Pre-rut? is it here?
 

was bow hunting last night, on the ground still hunting over my foodplot, never done it before so decided to give it a try, anyway, had 3 does and 3 nice bucks out in my W. wheat, the dominant buck was chasing the does and the other 2 bucks off the wheat, and then when one tried to come back, they had a heck of a fight, so I guess, it's time to bring out the rattling sticks at least, but when the bucks start to get agressive like this, does this signal the start of the pre-rut? I didn't see a single fawn or yearling with these deer either, which tells me they are being run off as the rut kicks off. So, whats your thoughts?

RE: Pre-rut? is it here?
 

The pre rut is here in Pa. Ive seen bucks following the does, but not quite chasing them full speed. Pretty soon it will get good!

RE: Pre-rut? is it here?
 

Bucks were chasing does last week in Western New York too. Seems a little early.

RE: Pre-rut? is it here?
 

What confuses me is seeing mating ritual behavior (chasing, sparring) from young bucks, but not from mature bucks around this time of year. I assume the real rut is centered on mature bucks altering their behavior for the sake of mating. Nonetheless, young bucks chasing does sets off the timing of the whole thing, I think. Anyway, I know we are getting close when I hear of bucks running into public places causing mild havoc such as this:

http://www.nbc4.com/news/5182697/detail.html

This happens every year around here. The young guns just throw caution to the wind and lose all sense of prudence. A friend of mine and I were talking about it after our hunt a couple weeks ago and concluded that the big hammers never really return to that level of boldness. They smartened up and really never show there face during daytime, or very little even during the seeking phase. I know that is probably most likely due to what area they inhabit. Safe havens such as suburbia America for example has huge bucks roaming at will through backyards never to be hunted. On the other hand, a mature buck who resides on land that gets a lot of hunting pressure may not be so disillusioned.

RE: Pre-rut? is it here?
 

Absolutely not, the "RUT" is defined when 90% of the doe population is in estrous not when bucks change their routine. Bucks change their routine when the does are in, not vise versa. Remember the "rut" is determined/defined by the does not the bucks.

That being said, Oct 21 is the date that is coined for the begining of the "hard" pre-rut leading into the 15th of Nov which is "peak" rut, give or take a few days.

So yes, the Pre-rut would be defined as starting now.

RE: Pre-rut? is it here?
 

Well, today's Oct, 20th, sounds like we're right on schedule!:D

RE: Pre-rut? is it here?
 

I saw some rubs and scrapes yesterday, probably brought on by our cold spell last week. But I don't see good buck movement generally until early November. Nov. 4 to 10 should be a great time to be in the woods, particularly if it is below 60 degrees, and ideally below 50.

What you saw was them being frisky, getting ready. But the hard core action is still probably two weeks away.

RE: Pre-rut? is it here?
 

Thanks for clarifying. I knew that the rut is dependant on the does in that capacity, but the context of my post was contrast in behavior of young to mature bucks.

Alas, so here is my age old question.If one had 3 or 4 days to take off, when would be the best time to schedule those 3 or 4 days??

RE: Pre-rut? is it here?
 

Here we go again:

http://www.nbc4.com/news/10124328/detail.html

RE: Pre-rut? is it here?
 

that's some funny stuf Chaz. A friend of mine who lives in Iowa Falls, said a small buck got into their Wallmart store one day. This was a couple of years ago, did alot of damage, he claims they do it because of the odor of some lady in her menstral cycle. I couldn't tell you for sure, but have witnessed weird activity from bucks when a female during that time of the month are present during hunting. I quess estres smells the same from a deer, or a humanoid, very interesting to say the least.

RE: Pre-rut? is it here?
 

its going on here in georgia i went bow hunting this morning and i was bringing in a deer that i thoght was just a doe. and then i see a doe run out from like behind me and i never even knew he was there. then about 5 minutes later the origianl one i was going after comes out to the doe and it turned out to be a buck. so after about 15 minutes of watching them graze. i slowly crept up on them. one i was about 45 yards i felt that i could make the shot. so i drew the arrow back and held it for a minute, i couldnt stop shaking because my adrenaline was so high and my arrow kept following off the rest so when i finally let my arrow fly it hit a branch that i had never even noticed was there and it popped the arow up and scared the doe off into a thicket and the buck just moved about 10 feet back. so as i got out another arrow about 5 minutes later, the buck moved on to the thicket with the doe. so i was trying to find where he is in it and all of a sudden he starts getting terretorial and starts blow air out of his nose really loud. then starts hitting his atlers on things. so i start to get a little nervous because if you have seen what happens to people who freak out a buck in the movies and documentaries they get trampled by the deer. so i started to move back a little and he continues to do so. eventually some coyote comes along and scares them off and he just chases them so i come home wiht no deer at all. but to top it off on the way home we are on a busy road and all of a sudden 5 deer in a line just go out in the road just before us. so we jam on the brakes and there they go we came about a foot away from hitting them. so ive had a fun day. and im going back tonight and tomorow night.

RE: Pre-rut? is it here?
 

in sothern wis the lil bucks are chasing a bit, my uncle shot a decent buck yesterday that was ripping up a scrape line.... so mabey just starting to kick in

RE: Pre-rut? is it here?
 

That is interesting to say the least Mastetv! I never thought of that, but honestly I have seen male dogs pay particular attention to certain areas on women. I know that is somewhat taboo, but from a scientific perspective it is worthy of note. Perhaps there is some link to human female hormones being somewhat similar, but that is waybeyond me.

With all these stories coming in I would say that the pre rut is started and just going to get more and more intense.

I am just trying to guage when to take my annual 3 or 4 day vacation. At this point I am guessing the beginning of the second week of November. The big boys ought to be out and about at that point. I know it's great to be out there now, but I also think most of the activity is being seen from young bucks.

RE: Pre-rut? is it here?
 

chazspot,

That's probably a good time. Ideally, you could be flexible and go when the weather forecast is for consecutive cold, calm and dry days anytime between Nov. 4 and 14 or so.

RE: Pre-rut? is it here?
 

DougMD, I agree. I would like to schedule 3 or 4 days straight but I don't have a problem scattering days off. Other times I have taken consecutive days off, I have been screwed by the weather. I go out one of those days and all of the sudden it's 75 degrees. Not good deer hunting weather. So, I do try to get a forecast first and then have that coincide with the timing of the rut. Kinda tough, but it's worth it.

RE: Pre-rut? is it here?
 

It's definately picking up in Wisconsin. Friday evening I decided to give a few grunts on the tube and ten seconds didn't go by before a nice 10pt came crashing out of the willow thicket looking for the source of the grunt. Unfortunately henever came within 60 yards. A half hour later I grunted a couple times at a year and a half old 8pt that changed his direction and came right under my stand looking for the source of the grunt.

RE: Pre-rut? is it here?
 

I'm on vacation from Tuesday, Halloween through the next 2 weeks.

RE: Pre-rut? is it here?
 

Watched a pretty nice 8 pointer make a scrape and pee in it, about 40 yards in front of me last night in the rain.

RE: Pre-rut? is it here?
 

How about Illinois. Anyone know whats happening here? Only been out a few time this year so far. I have seen a few liitle ones by themselves a couple different time. I haven't had much time to get out, but getting ready to find some...:) Maybea good time for the active scrape dripper? Maybe to early for esturus?

Good luck to allthis year, be safe!