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is the rut over?

B

BWHUNTER

Member
what do you guys think, is the rut over in Iowa? i have a big one going through the timber i hunt but he does'nt live there,i only see him during the rut. Is it worth going out over thanksgiving vacation?
 
I have seen alot of roaming the last couple of days. I'd say it's always worth it to be out there. Go get him.
 
i think rut has peaked but it is far from over. i'll be doe hunting this weekend, chances are i'll have something just disgusting walk by at 15 yards broadside.
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I saw two bucks out roaming this morning on the way to work and also saw another buck tailing 2 does. I'd say there's some good hunting left.
 
I'm starting to think it is in the area I hunt. Last buck I seen chasing a doe was over 2 weeks ago. I think part of the problem is this area seems to have more bucks than does. Nice problem to have, but the deer only seem to be moving early and late. I'm not seeing much mid day. I'm hoping to thin out that buck herd this afternoon.
 
I wouldn't say that it is over, but it is slowing down some. But last year after shotgun seasons I was out and had a great 10 pointer still chasing does.
 
It has slowed down a lot around here. I did see a small buck chasing last night on the way home from work. If I was going to be around this weekend I would be out there. Good Luck.
 
The rut might be tailing off, but in my book that's a good thing. For the last week or so the big boys were occupied with does - now that there are fewer does the big boys start cruising again. My experience has been that for big bucks the week of Thanksgiving can be just as good, or better, than the early chase phase. Having said that however, I took vacation and have been in stand for the last four days and have seen 5 total deer - one forky and 4 does. But I'm not gonna quit quite yet...
 
I think it might be slowing down but the big ones are cruising more in my area. Last night saw a nice 8 point make a scrape and then some does came in to check it out and then right before dark the buck I been watching came in to about 50 yards and then no further. Going to try again this afternoon.
 
I'm just seeing it in full swing this week, bucks are chasing all over the place. My old neighbour's friend from Alberta shot a big buck last night near his place, would likely gross mid 180's as a basic 5x5 with a couple abnormals, I'll score it tonight. He said it came out running off a small buck and chased the does around. Sad part is...I had a shed from him last year, 74" 5pt, was hoping to find this years and chase him next year when he was in his prime. I know he's running b/c he was shot about 3 miles from where I've seen him in the past, across an unfrozen river. Only love will make them wander so far from the security of home! I'll try get some pics of him too.
 
Well, my buck thinning out idea went out the window as I walked up to my stand last night. The two 8 pointers I've been wanting to shoot chose my tree to bed under. I walked up and they ran off. I ended up seeing over 30 deer last night and about 10 different bucks. Could of shot about 5 different deer, but I want one of those 8's. There are a couple 10's running around, but haven't seen them lately. The small bucks are still following does, but no chasing is going on. Right as 4:00 hit, the woods came alive. I have not witnessed such a migration as I did last night. I only thought my area had 4-6 does in it. Seen around 20 of them last night.
 
This morning when i woke up there was about a 130-140 inch 8 pointer chasing a lone doe around in the field by my house. Then on the way to school i saw two monster bucks standing in a field w/ 8 does! I turned the car around for a second look, and the bucks just sat and stared at me until the does ran off. I think the rut is still kickin' here in Marion County. I cant wait for tomorrow....no school thursday or friday!
 
I'm no deer biologist but believe, (Please correct me if wrong on this) that the rut will be over when all the available does are bred. If they miss their first, or second cycle they will contunie to cycle until they're bred? I think the cycle is 26-28 days.

CH
 
I have shot several nice bucks in hot pursuit of does in heat in mid December during the second heat cycle. Often, this is when first year does will cycle for their first time.

As stated above, the rut may seem go through different phases of activity but really isn't over until all the breeding does have been breed.
 
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