This is the one factor that determines the Rut. A few variations influence it in conjunction. The moon is not likely one of them. But it is in conjunction with spring/summer food availability. 85% of all Does will be bred during a small window of time in November. For some locations on our latitude ( that have a sharp and early onset of winter), the schedule is roughly a week -10 days earlier than here on the east coast. Mid-country constantly receives early winter from a northern dip in the Polar jet-stream and we continue on in mild weather by virtue of the Subtropical Jet.
In effect, the Spring green-up is the optimum time for Fawn survival and thus has a great and critical effect on the breeding timeline which is approx 201 days of gestation prior to that time. Roughly the beginning of June. Breeding is Mid Nov and birthing is early June to later in Nov to mid-June.
The magazines will focus on a typical timeline of central states and those affected by arctic /polar jet -weather onset and spring green-up schedule. Hence, the earlier breeding timeline. ( optimum survivability ) This determines the timeline and it is consistent. Survival assures it, demands it and depends on it.
If you look at the optimum foliage movement you will see the bubble as it spreads From the inner North and North /central part of our land, it expands towards the South and south/east. So here we are on the south-east coast. And the secondary dividing line or break line (caused by the subtropical jet ) of weather conditions is roughly through Attleboro /Taunton and headed on a diagonal to the N/ E.
Overall, we in Ma. are constantly warmer than the mid states even though we are on the same latitude and even above many of them, that warmth is consistently magnified as one moves South and eastward. That makes their rut timeline a week to 10 days earlier.
Read the magazines and add 7 days to the west of 495 and a few more still to the east of it.
...Or rush out there like so many do because some magazine said so. Or when you start hearing about big buck being shot in Indiana, Ohio or Illinois but failed to account for our specific local-seasonal- weather differences.
I'll be waiting for the last week in Oct- late Nov for Buck /Doe action. And not stinking up my best spots for an extra week while watching does eat. ( I'll pop into the spots when great conditions allow, to check a camera, look at the signs and have a short sit but no major pressure till later in the month)
The end.
I had good action, today. No deer were harmed though. Got in, and about 10' after legal light I hear something coming, I thought it was 50-60yds by the sound of it, so grabbed the bow, when pop, out from the big fat, 3 trunked oak 15yds away pops a 3pt. He's walking straight at my tree. Finally, at 5yds, maybe, he realizes the blob 15 feet up normally is not there and does a 180, starts slowly walking away, at 15yds his heads down and I risk drawing, he gets nervous, hops a couple times and stops to look back. paced it off on the way out - 30yds. I aimed, I held the pin on his lungs... And I couldnt squeeze it off. It was a smallish hole to shoot through about 12-15" wide which made aiming a little weird, and he was nervous enough at that point, I didnt like the "what could happen when I shoot" math. So he walked off towards bed. Fun.
This spot had amazing AM/PM every single day action on cam a month ago, so I was not to sad, and figured another buck or doe could be along any minute.
Well, an hour later I hear one on the hill side above, get ready and a doe starts feeding across the slope above me. Goes behind a big pine at 20yds, I draw, she feeds out and is standing behind a little baby beech for about 30". the wind had gotten a little swirly, and all I can think is that she caught a sniff of me and didnt like it, she took one step out from that little beech and before I could really think, she snorts, and bounds 40yds. stops, and proceeds to stiff leg walk off snorting. Ugh. No kidding, a solid 5' of snorting. I waited about 30' longer, with very low hopes, then headed home. Wont be back there for a week or two to let it calm down, it's a great spot, and regrettably, I may have messed it up a bit today...
From Will Best times to be in the woods : "First two weeks of November... Every. Single. Year. Followed closely by the second two weeks of November... Every. Single. Year. With third going to the last week in October... Every. Single. Year. "
The seek and then chase overlap into peak breeding in mid-November. But I have noticed that the last week of October and first few days in November Mature Bucks are making their rounds. Then it goes quiet for a week before it "pops." For me, The first week of November-Nov 10 ish, is a "rest week" before the big production.
October obviously comes first and during that last week bucks tend to walk their range and if you find where they like to bed then catching them returning to bed in the morning is easy picking. Well not easy but the best first shot at Bucks before they start getting goofy in the weeks that follow.
Be patient and take notes. Get your doe tag filled and take a rest. Get your chores done!
Arrownoob - best advice I was ever given for learning how to hunt the North East. 1. Stop watching deer hunting shows. 2. Stop reading deer magazines. 3. Swamp Yankees know a thing or two. While I do celebrate the rutting moon in my own fashion... I don't put any stock in advice linked to anything commercial. I'm sure early man had this rut thing figured out within a couple of generations, but ole Grog at the edge of the village needed a new way to promote year long sales of his hunting tools.
"I'll be waiting for the last week in Oct- late Nov for Buck /Doe action. And not stinking up my best spots for an extra week while watching does eat. "
In the meantime, I’ll be out again tomorrow morning hunting for my future 30lbs of doe sausage.
Happy hunting.
That said, Ill do everything in my power to be in the forest +- a few days of Nov 6. That's been my "sweet" spot over the years.
Interesting observation though about the larger bucks out checking things out that last week in october. I need to consider hunting my "November" spots next week if I get a chance just to see what shakes loose.
I think when we are hunting hard in the first few weeks of Oct, we are alerting the deer to much more intrusion than the long summer freedom they have had. That, in turn, stinks it up and also, moves the does around. This may alert the bucks when they come looking. Does go deeper and then the Bucks may also or they are less active in daylight when there is more pressure...Or unseasonably warm. So last year I didn't want to shoot an early deer in a good spot. ( I only have one good spot this year and last) Either way, if we are hunting just before the Bucks start making rounds then there is No rest time for the woods. If we shoot a doe it has to stink it up.
I remember seeing a Batchelor group in June about 10+ years ago ( 4 monsters, 1 Piebald, and one more medium buck) walking along the wood line and that is where I have also seen a few huge bucks hanging out waiting in the rut period. ( I think they (2 )at least have been killed locally but they are using the same pathway ) They walked through in June and then not again till the season when at least one good one shows up to shred some trees in late Oct. ( last year I passed on one of the two who were making the mess and so far no activity there yet ) I believe they retreat to another part of the woods that is impenetrable until the last moment. They come to mark the space at the end of Oct and then retreat again and then come back out when the girls are ready.
That's what I have observed and confirmed with cameras in a few good spots. In my current area, The scrapes start in a far-off spot close to their bedding and I am staying out of that area until the end of Oct. Even then, I am laying back on the downwind edge behind the action. I will check my camera on a seasonal scrape if rain is in the forecast and my equipment. (climber and cart) is stashed in the woods close enough to make the journey less burdensome and to acclimate to the local smell. Better than having to lug it all the way in the dark...
I see the scrapes open up and then it goes blank until the action starts. No daytime action until then. But this is not the same woods as Western Ma and there is more likely human activity to figure in.
Right now I am just bumping around in some B spots hoping to get lucky ... While Keeping one eye on my A spot for any sign of the "game on" moment. Dang its hard to hold out but that's Best I think. And then in those perfect spots, it's a one-shot deal, maybe two ...
Steveeg , Well done. Chinese takeout!
Thanks Will. It is an Elburg Jaguar Reflex Deflex longbow 53# @ 28". It is my best friend and traditional archery mentor's. I can shoot an additional 10 yds accurately with this compared to my flat bow. He harvested his first traditional deer with it almost 30 years ago and wanted me to do the same. So when I am setting up somewhere I know a 30 yd shot is needed, the Jaguar makes the climb with me. Problem is now I want one in the biggest way and they are really hard to find.
