So might be a noob question but ive tried to google it a couple different ways but no luck. Do bucks just randomly try to find does during the rut or do they walk the same paths they do during early season and take off for does if they see them/smell them? I just have a new huge buck on my camera i have never seen before only at night, by that I kind of answered my own question but just thought I should ask. Also all the deer I have is during night still and the rut should just be starting off here in southeast Wisconsin. So day time activity should be about now or I am just in the wrong area/
Not real experienced but the Bucks will start to seek after does. Meaning they might take different trails etc. they will cruise around doe bedding area and where the does hang out to catch wind of a receptive doe. As far as the day time bucks will take every moment they have to find a doe. That is why you see bucks during the day more during the rut. That should start increasing the next couple of weeks. Hope this helps. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
yeah that helps thank you. I was just curious because I haven't seen a deer during the day light in that stand all year but tons on the camera at night. Its a hard area to hunt because its more of a urban hunt where surrounded by houses and private land.
Scrapes/licking branches play a huge role in deer communication. Bucks and does leave their scent on the scrapes and when a doe starts going into heat she will leave a specific scent (this is what estrus lure is) on the scrape and the bucks will search the area around that scrape looking for her. Bucks will often travel outside of their home range to seek does during the rut. When a doe is receptive to a buck, the buck and a doe will often find an area and stay together and breed multiple times over a day or few day period. Once he's bred with her he will move onto the next doe. That new buck you have on camera is likely starting to cruise to look for scrapes to see what does he can find. Most scrape activity is done at night, at least until the chase starts and there's active does in heat running around, then it almost becomes chaos in the woods. And when that happens, it's all around you and it's awesome!
Well thats awesome you say that. About a week ago I made a mock scrape and I have a bunch of does in the area that have been by this scrape and working it at night. That new buck went right for the scrape I made at night around 9 pm. So he wont work this during then or just be in the area?
If he likes what he smells he'll be a repeat visitor and leaving his own scent. I'd set up shop on a pinch point somewhere on a trail leading to your scrape.
yeah there isn't many trials because of where I am hunting its more marsh and a small tree line but i am right on a trail about 30 yards from the scrape.
That'll do. A piece of high ground near a marsh close to the scrape, you should see some good action. Good luck, go get 'em!
