November 23 !?!

[WI Shedhead]

I was watching a hunting show with the Kisky's on it and I swore they told the viewers that their all time favorite day of the year to hunt rutting bucks is November 23rd.
Being from WI I have never experienced any natural deer movement a this time of year because this is always during our intensive gun deer season.
I am going to draw a tag in area 9 this year and have vacation scheduled from the 3rd to the 12th of November. I can also get off from Thanksgiving, November 24th, to December 2nd. Is this time of year really that good?

The weeks vacation I want to reschedule is the 3rd week of September and if I move it I would give up an out west hunt that I plan on going on. It appears I will only draw Iowa tags every 3 years now and want to make the most of this trip.

Any comments on this?

WI Shedhead

 

[Ghost]

Stick with your vacation of the 3rd through the 12th!

 

[bowman]

In my experiences, this time is a little slower but I see some real giants. There has been discussion on this topic before and the general beleif was that the big goys are tied up with numerous does early on. As less does are left unbread the big dogs start cruising looking for the few that are left. I don't know if I would alter your dates for your vacation but I wouldn't discurage a return trip if your first one isn't successful. I usually pick the first two weeks but you just never know.

You might check out bowhunter mag. Jan/ Feb 2005 issue. Page 47 has an article called "Late is Great." It might answer your question.

Bowman

Post edited per bowmans request to reflect the correct magazine.

 

[Bakes]

I have tried both of those weeks several times and I would stick with your original dates. However like Bowman says a return trip wouldn't be a bad idea if you could swing it.

 

[NWBuck]

Although I think your original dates are solid, I'll throw my hat in the ring for in and around Thanksgiving being an awesome time...perhaps my favorite in recent years. If you don't fill your tag early and can make it back over Thanksgiving break, I don't think you'd be disappointed.

I've shot just 3 legit wallhangers, and all have been killed on or near Thanksgiving weekend...although I'd certainly confess to having screwed up a number of great opportunities earlier in November

NWBuck

 

[OneCam]

Here's a very imformative link - mature buck harvest dates

Good luck this year

 

[baggin_bucks]

I would stick with the dates you have. IMO the area I hunt that is the best time, later november is a little slower but not much. Good Luck

 

[horst]

interesting link one cam, lots of bucks taken in Nov.Didnt see many come from the late season though.

 

[jkratz5]

Well, in IL I our gun season usually falls during that time, we do not drive our land during the gun season we stand hunt and I can say a lot of big boys have dropped during those dates. However, it always seems somwhere between Nov. 8-12 all hell breaks loose in the rut and the big boys start showing up in numbers. This year I killed a nice 8-pointer on the 11th and saw 6 bucks over 125 inches that morning from 6:00-9:00, so I think your vacation time is scheduled just fine. If you don't have any success that week, it would be worth it to come back for a long weekend later in Nov. too.

 

[WI Shedhead]

None of my buisness- but 8 responses in 2 hours to this thread in the middle of the day- Doesn't anyone work anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


The latest I've hunted in Iowa was November 17th and on that day I saw 6 bucks chasing a doe that was heat and the big boy was a 160 class 8pt that I've seen years earlier and I figured at least 7 years old. He had to be 325# on the hoof. Long story short, I shot over the back of the 3rd biggest (140" 8pt) and had to head home that afternoon.

Unfortunately I can't attach that week to the back of my first week because someone at work took that week for vacation ahead of me. (It sucks working with deer hunters).
My plan will probably be to move that wek in September if I don't draw an Arizona Elk tag. Either way I do it I figure I can't lose!!!!!!!

 

[baggin_bucks]

Good luck either week your here WI, I have to get back to WORK now.