Bigger deer on their feet the last few days (pic heavy)

[Bill]

Getting way more pics of bigger deer moving in daylight during the last 3 days then I did in the first two weeks of Nov.

Strange thing is most years you can't buy a pic of 2.5 or older during daylight after rifle season.

3 bucks in this one. The one on the left blends in.

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[alldaysit]

What the heck is going on!


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[Native Hunter]

That's impressive Bill. Same thing going on at my place right now - with the exception that what you have left is better than what I have left.:D

The only answer I can think of is that the second rut may be more significant this year, for reasons I can't explain. I'm seeing some minor chasing starting again, but nothing as intense as the first week in November.

 

[rocksnstumps]

should make staying awake in the stand a whole lot easier. Unless your warm weather has finally started turning cold. Shivering will work to....

 

[Jordan Selsor]

I have have seen allot of guys posting on FB about seeing bucks trailing doe's. The weather has sure been good for deer movement. Cant wait to pull a sneak on them after leaving them be a couple weeks.

 

[Someday isle]

I took my brother out for an antlerless hunt yesterday. Neither of us saw a doe but he saw a buck that in his terms was HUGE. He had seen everything we had on camera (oldest was probably a 2 1/2 year old) and said this deer was much bigger with a tall rack. He said it was zig zagging back and forth running up a trail in high gear. He's not an experienced hunter but he sure described a rutting buck. It's just been a strange year In our part of Missouri.

 

[MoBuckChaser]

Of course they are out moving, we ain't there! LOL

Nice bucks Bill!

 

[Natty Bumppo]

I'm over Mass. but I am seeing the same thing. Hunted Saturday and saw a buck chasing a doe. I was still hunting later in the day and every scrape that I encountered was fresh and ripe. One was so ripe that I could smell it before I found it.

 

[Bill]

What the heck is going on!


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?? Good question. I know there is a second rut but I've never seen so much activity during it. Going after an early summer routine buck aside I never hunt much before Halloween. Maybe there was more rutty activity going on in late Oct. though I don't recall a high picture count in daylight.

It's just odd. I was willing to accept a rut that happened after dark but this much late activity is an anomaly to me.

I'm over Mass. but I am seeing the same thing. Hunted Saturday and saw a buck chasing a doe. I was still hunting later in the day and every scrape that I encountered was fresh and ripe. One was so ripe that I could smell it before I found it.

That's odd too. Maybe they figured us out and had a national meeting.

 

[Turkey Creek]

I am sure all the deer "Experts" for the national publications and tv shows will be telling us why in the next few months. The second rut has been very noticeable here as well this year.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Late action would make sense based on what we saw in early November here. No hot & heavy chasing like usual. Warm temps in early Nov. made a difference ???

 

[MN Slick]

Very interesting and confusing!! I can't see all the time stamps but it looks like both morning and evening movement? 2nd rut makes the most sense but normally I think of the 2nd rut more along the lines of if a buck comes across a hot doe you'll see rutting action. The number of different bucks in your pics suggests cruising though??

A buddy of mine missed a mature buck on Friday in SE Minnesota and saw 2 more last night so they were moving up here too.

For those that give the moon some credence the 3rd through the 7th are Red Moon Days per Jeff Murray's Moon Guide.

 

[Gilly]

Over the last week I have been getting pics of mature bucks I have not gotten pictures of since August/September. Hopefully they are back to stay and not just passing through as I thought they were doing earlier this fall. What are your thoughts on some mature bucks just now showing up after leaving before season started? Are they back to stay through the winter?

 

[Bill]

Over the last week I have been getting pics of mature bucks I have not gotten pictures of since August/September. Hopefully they are back to stay and not just passing through as I thought they were doing earlier this fall. What are your thoughts on some mature bucks just now showing up after leaving before season started? Are they back to stay through the winter?

That's a very normal phenomenon. I'd say their back for the winter. Very often some of my summer bucks disperse only to return in December. More does and thicker cover may help combat them leaving. But honestly I have a feeling they just like to spread out during mating season to lessen the stress of competing with their buddies. Always easier to steal a strangers best date than your buddies. But that's just my crazy theory.

MN Slick,
Morning afternoon and even mid day. Not normal for this time of year unless I know nothing about theses critters.

 

[Natty Bumppo]

Late action would make sense based on what we saw in early November here. No hot & heavy chasing like usual. Warm temps in early Nov. made a difference ???

Witnessed the exact same thing. My brother and I could not figure it out. Saw does throughout the first 3 weeks of November completely calm and unmolested...in family units. Thought we somehow missed the rut?

 

[MN Slick]

MN Slick,
Morning afternoon and even mid day. Not normal for this time of year unless I know nothing about theses critters.[/QUOTE]

I'm making a quick trip down tomorrow with a friend who's looking to buy down there. I won't be hunting but it will be interesting to see what my cams have been catching the last few days.

 

[Bill]

I'm making a quick trip down tomorrow with a friend who's looking to buy down there. I won't be hunting but it will be interesting to see what my cams have been catching the last few days.

I'm interested to know what you get between 11/30 and 12/4. Things slowed down the last 2 days but that time slot was hot for daytime movement.

 

[Gilly]

With these mature bucks showing back up. Would it be wise to use doe in estrus or any calling/rattling ? I dont use scent much and I normally stay quiet but am willing to pull out all the stops. I have one of these bucks on cam trailing a doe on Nov 30th... And as Bill saw on his cams I also had mature bucks on their feet around 1530ish for several days last week.

 

[Bill]

With these mature bucks showing back up. Would it be wise to use doe in estrus or any calling/rattling ? I dont use scent much and I normally stay quiet but am willing to pull out all the stops. I have one of these bucks on cam trailing a doe on Nov 30th... And as Bill saw on his cams I also had mature bucks on their feet around 1530ish for several days last week.

Personally I don't like any smells. In my limited experience a grunt or rattle normally sends them in another direction this time of the year. But who the heck knows this year o_Oo_O

 

[Bill]

Nothing today. All of the deer I had on camera in the last two days seemed to be in a winter, afternoon, feeding pattern. Let's see what the next few bring. But I think I witnessed my first 4 day "hot" second rut.

Interesting though.