Illinois,Iowa,Indiana,MIZZOU guys....
#1

It's October 22nd....Anyone seeing ANY sign of bucks trailing, chasing, harassing does? Any serious fighting between bucks (sparing doesn'tcount). I personally have not seen any of this in East Central or South Central Illinois, but I didsee a small buck at 150-200 yards away and used my Buck Growl to bring him in to within 30 yards, I did not shoot him, to small. Anyways, let's us midwest guys know what you've been seeing. Good Luck!
#2

No nothing happening in northern Ill. We were out today and the wind had them bedded down (probably in the corn that is still up). Anyway my buddy did a little scouting before weleft and kicked up 3 nice bucks that were bedded down together on the no wind side of a small draw. We have seen a couple of scrapes and some alot of rubs. Still no chasing or sparringor fighting though. Hopefully the cooler weather will get them active...
#5

Went out Friday afternoon and had 3 does come through. Noticed they were acting nervous so I let them walk an dhere came a 5 point and 2 1/2 yr. old 8 point trying to bump them along the trail. Shortly behind them was a 150 inch 10 pointer that I nearly got a shot at until one of the does saw me move.
#6

ORIGINAL: Illinois Buck Hunter
Went out Friday afternoon and had 3 does come through. Noticed they were acting nervous so I let them walk an dhere came a 5 point and 2 1/2 yr. old 8 point trying to bump them along the trail. Shortly behind them was a 150 inch 10 pointer that I nearly got a shot at until one of the does saw me move.
Went out Friday afternoon and had 3 does come through. Noticed they were acting nervous so I let them walk an dhere came a 5 point and 2 1/2 yr. old 8 point trying to bump them along the trail. Shortly behind them was a 150 inch 10 pointer that I nearly got a shot at until one of the does saw me move.
#7

This weekend everything was pretty dead in NE Iowa. Too much corn still in I think, most of the deer stay in the fields. Rubbing and scraping is really picking up though. I am not so sure the rut is going to be early, locally. Last couple years has peaked about Nov. 1....I think it might be a little later this year, maybe the 4-5. Course that is a WAG.
#8
Fork Horn
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 102

Ihunted Iowa all weekend. Saw several short fights and even rattled in a little guy. Saw one nice 8 harrassing some does but they wanted nothing to do with him. They are working the scrapes and rubs pretty good though. I had 3 smaller bucks in a ground scrape at the same time; kinda neat to see.
#9
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Southeast Missouri
Posts: 2,178

We found a real nice rub on a very large Cedar tree sunday,it has been raining on and off all week and on the way home I saw Bucks traveling with Does on 2 different days.It is getting colder here and pretty soon the action will be picking up!

#10
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 12

N.E. Missouri report: Several active scraps, rattled in a 2 year old, mature bucks are moving late evening/early morning. Young bucks are the most active right now.
The Oak timber I hunt is generally filled with activity when they start chasing. We also need the remaining corn to be out. On my way out to the stand I saw 4 run into the only standing corn in the area.
The last 2 years I haven't hunted over a field during the chasing stages. I hunt the downwind cover or downwind from the food source your does are using. The mature bucks are gonna scent the fields before they enter.
Anticipation has got me jacked up.
The Oak timber I hunt is generally filled with activity when they start chasing. We also need the remaining corn to be out. On my way out to the stand I saw 4 run into the only standing corn in the area.
The last 2 years I haven't hunted over a field during the chasing stages. I hunt the downwind cover or downwind from the food source your does are using. The mature bucks are gonna scent the fields before they enter.
Anticipation has got me jacked up.