Well, the rut is winding down. I'll still hunt in ways appropriate for the rut through this weekend, but after that, unless I see otherwise, I'm considering it over for the year. The rut was odd this year at best. Anyway.....Firearm seasons have come and gone, the rut is over, the deer have been super pressured. The bucks are going back into hiding for another year. In short, it's going to be a tough road from here out. I would much rather hunt before the rut than after it. Food sources are becoming very limited, with browse being the staple now. The acorns are all but gone, the crops are out.....Leaves have fallen. How does your strategy change now? I'm going to try to focus on any feeding areas and bedding areas I can find. What's your late season tip of the year?
Hopefully they will be hitting my food plots. If that doesn't work, set up on some SE facing hillsides in the morning and wait for them to come bed in the sunshine. I am still hopeing for a little late season rutting action too. Maybe another week or two at the most.
Well 28 days following the first estrous period, does that were not bred will come back into estrous. There is that possibilities. Food sources are definitely another possibility if you find them. Known bedding areas, travel corridors and funnels come back into play as well. I have to admit though, I've never taken a buck in our second season which runs after Christmas. I have taken does that late. Since 2000, that's 9 seasons, I'm 8 for 9 on bucks with the 9th being a particular buck that I was hunting but failed on. Good luck mobow, it's not over til it's over and it's up to you to up the odds.
The second rut in mid-December could be a cool thing. But, the bucks will more than likely be really trying to take in the calories and like Rob said getting in those travel corridors from bedding to feeding zones is going to be the key! Have fun and enjoy being in the woods.
Don't give up too soon, man. There will still be some big buck activity. I see some of the biggest bucks of the season from now until about Dec. 10th. The "second rut" will be shorter, but it will happen. Trails or funnels between bedding areas and food sources are what I look for. I believe that we are just coming off of peak breeding (most does in heat at one time) and you are looking for a buck that is in between does. You could also stumble onto a doe that has a buck in tow coming out of a bedding area in the evening on the way to feed. I am not going to lie, it will be a bit tougher than before, but it can be done. Good luck
I have to tweak a few of my stands for the late rut/late feeding patterns. Buit ill be out just as much trying to fill my buck tag, ive been "mobo'd" the last 2 years...
I put in a couple of late season food plots on a secluded, unused logging road. I'm hoping to catch a buck early or late feeling safe enough to eat some rye and oats.
I've never seen enough of this "second rut" to be able to count on it, so while I don't discount that it happens, I'm hunting as if it doesn't. Yes, hypothetically it COULD stagger, but realistically.....it doesn't. Let's face it, you just can't hunt the late season the way you do the primary rut. The deer are far more pressured, there are far FEWER of them, and they are just more difficult to hunt. I'm not betting the farm on a "second rut" for sure.
Throw everything out the window and pray!!!!! No seriously I try and get as close as possible to the bedding areas!! Walt
The 2nd rut will be there mobow, No way every doe got bred the 1st time. All It takes Is one hot momma. In my expierence during the 2nd rut when you have a hot doe In the area the bucks are much more aggressive then they are In the 1st rut. More competition I'm guessing. I've seen as many as 8 bucks chase one doe at the same time In the 2nd rut, actually I've seen It twice. Only one of these bucks was mature but none the less they were way more aggressive during the 2nd rut then the 1st one. So far my season has been frustrating as heck but I'm hoping the 2nd rut picks my spirits up and gives me a chance at a 130"+ class buck. I'll be hunting trails leading to food sources but I think I might move a tad closer to the bedding area's being the doe's so far aren't moving damn near till dark. Maybe that will change though by the time the next rut kicks In. I'm guessing around the 15th of December or so the doe's will come Into estrus again around here anyway. Good luck mobow!!
