My theory on MI rut in My area
 

I have been putting in a pile of hours this year. I can tell you the Rut is not much of one this year for me.

Here is my theory.

We have not been shooting enough mature does in my area. I watch Mr. Mass a 3.5 or 4.5 8 point tend a doe on Oct 13th. He stayed with her every step, she moved he moved. I have not seen him alone since.
I think we did not have the big build up to the rut this year. Does have been coming into heat on a steady bases since mid oct. This has lead to these factors.

1/2 the scrapes I usely see
1/2 the rubs
I have not seen 1 mature buck crusing or chasing.

You add MI lack of Mature bucks and everyone is happy:D So I have been learning a ton and I love this challenge.

I also have no acorns, and a giant wheat field that is tough to hunt.

So my plan is to move in right on top of the deer these next 6 days. I am going to hunt right on top of their bedding areas.

Man is this fun:D

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

Dam right its fun, now go get em big boy :D

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

Germ, I am seeing the same thing. Although I did see one big boy chasing that has been it. I have seen piles of does out in the fields eatng unmolested. This is all in areas where I have seen multiple P&Y bucks, so I know the bucks are there, they are just laying up with the doe that happens to be hot at the moment. No need to chase when there are so many does that it's easy to find one ready to go.

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

Germ I saw a big boy on the tail of a doe tonight, too bad he was 200yds across the field! Also had another big buck tearing up scrapes all night last night, and he just had to go north instead of south, when he was only ten yards away from my shooting lanes!! grunts did not work on him either..

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

Same here in Ohio. We have taken a fair share of does but I think we need to take some more out. I have seen more 1.5 year old bucks than I have ever seen. They are like rats where I hunt so the only solution is to lower the doe count and put some pressure on these bucks in the up coming years.

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

I've only seen one mature buck, this year.

:):):)

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

bry, i hunt westchester,pa haven't seen any rut chasing yet, alot of does in the fields though,just feeding.ive hunted all week and saw a spike and two doe, and im hunting a good area with nice buck, getting depressed.

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

Germ, my compadre...

I have seen the same trend here at home (illinois). I am giving it this last weekend to keep hunting funnels and the such. When this weekend is over I am going to move in right on top of the bucks bedding areas. And wait!;)

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

Germ, I think you are exactly right and was very much the problem PA faced before herd reductions. Does came into estrous early, on time and late and the bucks killed themselves breeding only to have the does shot after they were breed. Too many does are hard on bucks, the does that are not bred the first round, are bred the second and if not the second, the third and at the times bucks should be resting and eating to make winter.

Fawns are then born way early or way late which in turn creates bad nutrition. It's a tough situation, too many does stunt their growth, compete for bucks nutrition which stunts their growth as well as antler growth (which wouldn't be evident by your last years harvest...lol) I think GMMAT sees that in his area right now, but he's working on it and with help from the neighbor across the way, roadkills, they've made a great dent. ;)

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

Germ buddy it is running a tad behind this year. It is really going to hit during the gun seasons this year IMO.

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

I think I agree FRALEY, some people said early rut, I laughed....we are in our seek phase right now, peak or lockdown is a bit off, next week should be really, really good but our season ends in 2 days. I'm hunting with Kurt (Q2) and have seen zero chase, just youngins up and looking. No mature bucks yet....called in a 1.5 on a string from over 250 yards...loll

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

Rob pal that flute best get here soon.;)

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

Rob pal that flute best get here soon.;)

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

Why did you post it twice? Why did you post it twice?

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

I have to agree and disagree with ya Germ. I hunt Jackson Co. on private land that has been in a voluntary QDM for well over 15 years. I have seen and shot videos of mature bucks chasing all the way back to Oct. 6th. I am also hunting a small ridge just off the Grand River and the bucks seem to be using this as there route to and from bedding areas.

I am seeing young bucks as well but, this is due to the QDM. As of last Monday morning I do not believe the does were in heat full swing, sparatic at best. I think this is going to be the week where grunting and all day sits will pay off.

IMO if there are only a few does ready to come into heat well, the bucks will not leave them alone but, you get a higher number in heat well, they are gonna be running all over and at all times.

I disagree though that the taking of more does will change their behavior much. They will still tag the ones coming into early estrous and then go seeking when the scents fill the air.

I did do my part on taking a large doe out a couple weeks ago but, I also have mixed feelings on that. The doe I shot travels a run right by my stand every day. I may have shot myself in the foot by taking her before the rut and having the big boy come cruising after her. Time will tell.

I will be out there from Saturday until the 14th, all day every day on three different stand locations and hopefully can connect on the 17 or 12 pts that I filmed just a couple weeks ago.

Good luck Germ and everyone else, Gun season is sneaking in on us so, hunt hard, shoot straight and give thanks to God for the hunts we can enjoy.....................

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

Seems like the same deal here in NY Germ.I'm not seeing what I usually see at this stage of the season. I'm sticking to my gameplan through the weekend. If I dont' see things picking up (a lot)I'm heading right on top of them.

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

Being a Michigander myself....IMO...I dont think that the rut has started yet...the weather has not been right...its been to warm. Im sure some of the critters have started but the heat is commin!!!! Next 2-4 weeks should be our best weeks in the woods. Good luck everyone!!!

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

So everyone's opinion is, if we harvested more doe's to even up the ratio abit more, the buck's would be forced to be active to find the does, instead of them having "breakfast in bed"?

I've seen two shooter 8's in August/September, havent seen them since. I have found rubs and scrapes though. I have also taken two doe's so far, but from what I'm seeing coming into my small plots, the herd still has plenty of doe's.

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

I.E. had a hiccup and touched enter twice during it.
I.E. had a hiccup and touched enter twice during it.:D

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

Same here in wi, why are they not chasing hard and scraping and rubbing, I know theres bucks on our property I see them every single day but its liek they arent even really ready, its like they are just gettign to the seeking phase. Ive seen some small chasing and one good battle the other day for dominance. What gives this year????

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

Same Here (Mich Thumb) But for some reason I have seen way more then normal young bucks and alot fewer Doe. Strange season.

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

I can add my personal observations for NE Iowa.

1) I agree with those that said there was little 'build up' Nov 2, 3, & 4 were the kick off for most of the big ones to come out cruising and chasing. That is a wee bit later than the previous 2 years which centered around Nov 1, locally. Before that, those I know, and myself, were having very little activity of any kind. It was as if the so called 'lull' extended an extra week.

2) I can testify (any other IA hunters agree with me??) that the dramatic doe reduction in the last 3 seasons has done LOADS for the rut in NE Iowa. Locally, the ratio is approaching 1:1 and I beleive it is well under 1:2. I see less deer but the rut activity has increased 2X. Bowhunters I know back home have been into bucks all week.

I do beleive that getting ratios in line does much for rut activity....and of course there are always other factors.

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

Increase your buck age structure also, but it is what it is.

9 does today I was right there in the bedding area. Not one buck showed up[:@] I did see a BB working a scrape:eek:

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

This has been by far the strangest rut I have ever hunted. 2 weeks ago I saw MATURE bucks chasing does and challenging my decoy. I have been seeing a lot of chasing activity since then.

Also, I have only been out once this year and not seen a buck. I have passed on countless 1.5 and 2.5 yr. olds. I have also seen 6 bucks that I consider to be a shooter. I usually only see 2 or 3 all year.

From all my deer sightings and trail camera pictures, my buck to doe ratio is just a tad over 1:1.

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

Shoulda shot him ;)

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

Here's my take from ND. I haven't seen any indication of the rut kicking in yet...this is from both public and private land. Scrapes and rub numbers are way down, but I'm still seeing lots of different bucks. Including the past couple days, I've seen one buck with a doe. The 2 biggest bucks I saw were traveling together:eek:. At first I thought it seemed that the rut is late this year as well. Now that I think back to years past, it seems that the chasing really heats up the third weekend of Nov. Guess it's only going to get better from here.

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

I'm getting in on this discussion rather late I understand, but I've seen just the opposite in MO. This has been the most productive rut I've encountered. I was seeing bucks the last week of October, just upcruising. I RARELY see bucks before November, and by the 3rd I had one on the ground. The days after I shot my buck, we were at our place in southern MO. We saw.....let me think here.......4 or 5 mature bucks chasing does, and at least twice that many young bucks chasing....

We have seen lots of rubs, scrapes, and lots of movement. I haven't been in the woods in over a week, so I'm not sure what's going on out there right now.

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

Then what would uncle trigger shoot?;)

Rut was picking up the last couple days I hunted. I didhave a nice 115+ 7 pointer by me all day. He looked to be about 2.5. I saw 6 other 1.5 bucks. The one big boy was in the corn on the neighbors, he ran out midday when they combined it off.

9 I saw was killed 1.5 miles away, now that one Atlas I should have shot;)

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

Dude it was your year;) Can I have my mojo back:D

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

I, mobow the buck slayer, do hereby transfer any and all remaining buck mojo back to my Jedi Master, germ....He can do with it what he damn well pleases! :D

RE: My theory on MI rut in My area
 

in Southern Ontario, ive seen over twenty does, three bucks... on the 13th, i seen 3 does graze a cut corn field, getting called in from rattling... even the does don't know where the bucks are....