Well fellas, the peak of the rut has come and gone, gun seasons are opening up shortly and if you haven't put a buck on the ground with your bow yet it's going to be tough going from here on out. Pressured deer and cold temperatures make for some less than ideal late season hunts. Besides me, who is left with an unused buck tag that's still going strong and trying to tag one before it's all said and done? I know I'm not alone! :D
I'm not taking my couple days off until December. Over the next 10 days I plan on hunting 7 of them and hopefully putting something on the ground. Then I'll rest.
Right behind you Justin. Seen gobs of 2 1/2's and even more does, but nothing antlered worth shooting yet.
I have spent many hours on stand this fall. We are in the 20's with 4 inches of fresh snow and the wind is howling. This break is needed :d
I will hit it pretty good between slug seasons and then I will take a break until after muzzle loader season. Still have plans on hitting it hard late in the season for #2. I am usually barely lucky enough for the first one, so if I happen on a second it will be a miracle. But I do plan on some late season hunts with a friend up in the Henry/Lacon area.
Crap man I have 2 unfilled buck tags and 3 doe tags. since I started bowhunting 4 years ago I've never been skunked this late in the season. I am on new land and thats been a bit of a handicap, I also screwed up a chance at a doe. I gotta get something done! I have until January 4th and I'll be out every chance I get. I dang sure ain't giving up! i'm also going back to west Texas at least once and that is a really low pressure piece of land.
I'm still left with a buck tag as well. I probably won't be coming home from school every weekend to hunt now that the rut has come and passed, but I'll still be making trips home every other weekend. Good luck to everyone that still has a tag left to fill.
You guys really think the rut is ending? My hunting partner and I here in Central Illinois haven't seen any rut activity.. we believe it has just barley started.
If I had to wager a guess...I would think the rut in this part of central IL peaked mid last week. But that is just what my buddy and I think.
I have filled one of my 2 IL buck tags. It's gonna take a really good one for me to use the other one. They are out there. I also have 2 MO buck tags, but haven't really been hunting there too much lately. May give it another shot in the late season close to home.
I think a lot of the bucks in the Midwest are probably locked down with does right now and it'll be another few days until they free up and start seeking again. We'll probably see another good couple days of action before it's all done, most like coniciding with slug season this weekend. The rut was a little on the slow side this year, partly because of the weather (warm then wind) and the moon as well. The DNR is estimating 90,000 deer to die here in IL Fri-Sat-Sun and it could be more if the weather cooperates and the deer are moving good. And Scott - when it's that cold and windy it's the perfect time for a break my man. I've had all week as my "break" so I'm itching to get back at it.
This guy is, ive passed on 1.5 year olds 11 times, once on a 2.5 year old, and i couldnt close the deel on a 3.5 year old FREAK. I should include my wounded 1.5 year old (filmed hunt).
I still have one buck tag left, hoping to fill it with the shotgun. I hate bowhunting after shotgun season here and the month of December is pretty much alrady booked for me.
1 buck tag and 4 doe tags. hoping to fill at least 2 more of those tags. iv got til jan 15 tho so i still got quite bit of season left
I still have my Kentucky tag, but no deer. I suspect things will swing back to normal in another week or so. I'll hunt the remainder of the year. Does primarily, but I'll have a buck tag in tow.
