Peak rut days

[TIM B]

Was talking with some Yankee friends of mine and they thought their peak rut days were simillar - just a few days before mine?  
Here in southern MO I've seen the most activity from about Nov 7-12.
How about you?
Tim

[Ryan Rothhaar]

Yup, Ohio, Indiana, Northern MO, Iowa I agree with you completely - prime "pre-breeding" cruising or chasing buck hunting.  And November 12 is the "Magic Day".  I'd wager on average more good bucks are killed across the Midwest on Nov 12 than any other day of the year.  After that the big boys seem to get "doe'd up" 'till towards Thanksgiving - that is find an estrous doe and go back into some thicket to breed for a couple days at a time and drop off the map.  Then pick up another etc.  If a buck finds 2-3 receptive does in a row you don't see much out of him for about 10 days or so.  After most of the breeding is done it gets good with cruising bucks again.

R

[ron w]

After keeping a hunting journal since the mid 1980's I found I saw the most activity just before and up to Veterans Day. So that falls in line with what was said above. It may vary some years......but not much.

[jim phenes]

if any of you trad gangers are familiar with Charlie alsheimer he does a prediction every year for the northeast and is saying the chase starts around 8th of November he has been spot on with every prediction I have listened to.

[kennym]

I've seen and killed more bucks on Magic Wednesday, the one before gun season than any other day. That is Nov 9th this year.

I should keep better records! LOL

[LittleBen]

My understanding is that the research done on captive white tails suggests that breed intakes place the same time every year in a given area. No effect of moon phase, tides, weather or the farmers almanac.

Here in Upstate NY I usually figure Nov. 14th ish  is the peak.

Usually 2 weeks before is good

[Michael Arnette]

Same for me in SW Missouri and NE Oklahoma. Although I've killed my good bucks on these dates:
November:
6th
14th
17th
18th
19th
19th
20th
20th

[Michael Arnette]

...I think if it weren't for rifle season the last week of november would be nearly as good as the first

[RedShaft]

Around the 13th of November for Mature does and the 24th for fawns.
Based on Pennsylvania studies.

[RedShaft]

http://ecosystems.psu.edu/research/projects/deer/news?b_start:int=220  

Read through all of this info. You will find all your answers. 12 pages that's well worth your time!
Even the best times. When is that you say?
10-2 pm buck movements sky rocket during the rut.

[Overspined]

I've kept track and all the big ones I've seen and killed in Illinois, Indiana, and MI for archery have been Nov 7,8,9, a couple Halloween, and a couple around Veterans Day. Most 7,8,9.  Weather seems to be the only thing that hinders this, but for daytime cruising bucks, that's when I take my vaca  to hunt. November 8 & 9 have been my most productive days of all, I sit all day.  Crack of dawn, 10-1 are hot times and 4-dark. Crack of dawn is rarely the time I see the big guys, but just often enough to get out. My buddy doesn't leave the truck until 30 min to an hour after daylight and shoots often at noon.

[Nathan Killen]

Originally posted by RedShaft:
 http://ecosystems.psu.edu/research/projects/deer/news?b_start:int=220  

Read through all of this info. You will find all your answers. 12 pages that's well worth your time!
Even the best times. When is that you say?
10-2 pm buck movements sky rocket during the rut.

I've been following the research PSU has been doing and it's by far the very best and most informative study I've seen ! Good stuff for the serious whitetail hunter !

[Nathan Killen]

[Tim Finley]

In ND we can see the actual breeding because of our open country. When we start seeing bucks laying with a doe in the middle of a wheat stubble , bean or plowed field we know the rut is peaking. The bucks will run does away from cover to keep her from other bucks .There will be breeding going on before this and after but there is a noticeable difference between that and the peak.  Our time is the 15 to the 18th of Nov. every year no difference, you may see more bucks before and be able to kill more before this time because the activity level rises but those dates are when the actual main breeding time comes about for us.  After the 18th activity drops off .

[TIM B]

Great info boys
Tim

[J. Holden]

Seems to peak when I'm not in the woods.  I give ya' call when I decide to stay home!    

[buckeyebowhunter]

Really nice thread with a bunch of good information. I have my vacation day set for the 11th so I can have 3 days of hunting in a row. Here in Ohio we are fortunate that our firearm season is after Thanksgiving. I have seen really good buck activity up to Thanksgiving.

[Burnsie]

It is awesome to be in the woods when the switch gets flipped.  I 've sat in areas that were stone dead for several days then one morning everything goes into overdrive just that quick.  Grunting, cruising bucks all over the place.  First time I ever saw a nice buck snort-weeze at another buck happened on one of these mornings.  Supper cool, hair standing up on the back of his neck.  I like 9-15th.

[Overspined]

Yeah I think I'll start hunting Ohio. That's a nice season, you get to hunt pre and post breeding, best times to hunt deer!

[southernarcher]

I wish we had a more defined rut here in SC.