IMO the second rut will cycle after the peak rut in your given location. Don't base it on first chase sighting or last chase. Base it on the most doe chasing activity you witnessed or even maybe heard about in your area. When the most does are in estrus and receptive at the same time is the best chance some go unbred. You're not going to have a few early does escape unbred,same with the late ones, but a better chance at the late ones missing the breeding due to bucks hitting food. 26-30 days from Nov. 8th here would be my call.
@cls74 You rock! Thanks for the awesome info! Will be putting this into action! Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
I've never been a big believer in the "second rut". I think it's one of those made-up things like the "October Lull" that was created by writers who needed something to talk about. Personally, I don't think the rut ever really stops once it gets started. It may slow down a bit during the end of November and early December, but the bucks are always actively looking for does that may be in estrus, and are always ready to throw down with another buck if the mood strikes. Now I do see more active chasing of doe fawns in December, but that's hardly something I would call a "second rut". It's more of a "Hey, there's a doe and I don't think she's been bred. I'm going to chase her around a bit and see if she'll stand still for me" type of thing. The all-out chasing and all-day movement of the actual rut has come and gone and we won't see it again until next year.
I agree with some here. The “second rut” is what kicks in when the older fawns come into estrous and take the place of the does that have already been bred. So there’s a little spike that fills in a sag in action but it’s all still rut. Bucks are still on a mission till the last does bred.
