NY: Whats going on?
 

Well.. This weekend I expected to see many many deer because I was thinking it was gonna be the peak of the rut. The whole weekend including monday morning I saw 3 deer.. One was running at full speed 150 yards across the ravine from my stand. Typically on the property we would see about 3-5 deer a day a piece... But this weekend it seemed like all of the deer were just wiped off the face of the earth. Im thinking its the warm weather and moon? What do you guys think?
Anybody else having the same problem? Predictions on the peak of the rut now?

I am cerious what do you consider the peak of the rut?

Thats a good question.. I guess I consider the peak of the rut as when all deer are ready to breed. The does are all ready to mount as well as the bucks chasing them all over the place covering lots of ground.. Hence seeing many different deer.

It was the same here in the lower dutchess ny area as well. I didnt see not 1 deer this past weekend. Its like what you said "wiped off the face of the earth".. I went out friday & saturday both morning and afternoon nothing, I also went Sunday morning again nothing and skipped the afternoon... good luck this week bigwhitetailbuck

The bucks are ready to breed now...... but the does aren't yet. The rut isn't in full swing yet here either, and I believe with a cold snap the does will come into heat. Warm weather is screwing with us here in NY.

feels like lockdown to me already....the bucks have been chasing for most of the season when it's been cold.

Sat and Sun was full of action in my area of CNY. Lots of seeking and chasing.

Not much here in Allegany County...I've heard some antlers crashing just before dark but otherwise I've seen some does and littles ones...not many bucks...lots of bucks on my trail cam...kind of weird this year

I've had people argue with me when I bring up the weather. They say weather has nothing to do with it and it's all about the moon cycles and things like that. I say BS! If it's warm there is less breeding activity in my opinion. Sure a buck will breed a willing doe if he finds one no matter what the weather, but in general there is less activity when it is warm.

Steve anyone that tells yo tha ask them to run around in their winter clothes and see how long they will stay active when it's in the mid sixties.

I think the bucks are starting to cruise pretty good now in central NY. Since Friday I have seen two nice 8's a 7, a 3, a spike and one whopper. All in the morning. The heat in the days is slowing it up. This am was cooler and I saw 3 bucks by 8am. The next few days are supposed to be cold in the am and no more 60's. I would be glued to a good stand the next 2 to 3 days if I could.

0 rutting action at all. And now 60s again this weekend...what is the Alabama?

I am pretty certain that does start coming into estrus as a result of a decrease in daylight, but I think some of them do earlier than others. I saw plenty of serious chasing and tending as early as oct 25th this year, and some of those does looked like they were ready to be bred soon by their behavior. I think deer move less in general when its warm ,this time of year, simply because they are wearing their winter coats now.

Does a cold snap make you wife or girlfriend ovulate? It wont a deer either they are on a cycle just like every other mammal.

You will see less activity during the day yes, there is plenty of activity at night when it is much cooler. Deer car collisions show this. Moon maybe? Cycle defiantly! The estrus cycle.

No, but on those colder nights she is more likely to snuggle up close to you which just might lead to something else.

No one said they aren't coming into esterous, just saying the unseasonable warm weather coupled with a very bright moon leads to night time activity being increased.