Wisconsin guys how about a little feedback on how you feel the rut is going to shape up. I have a weeks vacation that I have saved for this special time of the year but I am torn between what dates to use it on. Originally I was going to take it from Nov.3 to Nov. 7 and of course I'll be hunting all the weekends but I'm also considering Nov.10-14. What's your thoughts 3rd-7th or 10th-14th? I'll be doing full day sits on stand.
Where in WI ?? Lower half 3rd to the 7th Upper half 10th- 14th My last 2 for the wall came on Oct 21 and Oct 25. Don't over look the pre-rut I think you have a way better chance to kill a big one :D
I agree with the previous 2 posters that I have seen more action and more success the last 2 weeks of Oct than November in Iowa County, WI (SW part of the state). In 2009 I hunted an entire week (Nov 6th-13th) and only saw one spike buck. I was on the does like crazy, but the bucks must have been holed up playing poker somewhere else... Now, I just focus on trying to hunt the first really cold front that we have in the second half of Oct. It really sux for planning vacation time at work, but it is a magical few days when the cold front hits!!!
Between those two choices I would definitely go with 3rd-7th...the 10th-14th would be getting into the peak breeding phase when many bucks are locked down with does.
I usually camp/hunt on Halloween weekend for a week in nothern WI...I also like pre-rut in WI alot better because I usually see more bucks on camera than any other time....if you hunt public land like I do, I stay away from the woods 2 weeks prior to gun opener because you will run into a few joe shmoes scouting and ruining your hunt....
I live/hunt in Oneida County. I will hunt everyday October 28-November 9. In the past 10+ years October 30-November 5 has been my best.
Hey guys thanks for the quick replies I truly appreciate it. I am not locked down to those dates, I have just never been able to hunt the rut in the past 9 years due to being a rookie cop and all the vets would take off. So now I have pick of the litter to a point and can take whenever I want. I hunt a private 80 acre farm land in Dane County in Marshall, WI. So the best dates you guys suggest I will run with. Also any pre-rut tips i.e. grunting, scents etc would be extremely beneficial as well. I usually just get early season or after gun, by then the rut is immaterial obviously.
i've always been getting good results with Scent Web "SHE HEAT" and the usual Tink's #69 "DOE IN RUT" scent......just make sure you don't leave the bottles outside near freezing temps because the spray thingys on top will freeze/clog up on you and it won't work anymore...and make sure you use plastic gloves too, otherwise pwneddd
I think the guys hit it on the head with the 3rd through 7th. Ill be taking off the 28th, 29th of October and 3rd, 4th of November. If need be I'll sneak another day on either the 7th, 11th, or 14th.
