I finally made it out to the stand this afternoon with my bow, for the first time since late November. A little after 4, I saw 4 deer come running across a field. As they came closer, I could tell 1 of them was a buck I have had a few encounters with this season called Windy. I almost killed him with a bow on Nov. 16th, but got busted by another buck drawing, and then again on Nov. 19th I had him and a doe in front of me during our gun season, and I opted to take the doe. Tonight, the deer came to about 100 yards, and over the next hour I watched as Windy attempted several times to breed a small yearling doe, while also trying to keep away 2 small 1.5 year old bucks. The small bucks put on a pretty good show themselves, as they locked up several times. I finally watched as the deer took off again, never coming within range. It was a great hunt, and the most "rutting" action I've ever seen on a December hunt. However, the part that stings is that all those deer were within 30 yards of another stand I haven't hunted for almost 2 months
Send some of that late season rutting my way.. i have not seen a big mature buck with a doe in over a week.. grrrr
Yep heard the samething happening in Iowa 2 days ago also.. A buddy filmed a big buck trying to mount a big doe and she wasn't fighting him..
Sounds like a good hunt. Lots to watch around you. Hope you can get back out there tonight. Good luck.
Cool, hope that kind of activity finds its way to PA. I know I read earlier this year that the primary rut was going to be late and drawn out. The secondary rut would follow suit and be later. Not sure I believe all of that moon phase stuff, but it may have merit.
After years of comparing the moon phase information with my own personal observations in several states I believe that it is largely unreliable. This year is a perfect example. The prediction was for a late rut that starts in late November almost into December. I saw rutting activity in the first week of November and then nearly a complete shut down as the second week of November came to an end indicating the lock down phase. That puts the moon predictions at 2 weeks off. I then had cruising in another state going on 3 days after that. Same moon, different results in different locations at the same time.
