. I'm in Schulyer county btw

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

Talked to my Brother-in-law yesterday. He and a buddy went out. Lot's of does, no bucks interested in them. His buddy shot a doe, my BIL missed one... He did see a nice buck, but it wasn't chasing...

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

Was out again last night and had a small 8 chasing a doe around really hard. Should have heard the racket they were making through the woods. Good luck to you all....

Hey Sven, did you get my e-mail? We must live pretty near to each other....

Edited by - mshane on 10/29/2002 09:31:52

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

Rut or no rut - all I know is - with this cold front coming in (high of 38 low of 21 on Saturday) I know where my butt is going to be Saturday morning. God I love this time of year!
I'm still seeing buck in bachelor groups and does with yearlings. I am starting to see some scrape and rub activity. I haven't witnessed any chasing yet. I hunt in Macoupin County.

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

Opening morning downed a nice 9,he was running with 3 other bucks,
two 6's and a real nice palmated 10 or 12 pointer, wish i could have downed that one. Have one more permite to fill , for a buck anyway
maby i will see him this weekend, it is going to be in the 20's in
in the mornings they should start acting funny any time now.
GOOD LUCK !!!!!!!!!!!!!


Randy Pearce

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

Hi. I have been hunting in Will County and have not seen much. Glad to hear the other posts. Next month I will also be hunting in Johnson County. Good luck to you all!

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

I've been seeing a lot of increasing activity as of late.

This past weekend in JoDaviess county my dad rattled in two 140-150 class 10 pointers, one to within 25 yards, but couldn't get any shooting. One of the bucks was eventually run off by an even BIGGER buck, probably somewhere in the 160-170+ class. He was too far off to tell exactly how big though.

Rubs and scrapes are definitely picking up though. One of my stands in JoDaviess county has between 10 and 12 rubs within 30 yards of it that just popped up over the last week or so.

A friend of mine saw a small 6 pointer trailing a doe with his nose to the ground as well. This was the same morning that the guys on the farm next to us shot the nice 10 pointer I've been watching and it ran right underneath my stand and died. Figures, eh?

I think this weekend the rut is really gonna start kicking in though. At least, I hope it will.

Edited by - Zarr on 10/30/2002 09:33:24

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

had alot of activity tonight, the deer were moving everywhere and witness buck chasing doe, had two bucks respond to my rattling, and seen two does on the move like they were being pushed, and heard some grunting in the woods. I came out empty but could of had a small six pointer if i wanted. things are starting to happen, i have a two deer limit here in Piatt county and am waiting for that nice bruiser to walk past. ya all need to be in the woods whenever possible now and you wil start to see what i mean. things are happening <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> good luck.

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

It looks like things are right on schedule in some areas, with other areas not showing the same thing.

According to the IL biologists peak breeding should be Nov 10-20. There, I gave you FREE Rut Dates for IL!!!!

If breeding actually starts about a month before &quot;peak breeding&quot; (as many deer studies show) and if scraping kicks into high gear about 2 weeks before &quot;peak breeding&quot; (as many studies show) and if breeding and scraping can run late becuse of low dominant buck to doe ratios (as many deer studies show), then it looks like things are about as expected for this time of year.

But, if the second full moon after the fall equinox on Sept. 21 triggers peak breeding (as some suggest, with peak breeding 5-7 days after the full moon) then peak breeding should either occur on Oct 26 or Nov 25; depending on whether or not you count the full moon on Sept 21 (the fall equiox) as the first or second full moon after the fall eqinox. One sounds kind of early, the other sounds kind of late.

Either way it doesn't look too good for the moon theories, does it? I'm betting on the biologists, not the theorists.

T.R.

T.R. Michels

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

TR, Just for clarification, one popular lunar theorist who we've been discussing pegs the first NEW moon after the Full moon you reference for peak breeding. He has pegged 11-1 through about 11-7 as peak breeding for this fall. I'll be you a dollar to a donut he finds enough anecdotal evidence to support his theory in his first writings next late summer :)

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

I was just discussing with my old man and one of his hunting buddies this very subject. They are buying into the moon cycles and previous years rutting activity and saying that this weekend is gonna be the peak of the rut in full swing, so they both took friday off work and are making it a three day weekend.

Although I've been seeing a good amount of sign and a few bucks tailing does, I don't think its gonnat dramatically increase in the next three days. My money is on the weekend of the 9th-10th. I've already put my vacation request in for that Monday so I'll be taking my three day weekend when it counts the most while my dad is at home like a sucker! hehe.

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

Just went out today to see a bunch of newer rubs all over the place on some huge trees (im pretty excited). I haven't seen to much buck movement other than me spooking one out a day or so before season. Im thinking peak will be between 10-20th, sounds reasonable to me but you really never know with this weather being so cold. Alright if anyone in Northern IL Mchenry County area wants to swap a hunt i'd be glad to.

you start hunting and you suck, you keep doing it till you dont suck

RE: Illinois Update - Pre-Rut
 

Zarr, please keep us posted on their exploits. Like you, I'll be in a tree from dark to dark on 11 8 through 11th... I have my fingers crossed so much they hurt :)