[tator]

How soon is too soon to start using estrous scents? I've always been told in the midwest, around November 5 is when the pre-rut is in full swing. some of the best hunting happens during these days up to the 13-15th of nov. Once 13-15th show up, the rut is on. My question is, do does start releasing their estrous scent during the rut only, or during the pre-rut?

Thoughts???:boxing:

 

[Hunting Man]

does are different as some will come into estrus before/after the so called peak. In PA I take a quick look around at the scrapes to determine the bucks activity. Hot scrapes then estrus scents are used from the time we start hunting till we leave around the 13th. Weather can play havoc to the rut causing a on/off period or a roller coaster effect. We've went from almost no pre-rut with warm temps to full rut with a cold front in as little as 2 days! Remember the post rut around 30 days following the normal rut when un-bred does come back into estrus.

 

[spiker]

well for me in the northeast i usually started right around halloween weekend that was usually a good barometer for the most part,again like hm said depending on temps.

 

[timberghost]

I agree with HM and spiker.

 

[BruceBruce1959]

I agree with Hm & Spiker but if you see some chasing going on (buck with nose to the ground seeking Doe's) then by all means lay out the scent and let the action begin...

Good Luck

 

[okla_bowhunter]

Pre-Rut Tactics For October Whitetails

i actually had this site open on another tab, hope it helps, oh tator, no losing to mizzou didnt hurt to bad after beatin em 19 out of last 20 ! stinks to not be NO.1 bcs though

 

[tator]

Very true! MU will have to prove themselves this weekend at Neb. That'll be a tough one... we tend to play very well one week and then fall apart the next.... that's been MU's curse for as long as I can remember!

 

[Predator]

Northern Illinois,
Fri H 53 L 31
Sat H 59 L 38
Sun H 53 L38
I set out the drippers last Sunday on the mock scrapes. they should be moving and this weekend. I am going to put on the red light in hopes of drawing the bucks in to what will seem like a few early estrus does.

 

[tator]

bow, chicka, wow, wow...

sorry , predator said RED LIGHT..... :0)

 

[deerless]

Not ready for scents here been a little warm with only a few rubs and scrapes found.

 

[WhoDat]

So with Rifle season not starting until Dec 1 and ending Dec 12 in Kansas is this completely out of the rut. Does this season seem late and short to anyone else.

 

[Hunting Man]

PA and Ohio gun season start the first Monday after Thanksgiving. The main rut is just about over by then. The smaller secondary rut would come in around Dec 10th-15th for here.

 

[guppy11]

So with Rifle season not starting until Dec 1 and ending Dec 12 in Kansas is this completely out of the rut. Does this season seem late and short to anyone else.

Whodat,
The weather has a lot to do with it. Last year we had a normal rut as it was normal temps. The year before bucks were still rutting at least thru the first weekend of rifle season. I would expect that since it has been so hot the rut will be late. here in extreme SW Kansas there is no sign of the rut starting as bucks are not running with the does yet.

 

[tator]

In MISSOURI our rifle season starts typically on the 13, 14, or 15 of November. This year it's the 13th- 23rd. We start at the beginning of the rut. MAKES HUNTING NICE!!! In KS, that season isn't short, very typical i think. Ours always last for 10 days (rifle that is).
It is a little late though.... BUT, towards the end of your season WHODAT, you'll be nearing the 2nd rut of the season...

Here in MO we also have a doe rifle season. It starts the next day after "any deer rifle season". and it lasts for around 10 days as well. Once the main Rifle season is over with (on the 23rd) bow season opens back up as well... but you can't be hunting w/both a bow and gun at the same time.

 

[tator]

BY THE WAY-- i used a little estrous scent this weekend (friday night and sat morning) and all I attracted was some does, after dark on fri and 2 coyotes sat morning! Guess the bucks aren't ready for it yet....

 

[goose19726]

since I travel through deer country quite a bit in the course of my job, I get to see alot of deer,probably more than most people. I wait to use the sex scents until I see bucks acting like bucks, being stupid, not paying attention to their surroundings, following doe's ect. I hunt public lands alot so I don't get to set out attractants and food plots and trail cams, I usually scout the area, unless its someplace I have been before (then I know where the deer move through and usually when) looking for tracks and other sign (scrapes ect)

here in oklahoma, if the weather stays warm, like it has this year, the rut is delayed a little bit, hopefully till the beginning of rifle season

 

[BruceBruce1959]

since I travel through deer country quite a bit in the course of my job, I get to see alot of deer,probably more than most people. I wait to use the sex scents until I see bucks acting like bucks, being stupid, not paying attention to their surroundings, following doe's etc. I hunt public lands alot so I don't get to set out attractants and food plots and trail cams, I usually scout the area, unless its someplace I have been before (then I know where the deer move through and usually when) looking for tracks and other sign (scrapes ect)

here in oklahoma, if the weather stays warm, like it has this year, the rut is delayed a little bit, hopefully till the beginning of rifle season

I agree, Excellent post!!!

 

[spiker]

I hope no one thinks this is stupid but the best deer scout is the ups man. .when im at my place when i can catch em i pick his brain,they drive all the back rds and can tell you when the bucks are cruising.

 

[goose19726]

i don't think it is stupid at all, I am an oilfield truck driver, I spend most of my time out on the back roads, in farmers pasture's and back around the places that deer like. thats how I gauge when the deer are moving, what they are doing ect. just yesterday I was on a job over by binger oklahoma (home of johnny bench) and saw two real nice bucks about 7-800 yards off the location I was working on, just grazing side by side. it gets kind of frustrating sometimes because I see more deer working than hunting, of course I spend more time working than hunting so I guess the ratio is about right...lol

 

[su106]

i'm going to start useing this week i had a BIG 8 pointer chasing does tonight in front of me about 60 yards was as close as they would get man that makes the heart pound