Rut - Feast or Famine?
10-30-2003, 10:46 PM
#1
Giant Nontypical
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Saskatchewan Canada
Posts: 6,921
Rut - Feast or Famine?
With the rut approaching and all the post about when is rut, will it be on, etc. Just thought I would pose a question for all to ponder and respond too. We all talk about Rut and it' s equalizing affects on our success at tagging bucks, but I have noticed the Rut is either Feast or Famine. While some years it is great to be hunting the Rut others it is actually worse. Also looking back at my hunts and bigger bucks only a small % have actually come in full blown rut, the majority are in late pre rut(chase phase) or post. Some of the data maybe misconstrude due to inclimate weather during the peak rut causing deer to be more active during the dark hours, I believe if the weather is off then deer movements are as well which would equal less productivity.
What is your take: feast or famine, always good or something else?
What is your take: feast or famine, always good or something else?
10-31-2003, 07:20 AM
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Adirondack Moutains USA Member since sept/02
Posts: 1,639
RE: Rut - Feast or Famine?
Good question, it does seem some years it is easy to get a buck during the rut and then other years it just plain sucks. I have had years were the buck are so stupid they almost walk right up to the barrel of the gun. Then on other years they seem to be very cautious, and pre or late rut is better. I have often sat in the woods and wondered what makes one year different from the other? Is it food, weather, plant growth, number of does, number of bucks, what type of nutrition they are getting, etc? I have yet to narrow it down, weather I would say is probably one of the bigger factors, but who knows?
Good question, maybe the only one that knows the answer are the deer[
] and I don' t think they' ll share with us
Good question, maybe the only one that knows the answer are the deer[
] and I don' t think they' ll share with us
10-31-2003, 05:49 PM
#4
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: ALBERTA CANADA
Posts: 844
RE: Rut - Feast or Famine?
No doubt weather is the biggest issue, nothing like daily or even hourly changing conditions. It seems to shut deer movement right down. A nice warm day with light winds good movement, heavy snow seems to shut them down unless your in the cedars. My all-time favorite is a warm light rain. Ive seen more deer during a light rain than anytime.
