Just wondering if anyone has any signs of pre rut already? What calls do you guys use for pre rut action?
I sure have! Scrapes and bucks starting to follow does around, but nothing serious yet. Can't wait! My father in law actually got a buck to come in with a small grunt call. He just barely tapped it and he came right over to investigate what the sound was. It was an awesome sight!
I haven't seen any, but i usually put my calls to rest once i do. i usually only use fawn bleats early season try and peg a doe or two for the freezer. A little bit of light rattling seems to work decent when pre rut rolls around, but i only do if the buck is headed away or is a ways off
heard a 7 pointer grunting off in the woods before he came into sight. don't think i'll be doing any calling for another week at least
i like to do some low grunt calls. can't ever go wrong with a grunt. maybe even a doe bleat if you happen to have a bleat call. people call less and less these days, but it can't hurt to present sounds that sound natural to the animal that you're hunting
I seldom use calls this early in the season. Grunt or light sparring if I see a buck at a distance. A lot of spots(unless your around land with no pressure) tend to get too much calling going on. Once the rut kicks in, game on! I still use my calls or rattling horns wisely...too much of it could really hurt you.
I havent seen much for scrapes or rubs, but sitting in the stand lastnight I had a spike come through chasing does....seems a bit early and I wouldnt have believed it had I no seen it with my own two eyes...needless to say the does wanted nothing to do with him what so ever lol.
I haven't seen much around where we hunt. It should start to pick up here a little bit with in the next couple of weeks. During the pre rut is my favorite time to rattle. Later in oct. Hit those horns together and watch the magic happen. Last year i rattled in a nice 10 pointer we call corkscrew. Wasn't going to shoot him but an awesome experience non the less.
Saw a small basket rack pushing some does around and grunting earlier in the week. Had a little spike come out in the field last night, decided I was bored and called him in 3 times with the grunt call. Those little guys are so stupid this time of year...
I'm in northern illinois and I have scrapes and rubs. Gettin more movement on the cams too. Yesterday I saw a spike having his way w a ten pointer maybe he is practicing idk ????
Saw a small buck running a few does out in a small urban bean field on the drive home. I was sitting in my truck wishing it was a treestand...
Spent last weekend in western IL. We had a pretty good amount of activity. We saw 2 decent size 8 pt'ers and a couple spikes. One of the 8's chased a doe out of a bean field and then walked after her grunting. Spikes were traverling together. Also found 2 small scrapes.
