Rut Activity?

[JIvers]

It's almost that time of year, especially in the southern part of Minnesota and Wisconsin--is anybody seeing a lot of rutting activity yet?

Probably not much activity in the open right now with the high winds, but I'm betting cooler temps at night after the wind dies down will bring more daytime activity this weekend.

I'm hoping the rut is getting under way, as I'll be making my first archery stand in eleven years this weekend in Fillmore County.

[harvey lee]

I have seen some scrapes and such as of late and it is increasing. I hunt in North Dakota and typically the full rut does not happen until about the 7-9th of Nov.

That's not to say you cannot see a few bucks chasing does now.

The biggest sign for me is when I see the does without thier fawns, then I know its time. That I have not seen yet.

[MUSKY18]

Harvey:

So are you saying that typically, right before the does come into esterus, they will kick thier fawns away and put them out on their own? Guess when I have seen does during the season, always seem to have their fawns with them and this has been during rifle season here in MN.

[fishermatt]

Musky, I think that the does will shoo their fawns away while they are in heat, but after they are bred I think they let the fawns come back around them. Maybe the Does/fawns you're seeing have already been bred? Or not in heat yet?

[96trigger]

I agree with Harvey, normally the does shoo the fawns away when they are in heat. I have never seen a buck chasing a doe with fawns. Hard to say how far away they are though. I know the rut is getting closer when I start seeing less of the fawns, and more of the does by themselves.

[Bear55]

Yep the does will kick them away or the bucks will scare them off. When I see a buck chasing or following he will have anywhere from 1 to 5 mature does in front of him. I think some times the does will group together and seek out a mature buck to "party" with.

Most of the time when I see fawns alone I don't get too excited because the doe is probably off somewhere else with a buck. However one time I had 3 fawns milling around my stand, then heard a bunch of doe bleats back in the woods. Hour later a nice 10 pointer stepped out at 100 yards. Lucky for me I had the rifle in my hands instead of the bow.

[MrCrappie]

Anyone happen to know what experts say the MN's rut dates are? I plan on taking PTO on those dates so I can hunt.

I've seen an increase in rubs this week but I still haven't seen many deer. What's going on? On a good note, I've seen an increase in dead deer on the road which is a great sign they're moving.

[Meat-Run]

The RUT IS ON!!! I just posted about a buck that was chasing does big time tonight in the archery forum...BBD!

mr

[mascad]

The rut is on!! Saw a HUGE 8 pointer on the way home from a pheasant hunt this morning. 10:30 AM. It was chasing a doe 20 yards off a tar road near Glencoe, MN. There was a small six pointer chasing the doe that the big buck would chase off every couple minutes. Definitely cool to watch, but if he acts that way next weekend a road hunter will take him I'm afraid. By far the nicest buck I have ever seen, alive anyway...

[hunter322]

i wouldnt say the rut is on but its close, real close! went out and checked the trail cam today and theres ALOT more activity. ive got shots of does fawns bucks, both big and small. but only a couple during daylight. and on the way home i saw what i thought was a doe out in the middle of a picked corn field during the middle of the day. 1 more week, i cant wait!!!!

[runnindummie]

Another vote for on!! Doe chased by small 8, doe chased by big 8, 4 doe running like a bat out of heck followed close by 6 point and 2 point with only one side of rack. The 2 8's were grunting entire time they were in view

[harvey lee]

I agree that some bucks are starting but I will also say the full rut is yet to come. I saw many bucks moving in the woods last week but I did not see one doe being chased and all the does had fawns with them. This week things should be starting to crank up and next week should be all out rut or darn close.

I have read that some say the rut starts with the change in lenght of light of day and some say a severe drop in temps. I have no idea who is correct but I have always found in North Dakota that starting about the 7th and maybe a few days later the deer are really moving. That is what many say about the rut or the full rut. Then, comes the 2nd rut.

I did a little research on average breeding dates and it said the date that most doe are breed id Nov. 12th. It also stated the the first does are breed about October 10th. I am not saying that the full rut could not start 2 weeks early but not very likely. Light triggers the rut and not cold weather.

Could some be running now, YES.

We have to remember there is the chase phase, the pre rut and the full rut. I guess its just a matter iof what phase we are in right now.

[harvey lee]

Harvey:

So are you saying that typically, right before the does come into esterus, they will kick thier fawns away and put them out on their own? Guess when I have seen does during the season, always seem to have their fawns with them and this has been during rifle season here in MN.

It's only from what I have seen in 35 years of deer hunting with both a bow and gun but, I have never shot a buck while chasing a doe when the doe had a fawn with, never.

Right b-4 the rut and during, I have also never seen a doe with her fawn.

never.

[gr8icefishinmind]

What most of you have described still sounds to me like the PRE-RUT stage!! Give it a good week and it will be full blown rut time! BUT, if i was able to take this coming week off of work I sure as heck would be sitting in my stand from dawn til dusk each day!!

[harvey lee]

What most of you have described still sounds to me like the PRE-RUT stage!! Give it a good week and it will be full blown rut time! BUT, if i was able to take this coming week off of work I sure as heck would be sitting in my stand from dawn til dusk each day!!

Agreed.

[Kyle]

I drive alot in Northern MN for work. I've been seeing alot of deer moving right at dark and just after dark across roads this week. Alot more deer than ever before, so I think it probably has something to do with the weather getting nice again, now, and the fact that the bucks are starting to push does around at night.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I put my trail cameras out 9/25. From then until 11/12, there was only does and fawns. From 11/12-today (18 days), there has been bucks on 8 of those days, and 4 of the last 6 days (all buttons to small 6's). The big boys showed up on October 12th & 16th, and haven't been seen since.

[Pinusbanksiana]

I have not seen a fresh scrape in several days, so I think they are breeding now and not scraping any longer.

[Tannor396]

Lots of chasing on the camera this week. If you can zoom or look close at the second pic you will find the buck in hot pursuit!!

[frogtosser]

I saw 2 different groups of 3 does and 1 buck with them tonight, not chasing just hanging around. I am sitting all day the next 3 days so I hope they are going to start moving all day.

[Quackaddict9]

I have not seen a fresh scrape in several days, so I think they are breeding now and not scraping any longer.

still finding fresh scrapes up here.

[Double D]

Remember folks, it doesn't start the exact same day everywhere with 100% of all the deer!

DD

[james_walleye]

I shot this guy at 3:00 yesterday. He was cruising to beat the bandit. Stopped to lick a few branches on the way. Its really heating up. By gun season the bucks will be locked down. Yesterday morning i had 4 does come to the water hole, none with fawns. Also had a lone fawn come in. If you are a bowhunter, now is certainly the time to sit it out.

[HooknHorns]

A buddy of mine kicked up a 150 incher bedded with a doe 20 yards from his truck on the way back from stand.

[mrklean]

nice buck there