Ok Guys - Help figure this one out. I was out hunting Friday and a little after 4 (Northern Illinois) I spot a doe across the river about 75 yards away. It looks like she was gonna cross and she ran/bolted away back into the wood line. I was pretty far away and the wind was in my favor but I thought I somehow got busted. Well 5 seconds later she comes running back..... now I'm like what the heck.... I see her squat and pee and start to walk along the river away and then she runs back again kinda where she first started from and then I see another deer run up to her. I could see some horns (looked like a fork from that distance) and thought they are acting like the rut.... but isn't it a little late for that? The doe did come across the river walked right down my 20 yard killzone and then right under my tree to check me out and then walked further down the trail. The buck soon hit the river and I realized he was huge! When he hit the bank about 35 yards from me I drew back and prayed I wouldn't get busted. All went well and he was walking right into my kill zone. 2 steps before my release zone he stopped right behind a tree blocking all vitals and he turned and looked at me. He caught me moving the bow for the shot and bolted! This is my second encounter with this trophy buck but I don't see him much. Anyway my big question is - Is this some sort of late rut in Northern Illinois??? Or is it just a case of one doe in heat and the buck was taking the opportunity? Thanks, MonkeyShot
Second rut. The does that never got hit during the first rut will go back into heat after another cycle.
x2 I was on my way to work early AM last week and seen a buck in the headlights that had just crossed the road and was heading out in the field with his nose to the ground.
Thanks for the feedback guys - I figured we were all well past all the ruts but it makes sense - late cycle doe and the bucks taking the opportunity.
