So when is the rut in Maryland this year? I always seem to get it wrong.

Wouldn't it be great if we could all plan it right no work, no chores no nothing but hunting when the rut hits. There are so many theorys on the rut. I went and saw the Berniers and Benoits at a seminar and they pretty much have two different theorys for New England. One group says mid November the other goes by the moon. Second full moon after the fall equinox kicks it into gear accoring to the Berniers. All they do is study whitetails. That puts the seeking phase towards the end of next week. I read hunting by the moon phases and that author claims so long as the weather is 55 degrees and cooler and your deer heard is in check peek rut occurs within a week after the second full moon after the fall equinox. That puts it about 2 weeks away. Again deer heard is in check, weather cooperates and you are north of around the PA/WV/MD border. So your guess is good as anyones. Good luck.

In Md you want to be in the woods the first two weeks of Nov with the 8th-14th I have found to be the best time of all.

I'm siding with mdbohunter, I try to be on vacation first of Nov. but will hit it hard around the 10th, I have been keeping track for the last 4 years in Md and it seems like except for 2001 (rut didnt come in until the week of thanksgiving) the best days seem to be the 10th through the 14th, I will be in a tree that week from sunup til sundown. I work with some guys who swear that pre rut is starting now, but I disagree, the bucks are still together, and still just traveling from bed to feed etc. Of course, I have seen where different herds do different things, last year a guy who hunts in baltimore co. said he saw a buck mounting a doe, when my herd wasnt even cruising yet. I try not to pay attention to the moon thing, but I'm no expert either, I just watch my deer and see how they are acting.

Thanks G2 Shooter I was going to ask the same question when should I start rettling and calling

You're right mdbohuntr. These moon studies are nice, but year after year that's when the rut hits the jugular vein in Maryland. It's always about 2 weeks before gun season.

pay no attention to the moon.....1st 2wks of Nov are killer

Rick is absolutely correct. That's why I scheduled my leave to begin today and end 3 weeks from now! The only obstacles I see are: 1.) I want to stay up to see the results of the election, but I have a track record of scoring in the morning of Nov. 3rd. 2.) I have a dinner meeting to attend on Nov 10th which begins at 6:00pm! [:@], and 3.) My wife has scheduled her parents 50th wedding anniversary party for Opening day of firearms season (over 200 invitees) and she wants me to pitch in heavily on the honey-do's since I'm OFF!!

hey guys, i was hunting in harford co. this thursday on a buddys land , i set up my dog house ground blind about 45 yards from a main trail leading to the field were we have been seing 5 to 8 doe,s almost everynight . well some time around 5:30 pm i notice a deer sneaking into the field 30 yards from my location it didnt take me long to notice the body size and posture of this buck. he had a giant neck and wrinkles all down his neck and a big patch of hair missing from his upper shoulder and back ,he continued to walk in that stiff posture down the field to around 50 yards i had my 3x9 bushnell on his vitals the whole way it was hard not to take this buck even thought he was only a 7 point he was a giant bodied deer and deffinatly in FULL RUT, so if your hunting in harford co. get out there cause its starting now ,, good luck guys

Was out friday in Harford County. Heard a racket over in the heavy pines near where my stand is in the early morning. Kept calling with the doe bleat until finally a buck circled around where I was and came charging down, grunting like crazy. He never slowed down or anything. Ended up never getting a shot. As I left I walked over to the pines and saw about 5 fresh scrapes and fresh rubs. The rut is in, enjoy!