Peak Rut Western PA
Contributors to this thread:Pennsylvania
From: Hellrazor
10-May-16
anyone have an idea when the peak rut will be in western PA this year? looking to schedule me some vacation time. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
From: Spider1
10-May-16
Take time off in late October, early November.
From: Jeff Durnell
10-May-16
November 7th, 2:23 p.m.
From: Red Beastmaster
10-May-16
It's always the day after bow season is over.
From: Phil Magistro
10-May-16
Science show us that most breeding takes place in mid-November. Personally I like hunting the last couple of days of October and first few days of November best. That is when the bucks start really getting fired up and are constantly on the prowl for hot does.
http://www.pgc.pa.gov/Wildlife/WildlifeSpecies/White-tailedDeer/Pages/Whenistherut.aspx
From: horsethief51
10-May-16
Early thanksgiving week. But, take off the first week in November. If you do not get a deer you can call off sick the following week.
From: Spider1
11-May-16
hey Jeff, was that last year or is it gonna be this years? I wanna be preeeepared! :)
From: Treerat
12-May-16
If I had to choose just one week this year for a rut vacation in would be the week of Nov 7th. most of the mature bucks I've taken during the rut have been between Nov 2-10 here in NW PA and NE Ohio.
Jeff thinks he's funny but he may be right on
Mike
From: Vonfoust
12-May-16
After spending many hours researching this, and getting confused in the process of trying to narrow down the best day every year, a friend and I just decided to be in the woods Nov 11 every year.
From: RC
12-May-16
I know that in Somerset County, the rut kicks in whenever Sheetz's has a sale on ice cream... That brings in all the MATURE does:) Right Red?
From: hawkeye in PA
12-May-16
I haven't seen a peak rut the last few years. I've seen some bucks and seen does but just no grunt chasing like I'm use to. But I might have missed that 02:23pm time.
From: Bourbonator
12-May-16
Best week is the last week.
From: HerdManager
13-May-16
If you are hunting in 2B, where you can shoot bucks till gun season, take the week of the 7th and the week of the 14th. Those are the two weeks I am taking off.
From: Jeff Durnell
14-May-16
I think the rut's peak, and the best time to plan a vacation to hunt whitetail bucks, aren't necessarily the same thing. And further, the best time to hunt truly mature bucks may be something different yet again. The most successful headhunters I know though are in the woods for all of it.
From: horsethief51
14-May-16
You are correct Jeff. I hunt every morning and every afternoon for the entire season. In the past I have also hunted West VA and Ohio, especially on Sundays, and after our season is over. Of course I do not go out in the rain or wet snow. If I tag a buck early, I just go out and sit in the woods and look at the deer. You guys need to get a job like I have, or at least the hours I have. (:^).
From: HerdManager
14-May-16
During the peak you really need to be in a tree mid-day. Killed many bucks between 10-2.
From: Treerat
14-May-16
I've been hunting a particular big mature buck in Ohio the past two seasons, never once laid eyes on him in October or November! I had him 40 yards in the wide open two years in a row the first day of archery but I won't shoot 40 with my bow at a deer. I had him at 18 yards on Jan 28th 2015 but one of the 3 bucks he was with busted me drawing my bow and he was gone and I had him feeding his way towards me with 5 other bucks late Jan 2016 until the landowners dogs started barking at the deer and sent them back in the woods so I'd have to say that the best time to kill a mature buck may be either early season un pressured deer on a feed pattern or late un pressured deer in the bitter cold on a food source.
Mike
From: horsethief51
16-May-16
I agree with herd about 10 to 2 but I honestly think that is the 3rd week of November.
Can't believe nobody is bust my shoes. LOL.
From: Ben Farmer
16-May-16
I like November 4th to about the 12th the best. With that said, my 4 biggest Pa bucks were killed Oct 3rd, Oct 9th, Oct 16th, and Oct 29th.
From: Kodiaktd
18-May-16
Forget the rut. Where did Hellrazor go ?