I remember the season of 2005 well. The afternoon of October 30th was the most action I've ever seen as far as bucks chasing doe's. I saw one of the biggest bucks of my life on Nov 5th. I killed my 2nd biggest buck ever on morning of Nov 25th as he was working a scrape line.
I still say patience is needed a little bit. Things should start heating up real soon, though. I drive a lot for my job and can always tell when the rut is starting to really pick up by the number of mature bucks I see in daylight hours while driving, along with the number of dead deer along the interstates. Drove 3 hours yesterday from 3:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. and saw 4 dead along the interstate and 1 mature buck out in a field pushing some does. I imagine this weekend should really see an uptick in activity, with (as always) Nov. 5th through Nov 15th the best time to sit. It looks like, after two years, we may finally have appropriate "rut" weather in IL this year.
Starting to see a few more bucks on cams in Central, IL. I'm betting on Nov. 7-11 for the best activity. Most of the scrapes I am seeing are being made by small bucks. All of the does by me are still with fawns. Hope to see things pick up a little tomorrow morning after the rain.
Im in Central IL as well and I bet after this storm system passes things will really start to pick up.
Saw a young basket 8 cutting right through a cut hay field at about 5pm yesterday. He looked like he was on a mission. Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2
I just came from up north in Wi (middle of the state) temps perfect low in upper 20s at night, 40s day; did not see a single deer in 4 days hunting mornings till 11 and back in bout 2-dark. nothing even on the roadside eating while heading back to camp. So I'd agree, very very slow.
I ended breaking my vacation up nov 5-6, 8-9, 11-12, & 15-16. I'm really feeling Nov 6-13 but just in case I'm wrong(likely) I'll have a couple days on either side. Saw 2 bucks at last light and a lot of new scrapes but most activity on them on cams is still at dark.
Sat Friday and saturday. Saw nothing after 12 hrs over those two days in Saline County. My brother in law comes up on saturdy, sees 9-13 different deer. Misses a doe and then arrows a small 8 point. Then pulling out of the road we park on a truck drives by with a 130 easy in the bed of the truck. I'm beginning to think I'm just not good at this thing called hunting.
Hang in there, we saw a LOT of activity this weekend. Had a beautiful 10 point, 155"+, working a scrape at 70 yds Friday. He was out and about at 5:00 before the time change. Saturday morning had 2 little bucks running does hard. Its starting and only going to continue to get better this week.
All I've seen is a small buck running a doe around and a spike getting denied by a doe. Friends of mine have seen slightly bigger bucks becoming more active. I'm hoping to see more today. It's heating up! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk www.skyangler.com
I think the rut is working it's way down, up north people are seeing a ton of activity. We have had some cold days, but not exactly a continuous cold streak. I know the rut depends on the photoperiod but until we get a cold streak I don't think they really have the need to move much.
I realize it's been a week since this post, but my "Sacred River Bottom spot" is still not showing much sign of buck travel. It's a 125 acre area, with a river bordering the entire South and East sides. Most of the wooded area averages 60 yards wide, but it is 1 1/4 miles to walk the entire perimeter. There is a 4 acre thicket out in the center of the field also. Most years I see the deer along the field edges, then head toward the thicket. I have only seen 2 bucks since October 5th. One was harvested by the landowner, and the other is a young 6 pointer that shows up every night. It is common for me to see 15 to 20 does per hunt....... this year the average is 4 to 5. I feel the frustration starting to set in!!!!!
Is this the weekend it breaks loose? Reading more and more reports of decent rutting action. Looking it the window and the yard could actually use a good raking, 30mph winds tonight and tomorrow too. I'm cautiously optimistic my next sunrise in the woods will yield a lot better visibility and hopefully a few deer with any luck. 44 1/2 hours until my vacation starts!
I've been on vacation since the 1st and in the woods every day, all day.... pretty sure this season's rut has been cancelled.
