MID WEST RUT HUNTING ?
 

What is the concensus on the chasing phase of the rut in the Northern part of Illinois (mercer county) ?

RE: MID WEST RUT HUNTING ?
 

I would say you can never go wrong with the first full week of Nov!! Walt

RE: MID WEST RUT HUNTING ?
 

First 2 weeks of November, can't miss it.

RE: MID WEST RUT HUNTING ?
 

I will be out there on the 10th to the 16th I just dont want to miss it because once they pair up traffic slows dramaticly

RE: MID WEST RUT HUNTING ?
 

I will be out there from November 5th thru to the 20th

RE: MID WEST RUT HUNTING ?
 

Man..our rut down here in Southern Illinois it usally starts the October 30th-November 21.

RE: MID WEST RUT HUNTING ?
 

I will be down oct-17-23 and then oct-26/nov-14 just so I don't miss it!! Walt

RE: MID WEST RUT HUNTING ?
 

My favorite time here in Minnesota is the first week of November. Actually my best day through out the years has been the 6th of November. Keep a watch on the moon too, i think the moon effects things alot!

RE: MID WEST RUT HUNTING ?
 

I hunt Mecer co. during the muzzleloader season. I live and bowhunt/shotgun huntin a nearby county. Anyway, you definitely want to be in the woods near the end of the first week of November thru mid November. I saw someone posted November 6 is a good day and I agree. That was the day I got my first archery buck.

RE: MID WEST RUT HUNTING ?
 

I hunt St. Clair county in southern Illinois and last season I did a morning hunt on November 3rd. I saw more bucks on the prowl than any other day last year. It was like someone turned on a light switch. The temperature had dropped for the first time which helped I'm sure but I saw so many good bucks that I had never seen before that morning. If the weather is anything like it was last season during the first week of November last year, I will definately be in the woods as much as possible!


Good Luck,

79 Bronco

RE: MID WEST RUT HUNTING ?
 

Here in Central IL it's usually starting to really pick upright around Halloween.

RE: MID WEST RUT HUNTING ?
 

Last year I took 1 week vacation to hunt the 1st full week of Nov. (Nov. 4-12 to be exact). That week is normally a very very good week to see tons of buck activity, both chasing and big mature bucks paired up with does but the temps the entire week in So. Il. were hovering around 75! Hot as hell, not a whole lot of activity...although I did manage to get some good/interesting hunts that week. The last day I hunted was the best...saw 9 different bucks that Sun. evening, one of which produced the "roar." Too bad I had to go back to work the next day.

I think this year I will take off the full week before shotgun, but I'm still not sure. It would be nice to know what exactly the weather will be doing!

RE: MID WEST RUT HUNTING ?
 

First and second week in November has always been good in Central WI.
November 6th is my favorite day. Always seen a lot of activity on this day no matter what the weather does, etc. Also shot most of my bigger archery bucks on this day.