I know some of the guys in this forum keep great records on the rut timing. And some of you make charts with the entire math to predict the rut. So what is this year’s prediction? Looking at the moon phase we will have a new moon on Nov 6 and the first quarter on the 13th. This is the best moon phase I have seen in a few years. In Illinois it looks like we will have all the corn out this year, so that will help us a lot for the chase and rut. The weather is always a big factor, I will be praying to the Deer Gods for the weather needed. What will be the dates for the chase phase, and breeding for 2010?
Regardless if corn is out by november or not I know right around halloween is always hot, especially hunting scrape lines. Then there is always a week window where the activity shuts down again, it happens every year. But I agree I hope the corn is out early this year as well. It doesn't help when you have hundreds and hundreds of acres of standing corn in your area, it slows things down alot! I agree that around the new moon on the 6th of november should still be a hot time, usually a three day window on each side, but like anything spending as much time in the woods and having the right conditions always betters your chances at this time.
Just read that the full moon will almost be on the same day as autumn or fall equinox, meaning rut should be earlier this year. So, right around halloween or beginning of november the rut should be rocking as long as weather is good and crops are hetting harvested, but thats the prediction!
