Contributors to this thread:
Has the Rut begun or is it almost over? I ha e seen at least 6 bucks and 4 does and have not seen any chasing at all, some rubs and scrapes that's about it? Add your location and your report!
It's prime time. Break a few sticks and see what happens. I lured in a couple bucks yesterday and today doing that. The only 2 I had a chance at where smaller so I passed. There was actually more chasing by us last week , particularly Friday Nov. 2nd but don't be fooled, it's on. Good Luck!
Oconto County
Almost over...this next week will begin "post rut"...it`s actually one of the better times to kill a really mature buck. Looking for the last doe`s make them vulnerable.
Saw scrapes opened up this morning. Could be good this week in the northern 1/3
If the rut happened I guess the deer here didn't hear about it, I've seen 0 scrapes 1 rub and the doe I've seen a couple times has always had her twin fawns with her and no followers
I'm in a ground blind in a spot there wasn't a rub a week ago, a few scrapes though. I can count 10 rubs around me right now. Damn swirling wind is screwing me. Two times now I've heard racket when this wind swirls. I may be done for the day.
OH WELL . From now until gun season its luck of the draw . 1 hot Doe & all hell breaks .
I'll take the last 10 days of October over the first 10 days of November any year. But I still hunt in November if I'm not tagged out.
Yeah it has been rough for me as well, I've been hunting Waukesha and Jefferson and have found tons of scrapes and rubs and have yet to see a single deer. Mid October I saw 4 bucks in one day, one shooter but literally ha e not seen any chasing or anything. Kind of a weird rut if you ask me.
I've yet to experience the "magical time in the woods" that people reference when they talk about the rut.
I'm not saying it doesn't happen, I just ha entire seen it.
However the past few years of bowhunting I've had other thing I had to do. Hopefully by the time I'm in my 40s I can dedicate the time I want to this.
I realize you asked this on Nov 9th--but you're asking if the rut has started? I think you need to spend more time in the woods. It's far from over, and started in late Oct. Same time EVERY YEAR. Spend as much time in the woods as you can till gun season. Big boys will be looking. Not even close to post rut
Every single year that magical time always happens for me from Oct 31 until nov7th.. tons of daytime pics and my decoys take a pounding (type of pounding depending on if buck or doe decoy). However this year it's not happening. A doe decoy only got humped once and my buck decoy hasn't earned anymore punctures. I don't understand it, same observations in sheboygan, manitowoc counties as well as upper Michigan for me.
Maybe the local fell asleep want somdthing fresh?
I had a big one come in tonight at 4:30. He was scent checking the bedding area I called home this afternoon. I put an arrow in him but not happy with the shot. The hit was hard and found a bunch of hair at the impact spot but didn’t find the arrow. Backed out and going back in tomorrow morning in the daylight. Going to be a sleepless night for me.
Grunter: I would spend more time in the woods but I am Active duty military and have only lived here 9 months. I'm originally from North Idaho and our mid November is amazing that's why I was wondering. I'm in the woods on public land every single weekend I don't have any hookups or private parcels I hunt so it's hang and bang Everytime for me. Oforalot good luck hope you found him today! Today was crazy for me in Racine county saw a huge 10 and the reason I saw him is because two gentleman bumped him who later I found out was poaching when I saw them packing out a yearling on there shoulder along with two rifles, once I came back to the parking area they were being arrested!
NW--first let me say thank you for your service. I highly respect all former and current military members! Wish you would have started out with that info in your 1st message. Lots of guys here that will help you. If you were closer to where I lived, I would gladly give you some areas to check out.
Our rut can be hit or miss. Public land even tougher. It gets hit hard, but if you put in the time and go where the others won't, you will be rewarded. Nothing beats scouting for fresh sign, and time spent out in the woods. The more time you put in, the more encounters you will have. I wish you the best of luck and there is still time to get it done. After gun season it does get very tough. I will still bowhunt after gun, but the activity is much slower and colder. Sometimes that is when you will see a real big buck though. Other bucks you never knew existed will show up looking for a hot doe. Stay after it and keep grinding!
Found out why this season sucked for me... Some assclown got permission to hunt the bedding area next to my stands... He successfully booted all the decent bucks with his trail camera hanging and checking and ridiculous setup.... No wonder I saw little to no deer this year vs last
NW, North Idaho? I've hunted the Prichard area, are you farter North than that? Used to get into a lot of elk there.
I will be curious to see how many fawns my area has next year. I've been observing many lonely does.
"I've been observing many lonely does."
And here I thought it only affected humans..
Junk bucks all year.. they finally cut one row of corn in front of my gun stand so I moved camera.. finally a shooter.
A doe came through on the 11th must be hot yet fork right behind her then the big guy and 2 other bucks that we haven’t seen all season
Neighbor shot him this morning
Not sure why upside down. How far do buck travel during rut?? Cause that’s how far away he’ll be from me
Magical day in the woods didn’t happen this year but I’ve experienced it in the last few... like 12-15 bucks going bananas grunting, chasing, breaking sh*t everywhere. Usually the first week of November.
This coming week usually continues to be good as others have said, though some bucks may be resting if they have been up for a few straight days... but all it takes is one hot doe!