Best week to ask off?
 

I am going to be asking off for an entire week during the rut. I live in WI and from what I have heard that Nov7 is the week of the big boys so I would like to ask off around that time. But, I am not sure as to when the rut starts in Wi,I know that lots of things affect the rut such as weather ect. But I know there are some WI hunters here and I wanted to know the best time that seems to be consistant as far as dates. My goal is to harvest a buck that I will be happy with and I know thatthe 7th is good but I want to know your suggestions.Thanks

RE: Best week to ask off?
 

I took off the first Friday in November, and have off until the following Thursday. Should be prime time.

RE: Best week to ask off?
 

I'm off the first two weeks of Nov season end date Nov 11th. Any time you can hunt as close to Nov 15th the better.

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RE: Best week to ask off?
 

Shouldn’t be long until we see the annual “rut” reports stating when the best time to take off is. I think the weather isa major factor for me here in the Mid Atlantic region, but last year when the “rutting moon” first appeared (late October I think) all hell broke loose. Deer were going nuts. November followed with typical behavior but we had a lot of warm spells. I may be a little optimistic, but I have a feeling this will be a conventional autumn and we will see nice, cool temps making for one hell of a rut.

RE: Best week to ask off?
 

From what I understand there are a lot of deer shot around the 6th 7th and 8th of Nov. I have off from the 4th till the 11th.
I have killed bucks during this time as well as the last week in Oct.

RE: Best week to ask off?
 

Rutting moon occurs on 5 NOV, I think. 2 or 3 days prior to that will see the "seeking phase" kick in for about 5-7 days, that will be followed by the "chasing phase" for another 5 days or so. Once the "breeding phase" starts the woods will quiet down significantly. I would take the week of 6-10 off.

RE: Best week to ask off?
 

Well, I'm a Farmer so I think I'll just take off from Oct. 1st Till Jan. 7th haha! I'm thankful I can get in the woods just about everyday of season. I can't spend all day but I get out prolly 2-4 hours in the morning and maybe2-3 at night.

RE: Best week to ask off?
 

Rob has the timing down for Pa rut hunting, that's when I'll be in the woods. I'll be in Alberta Nov 13th-18th, things happen a bit later further north. One point to make, the rut goes on reguardless of the weather, if it's too warm for daytime movement or too much human activity, the'll move at night.

RE: Best week to ask off?
 

Charles Alsheimer has recommended Nov 9 to the 19th as the best time to be in the field this year (based on moon phase).

RE: Best week to ask off?
 

Say Hoythunter, Do you need any extrahelp in the fields this year...:)

RE: Best week to ask off?
 

Im off from Oct 30th untill Dec 4, I cant freakin wait. I have been saving vacation for afew years. My wife isnt to happy, oh well she will have to get over it wont she.

RE: Best week to ask off?
 

I have November 4-19 off. I'll be heading to Greenwood, NY (Steuben County) at about 5:00 PM Nov. 3. I'll get there in about 10-11 hrs., take a nap and head out at noon to make scrapes and set up my ground blinds. Then (if I can stay out of the beer cooler) I'll sneak into my old permanent stand at about 3:30 that afternoon!

RE: Best week to ask off?
 

I took off from work from Oct 28th thru Nov 18th. I think that should cover it . . . unless it's too hot again.

RE: Best week to ask off?
 

I have from October 15th - November 15th off, then go to Europe for a month! I don't want to go to Europe, I'll miss the Wisconsin & Michigan gun season! At least I'll get to hunt with muzzleloader!!!!

RE: Best week to ask off?
 

Either of the 1st and second week in NOV, I prefer the second.

RE: Best week to ask off?
 

Thanks! I know when I will be asking off.

RE: Best week to ask off?
 

You might ask your doctor if buck fever is covered under FMLA, if so, you get at least 10 weeks....

RE: Best week to ask off?
 

I hunt in Southwest Indiana and around here the best week to go is the week before the gun season starts. Gun season starts mid November. The first couple weeks in November is best around here.

RE: Best week to ask off?
 

Personally, if I was taking a week off from work, I'd rather hunt during the pre-hunt. I can pattern deer much better then the actual rut. During the actual rut when deer are paired off and does are receptive, it is much tougher to know where a buck is going to be. It's also much easier to time. ;)

RE: Best week to ask off?
 

I like the chasing phase. Last year I slowly still hunted and you can hear the deer running around chasing each other. I stalked into position just on the edge of some cattails and a tree line. There were two bucks chasing a doe all over the place. Finally the doe and the smaller buck came from the north east right towards me. The larger buck went further west and stopped behind some brush. The doe and other buck finally seen me at about 10 yards and stopped for a second then went back the direction they came. The other buck looked at them and started walking that direction right out in front of me I grunted and let they arrow fly. Unfortunetly he ducked and I skimmed his back and took a little hair off. I shot a little high to begin with and him ducking didn't help. That was probably one of the most memorable hunts just becuase of the excitement. I am looking forward it again this year.

RE: Best week to ask off?
 

I have five days at thie beginging of November

Tim

RE: Best week to ask off?
 

I thing it is very tempting to to put in for time off right now, but I think you would be better served if you waited until it was closer to November. Of course this is only applicable to people taking off a week or so. If you are taking off for a month then it's a moot point.

You do have to consider givingliberal notice at work, but if it's possible to wait it out a little bit; you can gauge the weather with more accuracy. The last thing you wanna be doing on your day(s) off is sitting in a treestand when it's in the mid 70's. You won't be seeing much rut action in that setting, trust me.

Another advantage is you get a better feel of where the rut is. While predictions are helpful, I feel there are other variables to consider that are local to you where the best person to judge when to make your move is you.