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Upper Midwest weather and the rut.

Discussion in 'The Water Cooler' started by Sota, Dec 7, 2015.

  1. Sota

    Sota Legendary Woodsman

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    Heard lot's of hunters complain about the rut being a trickle rather than the usual rush this fall and they are blaming the weather. I used to not believe that weather had the huge impact that some feels it does, figured that to a certain degree animals went about life no matter the weather. Not sure what to make of what I saw Saturday morning out by the woodpile. FullSizeRender-10.jpg
     
    Sota, Dec 7, 2015
    #1
  3. tacklebox

    tacklebox Grizzled Veteran

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    lol...
     
    tacklebox, Dec 7, 2015
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  4. Sota

    Sota Legendary Woodsman

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    The frog was alive, my 12 pound hunting dog was barking up a storm and pointing at it. Must have not got the hibernation memo.
     
    Sota, Dec 7, 2015
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  5. remmett70

    remmett70 Die Hard Bowhunter

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    Could you tell if that tree frog was in Rut?
     
    remmett70, Dec 7, 2015
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  6. Sota

    Sota Legendary Woodsman

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    Yeah he kept saying rub it, rub it.
     
    Sota, Dec 7, 2015
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  7. No.6Hunter

    No.6Hunter Die Hard Bowhunter

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    Toads neck looks swollen, must be rut!
     
    No.6Hunter, Dec 7, 2015
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  8. Justin

    Justin Administrator

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    Froggy aside, this fall I saw the best rutting activity I've seen in years.
     
    Justin, Dec 7, 2015
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  9. MN_Jay

    MN_Jay Die Hard Bowhunter

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    Rut was weird this year, Bucks weren't even rubbing during rifle hunting - that's a first.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    MN_Jay, Dec 7, 2015
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  10. Scott/IL

    Scott/IL Die Hard Bowhunter

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    I had a 2 year old buck chase a doe all over a food plot yesterday morning. That was a surprise.

    Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk
     
    Scott/IL, Dec 7, 2015
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  11. dnoodles

    dnoodles Legendary Woodsman

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    Climate change.
    Jokes aside, I agree w/ Justin. I saw hard core rut activity rut in mid Michigan from about Oct 24-Nov 16. Never seen so many bucks on their feet from 7am-1pm and then from 2:30pm-dark. I seriously saw 2.5yo 110"+ bucks (that's awesome for public land in mid Michigan) every sit.
     
    dnoodles, Dec 7, 2015
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  12. Shocker99

    Shocker99 Grizzled Veteran

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    It was extreme up and down for me in southwest Illinois. I would say rut was on good just didnt have alot of does around. It would be hot one day cold for two. Never did see a big boy chasing. Alot of 1 and 2 y.o. Now since shotgun season is over its been pretty nocturnal.
     
    Shocker99, Dec 8, 2015
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  13. Sota

    Sota Legendary Woodsman

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    The deer at my place have never been shot at with a gun and have little pressure on them they go the nocturnal route too for a period late November early December. Snow is now gone at my place so it's going to be interesting if that changes feeding patterns.
     
    Sota, Dec 8, 2015
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  14. Spear

    Spear Grizzled Veteran

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    This year I had the worst rutting activity I have seen in years. I'm not sure why, but I've put in close to 120 hours in the stand and only saw 1 mature buck worth shooting, a nice 10 pointer. There was little to no chasing at all and mostly everything moved at night. The weather has been warm for the most part but I can't say what the cause was.
     
    Spear, Dec 8, 2015
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  15. remmett70

    remmett70 Die Hard Bowhunter

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    Justin must have all the does, I guess that is where my bucks headed.

    I have a feeling the problem with the rut for me was caused by low doe numbers. Once they nailed the one Mature doe I've had on camera they were off to more "Fertile" grounds.
     
    remmett70, Dec 8, 2015
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