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The Rut

OneCam

OneCam

Well-Known Member
Rut, Rutting, predicting the rut, that buck was rutting, Rut Moon, Rutting at night, early rut, late rut, second rut, third rut, ruttin buck, ruttin grunt . . .

We all hear the term "rut" used quite a bit when refering to buck activity - I'm curious to hear everyone's definition of the "Rut" as it pertains to hunting/observations.
 
Well, it’s before the post rut and after the pre rut.
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To me it means the active breeding phase when bucks are traveling everywhere searching for love. You can see a great buck, but you may never see him again because he was just passing through. In my observation of the rut, my big buck sightings actually decrease in the middle of Nov. due to what I figure is the bucks are holed up with a hot doe, or traveling far far away. I’d rather hunt the pre rut (last week of Oct – first week of Nov, give or take a few days) if I had to choose, because the bucks seem to be a bit more territorial then and patrol their area checking scrapes and the local does, but if you’re set up in a great travel corridor during the rut, maybe you could catch a tall (racked) handsome stranger passing through.
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Well, according to that guy, my 'pre rut' definition is called the 'Pre-Primary Breeding/Scraping Phase' out of his nine different rut phases.
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my definition of the rut is when all hell breaks loose in the deer woods, this usually leads to muddy becoming a ghost both at home and on the website.
 
To me the rut is that time of year when I can’t sleep and tend to wake up well before dawn, I can’t concentrate at work and if someone bother’s me I may actually snort-wheeze at them – unless they are complementing my natural earth scent. It’s that time of year that I don’t hear a word my wife says unless of course she bleats. It’s that several weeks where better than half my wardrobe is hanging out on the deck to stay scent free. The rut is that time of year that I wait for all the rest of the year. Other than that it’s the time of year that the deer population is demonstrating (often careless) behaviors related to breeding.
 
Hey Fletch,

Appears we're suffering from similar symptoms! About the only difference I see is I usually "grunt" a few times when anyone bothers me this time of year.

If I ever got to the point to where I to start "snort-wheezin'" they better hightail it.....'cause all hell's about to bust loose!!
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(Especially when they try to get me in that strait-jacket!!)
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>>--Ron--<>
 
Now if I can be serious (I know I can do it) the actual RUT generally means a big drop-off in buck sightings for me.

I much prefer the chase phase before the does are ready (Pre-Rut)and the last flurry of activity as the last few remaining does that haven't been bred yet come back into estrus again(Post-Rut).

Once those bucks have the majority of the does in heat around them, they have little reason to travel very far.. aspecially if the ratio is way out of balance. Combine that with the 24-36hrs or so they will hole-up with the doe they are mating with at the time and the Rut can be a very tough time to hunt.

Give me bucks on their feet during daylight hours over ones tucked back in thick cover anytime!

>>--Ron--<>
 
Well, I was just married in August... and ever since then I have been referring to our honeymoon as "The Rut"... unfortunately, she doesn't seem to understand the humor in that!
 
To me the rut is that special time of year that only a bowhunter understands. It's the time of year that not only puts bucks in vulnerable situations but also distracts hunters on a daily basis. Our thoughts are more focused on which stand is going to be right, will my grunt tube work tonight, will the sound of horns crashing together raise the interest of those amazing animals who are under the influence, are the arrows straight, the broadheads razor sharp, and my aim true. It's the time of year that makes your loved ones shake their heads and feel left out of something that does not make sense to them. It is a short period of time that the Creator has chosen that drives man's most sought after game animal to a unimaginable frenzy. At this time of year they fear nothing and and will give their life for something that comes natural to all living creatures. It is an unbelievable time of year for me that creates many memories and leaves me filled with anticipation of the year(s) to come. As I climb down my stand at the end of the day and make the last walk of the year back to the truck I thank the Lord for the opportunities presented and ask for the chance to do it again the following fall. It's not about an act its about survival of a species.
 
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