Northern MN, deer movement this week?

[Ruttin' Buck]

Last weekend it seemed with the moon there were many deer moving mid-day. Also, many of the does were being followed by bucks.

With the full moon fading to the late hours of the morning I've been seeing deer on the way to work moving between 5:30-6:30 AM.

I'm going back up on Thursday night.
If anyone has been out this week up north (near Grand Rapids) I wonder what time you're seeing deer movement? Also, are the bucks starting to disappear to areas unknown with the does?

[bmc]

I was out bowhunting just north of G.R. the last 2 days, I could only get out betwenn noon and 3-3:30. I was in 2 areas that typically hold alot of deer after the first few days of rifle season and I saw nothing. I think the bucks and does are in the peak of the rut, holed up w/ eachother and there's not alot of bucks chasing. That's my opinion today. We got 4" of new snow on the ground this AM and of course, I can't get out today!!!!! DANG IT!!!! Well, I'll get out tomorrow and Friday and give it a shot. This time of year, don't think when should I be in the woods, just be in the woods!

bmc

[This message has been edited by bmc (edited 11-12-2003).]

[Ruttin' Buck]

Thanks BMC. Yeah, I was planning on sitting in the stand all day on Friday, including lunch, to determine when the animals are moving.

My spot that was so consistent in the past seems to have had a traffic change this year and I although I saw a buck on opener, there are no scrapes in the area showing he frequents it like I've had in the past. I want to find his scrape line, but don't want to get out of my stand at 11 or 12:00 if they move then.

Anyway, looking at peoples results from this weekend, it is blatently obvious that the season is late this year. You wouldn't even need a calendar! The buck activity from last weekend is very reminiscent of the typical 2nd weekend of deer hunting.

I think you are very right in saying that the bucks are probably holed up with the does. My opinion is that the number of mature bucks harvested this weekend will be down. It's time to hunt those oddball spots that don't make sense normally. Swamp inlets with no escape routes, insurpassable (sp?) thick areas, etc....places that the bucks can pin the does down in.

Thanks for the info. Let me know how you do. We'll have to meet up at Bridgeside for a beer 3rd weekend if we can produce a few bucks this weekend! Good luck!!

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"Aim small...miss small"

[bmc]

Hey buck,

I saw a 6 ptr hot on a doe's tail yesterday and she didn't want nothing to do with him!! He was grunting like a pig and her tail was tucked tight to her butt. LOL A buddy of mine from St. Cloud called and said he's just starting to see scrapes down there, but he wasn't out at all during the 10 day season in that area, he's hunting public land. Needless to say, his stand is back out and he's hitting it. A cold front is gonna move through Thurs night/Fri morning, being I'm on nights, I'm going to hunt mid-day on a very secluded oak ridge on my dad's property. Hopefully I'll drive a lethal arrow home! Let me know how you do!

bmc

[Ruttin' Buck]

Thanks BMC! I'm going back for the final weekend of firearms this weekend. If I don't pull, it's back to the bow for me!

I had another buck skirt me last Friday. Came in to a call from about 90 years out. Couldn't get a clean shot. The group shot several nice ones last weekend. A doe, two 8's and a niner. All of them moving mid morning, only a one of them following a doe.

Not sure if they're trolling between does in heat now or if the does are just starting up.

I live near St. Cloud also, but I actually began finding scrapes the weekend of November 1st. Still finding fresh ones up near G.R. also.

Good luck to you!

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"Aim small...miss small"

[bmc]

Hey buck,
Go to the Hunting Forum on the Ted Nugent HSOforum and read my post and let me know what ya' think!
Around G.R. we've been seeing bucks trailing does for the last 2-3 weeks. I would say we're past the peak of the rut, but it'll be a lovely ride till the first part of december when the second estrous cycle of non bred does comes around. Now here's the dilema, do we hope for decent temps till then, or do we hope for ice? What to do? LOL
bmc

[This message has been edited by bmc (edited 11-19-2003).]

[leechlake]

I know this isn't regarding Northern Mn I just watched a buck following a doe around here in Medina, MN. It was about 4:30 and there were two does a fawn and this buck, he was following her around and around neck out, you know the routine. My four year old was with me in the truck, "daddy, why is that buck chasing her like that." It was my first time avoiding the inevitable birds and bees talk with him.

[Ruttin' Buck]

bmc...read it. I made a very similar shot on a doe years ago. It was the only deer I've never found....bow or rifle.

Yeah, I think you're exactly right. Those bucks are now trolling. That grunting chase is hillarious isn't it?! I shot a 7 pointer a few years ago that was crazy. He had broke off most of his tines in fights and came in hell bent for leather chasing a doe. I grunted as loud as I could to get them to stop...then made the shot (rifle).

My buddy had a button buck chasing a doe around him last Friday morning for 20 minutes! He described his grunts more like that of a piglet..ha! He let them both go and 40 minutes later a bruiser 8 point strolled through and he took him...it was a great story.

Go get that sixer! I found a decent scrape last weekend that was somewhat fresh, but better yet, he had strolled through probably last Friday (fresh tracks, dew claws, BIG) so he's still making his rounds.

As for the weather...I'm starting to get the ice fishing itch already and my snowmobile looks pretty lonely in the shed. I'm hoping for a little cold.

[bmc]

I was out this afternoon bowhunting and didn't see a thing. I sat on the edge of a doe bedding area, in some really thick popple and balsam trees. There is an active scrape about 50 yards away, so I doctored it w/ some doe in heat and am gonna be out there tomorrow from 10-2, working nights sucks this time of year. LOL I hunted today from 1-3:30. My dad and a friend of ours were still out on stand when I left. I will report if they have any luck. The 20-30 mph winds probably didn't help much either, I bet the deer will move right before dark, if at all. My dad saw 0 and his buddy saw a doe and fawn bedded in the thick popple on his way to the stand. Too dang windy!!!!!!!!!!

bmc

[This message has been edited by bmc (edited 11-20-2003).]