Rut in MD
 

Any news of the rut in MD, exspecially the eastern shore ?

RE: Rut in MD
 

soon, had a basket 6 come into my first series of grunts last night, the bucks are ready, but i havn't seen any chasin does yet.

RE: Rut in MD
 

Had a buck chashing a doe and grunting the whole time yesterday right at daybreak. Another week yet before it really gets going.

RE: Rut in MD
 

Had a 6 pointer just into range (quartering to) on Friday. He came in pretty slow like he wasn't full out seeking. Also, I could hear forever and nothing else. If I had to guess, I'd say at least a week away, which is later than I've witnessed action during most years.

RE: Rut in MD
 

My bro-in-law called me Sunday morning (Nov 6) about 8:30 AM and said he just saw the biggest buck ever in broad daylight. So, I guess depending on what area you are in the big boys are starting to show their faces. Don't know whether to take time off this week or wait until next. These temps aren't the best.

RE: Rut in MD
 

Hopeing it will be in full swing this weekend for the youth hunt. Love to see my 2 boys 12 & 14 get their 1st deer.

RE: Rut in MD
 

Seen on the news last night that a deer ran into a mall and into a shoe store. I think that is a good indication of the rut. what do you guys think? lol

RE: Rut in MD
 

It's going on strong now. I'm seeing more bucks than does these days. Normally, these areas are practically all does. I've been seeing chasing for two weeks and hearing grunting for 3 weeks. The scrapes are starting to cover with leaves in one area, meaning breeding may be getting started. And there's new scrapes and new rubs here around my place--that's normal around here.

RE: Rut in MD
 

RUt is kickin here on kent island....Had my deer target rammed over yesterday by a six pointer.... They are chasing the does all around!!!

RE: Rut in MD
 

My son had a couple of spikes sparring around his stand and another hunter in the club had a small 4 pointer making a scrape out in front of his stand tonight.

RE: Rut in MD
 

Plenty of action this morning. Saw 3 doe early in the morn, followed shortly after by a small 4pt with his nose to the ground oblivious to me standing over top of him.

On my out for the morn, walking up the log road, heard some action just to my right. Sure enough a big doe. Heard some more noise, and sure enough a big buck. Couldn't make out the headgear through the brush but saw plenty of bone. Just then to my left another buck (6pt) is making his way over to the action, spots me standing in the middle of the log road 20yds away and hightails it out of there. Doe and big buck still hanging out. Doe decides to cross the road in the same place, never sees me. Old doe, with wrinkled face like a cow. Could of shot but thought to myself, this big boy ought to follow her.No dice. He strolls directly away in the woods.

All this 40yds from my truck and 60yds from the property owners house.

I didmanage to stalk the big buck enough to run him over into our hunting grounds since he was near the property line. Gonna let him settle down for awhile and hopefully see plenty more action this afternoon. Maybe I'll hunt from my tailgate...

RE: Rut in MD
 

Thursday the bucks were really moving. I saw 3 2.5 yr old buck literally running around. At 4pm4 does made a made dash to my stand, took me by surprise. I knew there was a buck, No time to study his rack.. I yelled as he too was running by and he stopped on a dime.. I nailed him at 12 yards.. Ony ran 40 yards.A 2.5 yr old6 pt with no brow tines.. Heavy body. Dressed 150lbs, very fat.. I would not have taken that buck if I'd a had more time to look him over.

Today onanother property.. Passed on 4pt and spike at 7 am under my stand.. Saw a few does. No chasing, No grunting. Ive only saw one doe that looked like it was in heat all week.. That was tuesday.No signs of many does in heat yet.

RE: Rut in MD
 

well, hunting in Northern Carroll and west Frederick has cooled down considerably. It seems last week was the hieght. Saw 7 different bucks from Friday morning till Sat morning. This friday and Sat I saw 0. Nothing was moving, no grunting and the does were kinda hanging out, didnt have that "uneasy" feel to them. I think it might be on the downside here. [:@]

RE: Rut in MD
 

My buddy who always gets big bucks shot another one yesterday. I'll have to post a pic when I get it emailed to me.

RE: Rut in MD
 

ALL The guys I know that hunt the frederick, montgomery county areas said the exact same thing you do!! Very slow friday/sat...

I dont think many does are in heat yet. The big boys know it. This moon phase and prolonged warm weather may be causing a trickle rut??? Many guys say that next thursday-sat will be the peak.?? Thats a little late for MD in my experience.. The few bucks that Ive seen dead have little signs of full blown rut.. Especially the stink they get from scraping, etc.. Of course If all the does come in heat at the same time Ive seen years when its hard to see many buck as they take to outta the way places, fence rows, etc. to hide from the other deer. Also, The does seemed not to want to draw attention by making noise in the dry leaves, guess they get tired of the pestering. The naked woods (no leaves) may also have em spokked a little.. Just my thoughts?? Im going to go back out hard wed-friday.

RE: Rut in MD
 

you dont know how bad I hope you are right. I took 3 weeks vacation to hunt the rut starting the 14th. I am afraid I may have missed it. [:@]

RE: Rut in MD
 

I bowhunted Thursday and Friday and saw ONE small spike and ONE doe. Spent the day in the woods with my son on Saturday for the youth hunt and saw NOTHING! I felt really bad for him...he's still chasing his first. BTW this was in Frederick County.

RE: Rut in MD
 

I have seen several yearling bucks over the past two days in the woods. Searching for something. I saw one pushing five does yesterday. Have not seen any big ones since last Tuesday at 330 in the middle of the cut corn field. It is definitely happening just the big boys may be hiding a little.

RE: Rut in MD
 

ive seen alot of rut activity,scraping, fighting, doe bleating its been awesome so far for me ive killed 2 in the past 4 hunts. I think the big bucks are starting to hole up with the hot ones now but its going on for sure

RE: Rut in MD
 

I got a picture of my buddy's buck. Can I email it to someone to post in here? This guy knows how to hunt!

BTW, smokyghost, my brother coaches Mt. Hebron hockey. Is that school near where you live?

RE: Rut in MD
 

RE: Rut in MD
 

So after shotgun season here in MD what kind of activity do we have to look forward to? This is my first year bow hunting and I have never hunted deer after shotgun seasons. I have seen more deer this year now that I've actually been in the woods during the rut.:) No luck yet because I'm still learning how to set up for bow but lots of deer.

RE: Rut in MD
 

DOUG..... really nice buck Andy got. Tell him the Crotchetty old bald headed fart from the sheetrock jamboreesaid congrats.

SAXMAN: Just expect spooky herded up deer. You'll have the second rut kick in towards middle to the end of Dec and may still have some rutting activity. The bucks will go back to checking scrapes and food is always a hit. BUT, they're going to be bunched and spooky.

RE: Rut in MD
 

Doug, your buddy's buck is another bruiser, as usual. Tell him he'd better pace himself or he's gonna run out of wall space for all those mounts!

I'm gonna be spending a few days in the woods later this week, but according to the MD rut reports I've read on this post it looks like I might have missed the peak chasing period. [:@]

RE: Rut in MD
 

man doug thats a nice deer, where did he kill that? oh and empty your pm box its full!!!:D

RE: Rut in MD
 

He got it in PG county. Off to my inbox...

RE: Rut in MD
 

Doug--I've had about "enough" of your buddies giant bucks!!!:D:D I'm jealous of course!

I don't know what it is he does right, but he's taking monsters consistently every year. Even with this heat!

RE: Rut in MD
 

I've hunted the stand he was in. Many times you can't hear deer approaching, since it is near a thicket without many leaves.Also, when you do see deer, they are right on you andyou can't move oryou'll get busted. So he only hunts it when there is little or no wind so he has a shot at hearing deer approach.He heard movement and had a 6 pointer harrass some does that went to his stand, then got nervous and left. Next thing he knows, he heard grunting and realized another buck was coming. So he drew back, realized it was a shooter, and waited for a shot opportunity as the buck approached the tree he was in. Like the does, the buck got to the tree and realizedsomething wasn't right (probablysmelled where he was before climbing the tree), and did an about face and began walking away. He hit it quartering away,back in the ribs so it wouldrun up through the vitals.

RE: Rut in MD
 

He got another one this morning,not big in body and an 18 inch spread with tines that aren't thick. Said he'd have let it walk, but doesn't have much more time to hunt the rut in Md. so took it. His brother also shot one, but they gave it time to expire and are just nowgoing back to look for it...

RE: Rut in MD
 

Doug, where in PG county is this taking place?

RE: Rut in MD
 

The one he got today was in Charles County. The ones in PG county are near route 301 and Upper Marlboro area.

RE: Rut in MD
 

A buddy of mine said during the last 2 or 3 days he has been seeing "Hammers" walking around looking for does. He said this is the first he has seen of them. A Huge 10 point in his backyard and a couple others in Rock Creek Park.

RE: Rut in MD
 

I think it has run it's course for the most part, all but over IMO.

RE: Rut in MD
 

there is a possibility that the big boys may make one last ditch effort to cruise in 2 or 3 days though. I have seen this before where everything is dead for like 4-5 days (presumably when they are laid up with the does) and then they start running again on the backside of the rut. 2 years ago I thought the rut was over this time of the year (2 days before thanksgiving) and then all of a sudden the day before rifle I had 3 different bucks come by chasing. I hope this is whats happening, cause the rut was VERY mild where I was.

RE: Rut in MD
 

I don't think the rut has been as "spotty" as last year but spotty this year nonetheless given the warmtemps we had around early November. October weather was what we needed in November!

Last year on opening day (firearms) I saw bucks with does. Also, if they have bred a few times by now, which I think they have; they are now used to breeding and have built up the urge even stronger to continue. So, I think they may be trolling right now stronger than ever. This is in reference to the big boys, not the 1.5 year olds.

Opening day two years ago, I saw two monsters with does and my buddy shot one. A beautiful 9 point. The sad thing is right when he shot I had a herd of does come right by (I was on the ground next to a deadfall) and they had an even bigger eight point with them. I didn't get the shot due to my buddy shooting and scaring them right at that moment. [&:]