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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: TIM B on October 28, 2016, 07:44:00 AM

Title: Peak rut days
Post by: TIM B on October 28, 2016, 07:44:00 AM
Was talking with some Yankee friends of mine and they thought their peak rut days were simillar - just a few days before mine?  
Here in southern MO I've seen the most activity from about Nov 7-12.
How about you?
Tim
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: Ryan Rothhaar on October 28, 2016, 08:07:00 AM
Yup, Ohio, Indiana, Northern MO, Iowa I agree with you completely - prime "pre-breeding" cruising or chasing buck hunting.  And November 12 is the "Magic Day".  I'd wager on average more good bucks are killed across the Midwest on Nov 12 than any other day of the year.  After that the big boys seem to get "doe'd up" 'till towards Thanksgiving - that is find an estrous doe and go back into some thicket to breed for a couple days at a time and drop off the map.  Then pick up another etc.  If a buck finds 2-3 receptive does in a row you don't see much out of him for about 10 days or so.  After most of the breeding is done it gets good with cruising bucks again.

R
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: ron w on October 28, 2016, 08:14:00 AM
After keeping a hunting journal since the mid 1980's I found I saw the most activity just before and up to Veterans Day. So that falls in line with what was said above. It may vary some years......but not much.
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: jim phenes on October 28, 2016, 08:29:00 AM
if any of you trad gangers are familiar with Charlie alsheimer he does a prediction every year for the northeast and is saying the chase starts around 8th of November he has been spot on with every prediction I have listened to.
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: kennym on October 28, 2016, 08:46:00 AM
I've seen and killed more bucks on Magic Wednesday, the one before gun season than any other day. That is Nov 9th this year.

I should keep better records! LOL
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: LittleBen on October 28, 2016, 08:48:00 AM
My understanding is that the research done on captive white tails suggests that breed intakes place the same time every year in a given area. No effect of moon phase, tides, weather or the farmers almanac.

Here in Upstate NY I usually figure Nov. 14th ish  is the peak.

Usually 2 weeks before is good
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: Michael Arnette on October 28, 2016, 08:58:00 AM
Same for me in SW Missouri and NE Oklahoma. Although I've killed my good bucks on these dates:
November:
6th
14th
17th
18th
19th
19th
20th
20th
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: Michael Arnette on October 28, 2016, 08:59:00 AM
...I think if it weren't for rifle season the last week of november would be nearly as good as the first
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: RedShaft on October 28, 2016, 09:11:00 AM
Around the 13th of November for Mature does and the 24th for fawns.
Based on Pennsylvania studies.
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: RedShaft on October 28, 2016, 09:13:00 AM
http://ecosystems.psu.edu/research/projects/deer/news?b_start:int=220  

Read through all of this info. You will find all your answers. 12 pages that's well worth your time!
Even the best times. When is that you say?
10-2 pm buck movements sky rocket during the rut.
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: Overspined on October 28, 2016, 09:19:00 AM
I've kept track and all the big ones I've seen and killed in Illinois, Indiana, and MI for archery have been Nov 7,8,9, a couple Halloween, and a couple around Veterans Day. Most 7,8,9.  Weather seems to be the only thing that hinders this, but for daytime cruising bucks, that's when I take my vaca  to hunt. November 8 & 9 have been my most productive days of all, I sit all day.  Crack of dawn, 10-1 are hot times and 4-dark. Crack of dawn is rarely the time I see the big guys, but just often enough to get out. My buddy doesn't leave the truck until 30 min to an hour after daylight and shoots often at noon.
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: Nathan Killen on October 28, 2016, 10:32:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by RedShaft:
 http://ecosystems.psu.edu/research/projects/deer/news?b_start:int=220  

Read through all of this info. You will find all your answers. 12 pages that's well worth your time!
Even the best times. When is that you say?
10-2 pm buck movements sky rocket during the rut.
I've been following the research PSU has been doing and it's by far the very best and most informative study I've seen ! Good stuff for the serious whitetail hunter !
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: Nathan Killen on October 28, 2016, 10:32:00 AM
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: Tim Finley on October 28, 2016, 10:59:00 AM
In ND we can see the actual breeding because of our open country. When we start seeing bucks laying with a doe in the middle of a wheat stubble , bean or plowed field we know the rut is peaking. The bucks will run does away from cover to keep her from other bucks .There will be breeding going on before this and after but there is a noticeable difference between that and the peak.  Our time is the 15 to the 18th of Nov. every year no difference, you may see more bucks before and be able to kill more before this time because the activity level rises but those dates are when the actual main breeding time comes about for us.  After the 18th activity drops off .
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: TIM B on October 28, 2016, 11:43:00 AM
Great info boys
Tim
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: J. Holden on October 28, 2016, 11:52:00 AM
Seems to peak when I'm not in the woods.  I give ya' call when I decide to stay home!     :coffee:
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: buckeyebowhunter on October 28, 2016, 12:01:00 PM
Really nice thread with a bunch of good information. I have my vacation day set for the 11th so I can have 3 days of hunting in a row. Here in Ohio we are fortunate that our firearm season is after Thanksgiving. I have seen really good buck activity up to Thanksgiving.
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: Burnsie on October 28, 2016, 12:31:00 PM
It is awesome to be in the woods when the switch gets flipped.  I 've sat in areas that were stone dead for several days then one morning everything goes into overdrive just that quick.  Grunting, cruising bucks all over the place.  First time I ever saw a nice buck snort-weeze at another buck happened on one of these mornings.  Supper cool, hair standing up on the back of his neck.  I like 9-15th.
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: Overspined on October 29, 2016, 08:31:00 AM
Yeah I think I'll start hunting Ohio. That's a nice season, you get to hunt pre and post breeding, best times to hunt deer!
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: southernarcher on October 29, 2016, 08:51:00 PM
I wish we had a more defined rut here in SC.
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: TRAP on October 29, 2016, 10:24:00 PM
Halloween thru Thanksgiving. November 7-9 seem pretty magical around Mid-MO
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: TRAP on October 29, 2016, 10:26:00 PM
Halloween thru Thanksgiving. November 7-9 seem pretty magical around Mid-MO

Sadly, the 9-day firearms deer season occurs right in the middle of November.
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: Jack Whitmire Jr on October 30, 2016, 06:51:00 AM
I'm a little south of you guys but we have a defined rut here in WV .

November 10-15 is when I see and kill the most deer . If I had to pick one day it would be November 14th .

I have taken 20+ bucks on November 14th in past 42 seasons .

The biggest bucks I see are November 16-22 .
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: Zbone on November 08, 2016, 12:38:00 AM
My notes through the years indicate rut PEAKS about the 7th through the 11th, and then GRADUALLY tapers off after... Begins around Halloween, peaks around Veterans Day, the 11th, and then slows after about the 13 or 14th... Fawning in May seems to confirm...

Good indication of the start is when then the first doe comes into estrus and seeing multiple bucks chasing her and good indication of ending is when the last mature doe comes into estrus and again, multiple bucks chasing her...

Once watched a huge mature 6x6 (beautiful buck) guard a doe all afternoon long from 3 subordinate
bucks and eventually breed her on November 30th... That was on a Friday or Saturday before Monday morning's gun opener that year... Gun season came late that year, but gunners seem to break up whats left of the main rut around here...

Started my vacation on October 30th and back to work on November 20th this year...
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: MCNSC on November 08, 2016, 09:05:00 AM
Here in SC there is not much of a defined rut. But last sat 11/5 I saw bucks chasing. This morning coming to work there was a doe standing in a field with a buck standing in the road. About as much rut activity I have seen around here.  I have in the past seen chasing as early as mid Sept to the end of Dec.  
Wish I didn't have to be at work.
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: foxbo on November 08, 2016, 11:18:00 AM
RedShaft, thanks for posting that link. Great info.
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: centaur on November 08, 2016, 02:35:00 PM
Not yet, at least here. The last two days, I have been covered up in does, with nary a buck to be seen, except for a couple of little button/spikes who were butting heads. It's gotta happen soon, though.
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: kennym on November 08, 2016, 09:02:00 PM
Wasn't today, dang it!
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: razorsharptokill on November 08, 2016, 09:11:00 PM
Well I'm off the next 5 days so I will be after them!
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: jamesh76 on November 08, 2016, 09:22:00 PM
Good activity last 5 days here.
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: Zbone on November 09, 2016, 02:57:00 PM
Yeah, it's happening right now in NE Ohio, like jamesh76, been going on about the last 5 days...
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: beyondmyken on November 10, 2016, 09:49:00 AM
Only seeing small bucks and none of the does look like they are in heat.  Getting into 60s during the day around here.   Supposed to be colder sat but also start of firearms season.
Title: Re: Peak rut days
Post by: beyondmyken on November 10, 2016, 11:03:00 AM
Only seeing small bucks and none of the does look like they are in heat.  Getting into 60s during the day around here.   Supposed to be colder sat but also start of firearms season.