VIRGINIA RUT WATCH!
#21
RE: VIRGINIA RUT WATCH!
ORIGINAL: RockinChair
We are in the pre-rut right now. Bucks primary concern right now is still food as they bulk up their bodies on fats, carbs and starches gearing themselves up for the rut. Most rubs that are being seen now are merely territorial rubs. Bucks testosterone levels are increasing but still weeks away from peeking and the rubs and scrapes being made now are establishing pecking order and dominance rank.
Also- the cold weather has absolutely no effect on the timing of the rut- the timing of the rut is controlled by the moon. Cool weather merely stimulates more daytime rutting activity. When temps are above normal or seasonal the majority of rutting activity will take place at night.
We are just a little less than a month from the rutting moon. I believe it falls on November 13th this year, give or take a day. This late moon will result in a compact more frenzied rut. As a I said before bucks testosterone levels are climbing but far from peaking. As a general rule bucks testosterone levels usually peak around November 1st. Young bucks are acting foolishly this time due to their ignorance. This is their first year they are biologically able to breed and they are not quite sure why does are smelling sweeter and sweeter every day. Which brings me to my next point- I remember someone saying that does have not come into estrous yet that is false. In fact many mature does usually come into estrous during the second week of October. It takes little time for the mature bucks to track down these first does in heat and he quickly breeds her. The next cycle of does will come into estrous about 28 days later with the period in between commonly known as the October lull.
We are in the pre-rut right now. Bucks primary concern right now is still food as they bulk up their bodies on fats, carbs and starches gearing themselves up for the rut. Most rubs that are being seen now are merely territorial rubs. Bucks testosterone levels are increasing but still weeks away from peeking and the rubs and scrapes being made now are establishing pecking order and dominance rank.
Also- the cold weather has absolutely no effect on the timing of the rut- the timing of the rut is controlled by the moon. Cool weather merely stimulates more daytime rutting activity. When temps are above normal or seasonal the majority of rutting activity will take place at night.
We are just a little less than a month from the rutting moon. I believe it falls on November 13th this year, give or take a day. This late moon will result in a compact more frenzied rut. As a I said before bucks testosterone levels are climbing but far from peaking. As a general rule bucks testosterone levels usually peak around November 1st. Young bucks are acting foolishly this time due to their ignorance. This is their first year they are biologically able to breed and they are not quite sure why does are smelling sweeter and sweeter every day. Which brings me to my next point- I remember someone saying that does have not come into estrous yet that is false. In fact many mature does usually come into estrous during the second week of October. It takes little time for the mature bucks to track down these first does in heat and he quickly breeds her. The next cycle of does will come into estrous about 28 days later with the period in between commonly known as the October lull.
Weare in our seeking phase. Bucks are roaming thier territories and are monitoring the doe herds. They may not be chasing them to reproduce, but they are locating them. The bucks will nudge them around this time of year.Mainly because the does want nothing to do with them.
The cooler weather may not control the time of the rut, but will intensify all deer activity. This cooler weather will definatley make a buck work his area a little harder, because he knows the time is near. I have a hard time believing a buckhas adate where his testosterone level peaks. If you put a hot doe in front of a buck right now he will chase and/or breed her. I also believe it is a very small percentage of does that go into estrous in early october. It seems in my area that all the does hit it together, then theones that arenot bred go into heat a second time.
#22
RE: VIRGINIA RUT WATCH!
ORIGINAL: JoeyG
The bucks don't look up at the moon and notice it is time to start humping. They smell the does when they hit estrous.
The bucks don't look up at the moon and notice it is time to start humping. They smell the does when they hit estrous.
Also- you are right about putting a hot doe in front of a buck. As soon as a buck sheds his velvet he is capable of breeding a doe and will do so if a hot doe is availalbe. Again, you are right about the does coming into heat in October- it is a very small percentage. Still, they do come into estrous and behave just the same as they would in November. A mature buck, with his senses more defined than a young buck is able to locate the hot doe and breed her very quickly and doesn't have to work so hard to do it, this is why it may not seem as itense.
Remember- the rut is broken down into three phases (I believe) the seek, chase and breeding. However, all three phases overlap each other. There are does that have already been bred, there is a buck cruising a doe bedding area right now scent-checking their estrous levels and there is also a buck in hot pursuit of a hot doe as we speak now. Like I said on the blog, it's a marathon, not a sprint and understanding the components that make it a marathon are why it is so darn fun to hunt
#26
RE: VIRGINIA RUT WATCH!
Went out this morning (fri 10-24-08) and had my best day in the field so far this year. Still didn't shoot a deer but did see more today than all year. Saw 7 does and 1 buck (6-8 pointer) with them. He had his nose to the ground sniffing along but not running or dogging them. Just following along. That was about 8:45am. Hunting ing Clifton (nova), cloudy, high 40's to low 50's, and very little wind(0-5 mph). The bonus of the day was that I did have gobbler with about 8-9" beard come by my stand. He saw me move and skirted around my treestand. I did get a 30 yard shot on him but shot right underneath him. First time I have seen any turkeys in Fairfax County, at least while hunting.
#27
Fork Horn
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Virginia
Posts: 281
RE: VIRGINIA RUT WATCH!
Hunted yesterday evening (10/23), saw 20 does and one spike. Spike was alone munching on acorns and paid no attention to 7 does 50 yards away. One really cool interesting thing I saw was an old doe square up to a fox. Fox just cruised through and freaked out all the squirrels. It headed towards the doe and she got up on her hind legs. Fox took off real quick. Never seen anything like that, if was one of those ....wish I had a camera things.
#28
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location:
Posts: 38
RE: VIRGINIA RUT WATCH!
I went out on wed 21st to a spot that i always see a handful of does at and the was no buck activity anywhere. I was back there today and had three scrapes within 15 ft of my stand. It seems to be heating up
#29
RE: VIRGINIA RUT WATCH!
Yesterday morning I a big racked 6 came trolling around in addition to a little 4-point who threw out a couple grunts along the way.
Haven't seen much in the way of horns so far this year, so this seems to be a good sign.
Haven't seen much in the way of horns so far this year, so this seems to be a good sign.
#30
RE: VIRGINIA RUT WATCH!
My friend rattled in 2 bucks today. First was 5 pt he let walk, then a nice 6 that justbegged to be his first bow buck.
He was covered in scars and had some fresh gashes on his shoulder. His ear was also tore up from a recent fight.
Hopefully tomorow my luck will change. Looks like I will be hunting in the rain [:'(].
He was covered in scars and had some fresh gashes on his shoulder. His ear was also tore up from a recent fight.
Hopefully tomorow my luck will change. Looks like I will be hunting in the rain [:'(].