Where is the rut in your area?

[DRH1175]

I know this is a little early but soon we will start seeing some activity lets post it as we see it. I was in Chisholm last weekend and really didn't see a thing as far as deer sign

[CodyDawg]

The rut always happens in the woods and fields in my area, that's where! Never in the shopping malls or my basement.

Sorry, I couldnt resist . Pheasant hunting over the weekend, I saw a TON of deer beds. A bunch in a swamp with willows all over and not a scrape or rub was seen. I have noticed less of these over the years however and I dont know why. Deer and buck numbers have stayed pretty consistent from year to year on this property.

[lungdeflator]

week and a half ago I found 7 scrapes and a couple rubs on a big oak ridge just west of Bemidji. but those were the only ones around out area. probably just some happy 1.5 yr old in eatin acorns. out in ND you can tell it is starting to heat up. younger bucks are sparring and bigger bucks are by themselves. rubs are popping up. watched 4 different bucks over the course of 2 days lick and rub the same branch

[96trigger]

I haven't seen much for rubs and scrapes yet in my area, I know they are there, but I haven't looked to hard yet. When they start showiing up every 20 feet around the field edge, I'll know the rut is about to go full swing.

Tonight I had a small 5 pointer chasing does and doing a lot of grunting. I grunted him in twice. I know that he is small potatoes where I hunt, so the big guys must be doing there thing right now and won't be seen until the rut goes full tilt. Happens every year. Still going to go out, but I'm not going to get real excited for another week yet. I had a large number of deer in front of me tonight and I only saw the little guy.

[walterman]

This past week Ive been bow hunting out in south Dakota and saw a nice 4x4 create a nice set of scrapes last night. Unfortunately he came downwind of me and caught a bit of scent and cautiously walked out of bow range. This is the first sign Ive seen out here. I hunted our farm in southern mn and didnt see any rut related sign. I would say within a week or two things will really start picking up. I will keep everyone posted on how things are going around my hunting spots.

[bottom-bouncer]

last weekend when I was out I seen one very large rub it was on about a 12" tree and that is the only sign I have seen. Had a couple small bucks in front of me the other nite 6 and fork there wasnt much going on so I decided to play with the 6 used my doe can on him as he started leaving the area he came rite back to me and started to circle it was then that I realized how dumb it was of me to call him back in. around the tree he went got down wind and started his blowing at me for the couple of minutes when he finally left I got down game over.. Oh well

[jandres]

been seeing small bucks with does.The larger bucks i've been seeing have been in groups of 2-4 making some scrapes on trees and doing some lite fighting. Not too many ground scrapes yet so i made a few to get em going. Been seeing the majority of the older bucks this week being active between 9am till noon.

[BLACKJACK]

As I've been pheasant hunting I've been watching for deer sign and haven't seen much rut activity, just a few small willows that have been rubbed on, no ground scrapes yet.

[BLACKJACK]

been seeing small bucks with does.The larger bucks i've been seeing have been in groups of 2-4 making some scrapes on trees and doing some lite fighting. Not too many ground scrapes yet so i made a few to get em going. Been seeing the majority of the older bucks this week being active between 9am till noon.

jandres, have you had much luck starting and making your own scrapes? How do you go about doing it? Was thinking of trying to make one tonight? Do you use rubber gloves and boots when you do it?

[jandres]

blackjack, I've had success in the past getting them going on a ground scrape. I usually pick an area close to a large rub usually where a couple trails meet. I use a rake and do a very large area usually 4 by 4. I always use rubber boots year long and walk down the creek with them and try to step in every pile of deer [PoorWordUsage] that i see along the way. I wear rubber gloves when hanging the scent dripper and placing my trail camera ocovering the scrape. I have made ground scrapes 4 years ago that the bucks will make on there own every year since. I usually do the large are because its easier to see the hoof prints and tine marks to judge the buck if i run out of cameras to place there. i pounded in cedar posts earlier in the year only got some small rubs on them so far.

[Bear55]

I put on a few miles this weekend scouting some new territory, not much rut sign yet but things should slowly start ramping up here and I expect to see rubs and scrpaes showing up soon.

[MUSKY18]

we spent 6 hours walking the woods and found one small scrape! Slow for sure

[tracker x-2]

spent most of sunday out there and seen only a couple small rubs nothing to impressive.

[Chef]

My Bedroom

[bigbucks]

I've found quite a few scrapes already this year, but I've been on a lot of property. My best area has three within about 60 yards & a couple of rubs. Another area had three in about 40 yards along a field edge.

Saw a 6 pointer with about a third of one side of his rack busted off Friday night. He was with two other smaller bucks, all three were yearlings I think. This one chased after a doe & a couple of fawns that were behind me. He was grunting when he went by.

[Archerysniper]

Well the camera is starting to show the bucks moveing alot more were i was getting just pictures of does i'm haveing anywere from 1 to 5 diffrent buck coming through everyday or two on that property they have thier scrape lines in and working them daily all the pics are between 3:30 6:30 AM but it won't be long till they start moving more during day light.

[Bear55]

Thanks for reminding my Archerysniper, I am seeing the same thing. A few new bucks showing up on the cams, no doubt they are out making their rounds scouting for does.

[harvey lee]

Just watch for the location of the does and in a few long weeks, one will be watching the bucks run down the does.

I'm not looking for any great action until the middle of Novemeber. I was in North Dakote this past weekend and didnt see one scrape. I'm sure there are some but I don't hunt scrapes so I really don't watch for them.

I did see 1 nicer buck towards evening but that was it.

I'm sure the smaller bucks are running around a bit but I do believe we won't see the big boys for at least 2 weeks.

I changed my 5 day hunt to the middle of November and that is nornmally the opener on the 8th but the bucks seem to be always running harder a week later. So I will go for the 5 day hunt the second week of the season for the better rut action. I figure I might as well wait until the trophies are running about.

[Kyle]

In response to your statement about not hunting scrapes, what do you hunt/look for? Just curious, Im always trying to get more info on getting on bucks.

[96trigger]

Kyle, he said it, look for the does. My experience is that the bucks hit the scrapes and rublines at night. If you want to see one during the day, you need to find the travle corridors and feeding places of the does. the bucks will start showing up very soon. Put the 1st week in November on your calendar. The last three years in a row, I have gotten up close and personal with 3 great bucks during that week.

[walterman]

Pulled the card out of one of my trail cameras. Got this guy and a couple smaller guys hitting a line of scrapes. The best part is there is some good daytime movement! Sure wish that I would have went hunting Saturday afternoon.

[pinkfloyd4ever]

Mr. Klean and I were talking about that last week while his fingers were numb and my feet were numb chasing muskies if this cold weather would get them going a little sooner than normal