Illinois rutting activity slow
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Southern Illinois
Posts: 262

Well guys its a week before gun season here in Illinois and i have yet to see hardly any rutting activity at all. I sure hope the rut isnt in full swing during gun season. I hate the fact thats the only time some people hunt and then they kill big bucks that other people have been hunting hard and most of the gun hunters dont put any effort into scouting. I guess that sounds selfish but I love to bow hunt and would rather shoot a big deer any day of the week with my bow than i would a gun.
#4

Yea im in Central VA, and I have not been seeing any signs really. Our gun season comes in in 2 days...it sucks...the only upside to where i a hunting is there is no guns..so its kind of like a hideout for the deer. I just started hunting the property this year and noone else really goes near it. I have passed up a couple small 8's and one six this year so far. Im hoping when the rut does come in that they move even more. Anyone have any ideas on good ideas to hunt the rut? I was thinking of buying a drag scent thing. Or making a mock srape
#6
Spike
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1

I went out saturday and shot this 8 pt. He was doggin a doe at 15 yards tongue out, gruntin and all. Seen prolly 8 dif pairs chasin does
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...&id=1145460051
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...&id=1145460051
#9
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 1,672

i hav ben seein little bucks chase for about a week. hav seen several mature bucks but none hav been interested in does. i think by the looks of it the rut will be in full swing by gun season. prepare to hear of a lot of big bucks killed this yr if not a new record during gun season. jus my prediction