RE: To late for rutting this weekend?
 

Well let's analyze this. While you might have seen every phase of the rut for your particular doe family and resident buck population, you would have to fully and humbly agree that you haven't seen every deer as it would be a physical impossibility. With that fact, you really can't make a presumption based on the "local" population's posture. I will wholeheartedly agree that you could make an educated guess as to the rut phase of the local deer that you come into contact with but other than that....I would find your general assumption to be without merit. ;)

RE: To late for rutting this weekend?
 

In Delaware I can positively tell you that the rut IS in FACT over....but only for one particular buck that I shot.

The other bucks are still rutting as I see fresh scrapes and chasing going on.

RE: To late for rutting this weekend?
 

psssssssst I am talking about my particular deer. You can find my assumption to be whatever you want it to be. I could care less lol. I'm telling you what is going on in my neck of the woods with the deer I hunt. Not sure why it bothers you that the rut around here is winding down. I've hunted for 21 years. I have an idea about what the pre rut, breeding phase, and post rut looks like. Not sure what else to tell ya. Believe me it pains me more than you.

RE: To late for rutting this weekend?
 

Your neck of the woods is NOT his neck of the woods. So while the rut may be winding down for you....it may be in full swing for him. I've been hunting deer for 30 years and I happen to know that the rut varies across any given area. There are multiple factors that influence the rut.

So instead of telling him that it's over in your area, why not instruct him how to identify which phase his own herd is in?

Even then....if the rut is over, bucks tend to fall back into a pattern during the post rut where feeding becomes primary. Identify a good food source close to an afternoon bed down site.