I hunted my plot this weekend and didn't see a single deer feeding in the plot. During bow season I would see atleast 10 deer feeding in a day. Does the activity in foodplots slow down when the rut gets closer? It seemed that all the does where in pasture fields early in the morning and late in the afternoon.
Food plots during the rut
- Thread starter jjake40lb
- Start date
jmb4wd
Well-Known Member
From what I have noticed, when the rut starts kicking, you might see bucks anywhere. They dont stay still for long, really keep moving.
Id prefer to be in terrain features this time of year instead of a food plot. The food plots do help to get some does hanging around though.
TJS209
Well-Known Member
maybe they have alot of acorns to eat...during bow acorns might not have been dropping
Football Hunter
Well-Known Member
what I was thinking,does will use em all the time,but hunting pressure may be pushing them awaybowtch huntr209 said:
I have often wondered if during the rut the does don't want to be as visible therefore staying off fields. I have noticed that at certain times of the year it seems as though the does are scared to come out for fear of being chased.
spoon
Well-Known Member
Had couple small buck come into the food plot and sniffed around this morning. Have yet to see a doe on the plots
BSK
Well-Known Member
Trail-cameras show very little use of food plots right now, even in poor acorn production areas.
richmanbarbeque
Well-Known Member
BSK said:
I know you have better info than me but my plots are getting pounded. Deer in them at all times of the day. One plot most of the times ive walked by deer have been feeding. Hopefully this will stay in place so my daughter will get her first deer Saturday.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Almost no use of our plots yet. Cameras show only deer passing through and not feeding. Plants display almost no browse pressure.
But every location will be different.
But every location will be different.
woodchuckc
Well-Known Member
Got mine in late this year, and then no rain on them have them way behind. Wheat and oats are only about 2" tall this weekend, but I didn't see any evidence of usage yet and haven't been seeing deer in them. We have a ton of acorns this year, so I'm not too surprised. This weekend I noticed that a lot of the acorns left are sprouting so I suspect that the food plots will start getting used pretty soon, especially now that we have some soil moisture and they start growing better.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Always interesting to see the major differences in food availability and preference from location to location. Deer may be pounding the food plots on one property but not touching them on another property just down the road. Now the question is, why does this happen?
Ballerski
Well-Known Member
JoeDeer said:
8 deer standing in your climber? sorry...i chuckled when i read...
big jim
Well-Known Member
At my place they have been hammering whatever red oaks have been dropping acorns..even the oaks in open fields. But the acorns are scarce and small.
Looks like they are moving on to the food plot as I witnessed several deer on the plot browsing sunday with some minor buck fighting and doe chasing.
A small doe was eating in the plot and wandered over to a red oak just inside the woodline presumably looking for acorns, all the while being pestered by a 7 pointer. He ran 4 pointer off earlier. She returned and began feeding in plot, 7 pointer in tow. No active breeding, though, just pestering and chasing.
As seasonal food sources dry up, I think the plots will see more usage. At least this holds true on my land.
Late this week or the beginning of rifle season looks to be intersting if you want to hunt the rut at least in my neck of the woods. This Cold front looks to have turned it on what was was shutdown from last week.
Looks like they are moving on to the food plot as I witnessed several deer on the plot browsing sunday with some minor buck fighting and doe chasing.
A small doe was eating in the plot and wandered over to a red oak just inside the woodline presumably looking for acorns, all the while being pestered by a 7 pointer. He ran 4 pointer off earlier. She returned and began feeding in plot, 7 pointer in tow. No active breeding, though, just pestering and chasing.
As seasonal food sources dry up, I think the plots will see more usage. At least this holds true on my land.
Late this week or the beginning of rifle season looks to be intersting if you want to hunt the rut at least in my neck of the woods. This Cold front looks to have turned it on what was was shutdown from last week.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Just starting to get (as of the 12th) some trail-cam pictures of deer actually feeding in the plots instead of just walking through them without stopping.
Scrapes started showing up in our plots this past weekend.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Our scrapes went dead overnight, like flipping a switch. I was getting nightly visits to each scrape by multiple older bucks, and then nothing. I guess breeding has commenced.
Football Hunter
Well-Known Member
Man,I must be on some kind of Island,I hunted Sat -Mon of the first 2 weekends,every doe I so,and I saw plenty,was walking around w/o a care in the world.BSK said:
Last year we didnt see alot of buck activity....big ones that is....until the last week of bow in December when one of our guys went and shot this one during 130 pm in broadlight....the story is that he went to nod off to sleep and this fella was cruising down the middle of the field to wards him and he shot him at 40 yds and spined him and he flopped off down into the middle of a hollow and he had no one there to help him drag it out. .....wouldnt have bothered me one bit to have taken him and face the same situation!!! lmbo!
String Music
Well-Known Member
Our plots are getting minimal use as well. I attribute most of this to our bumper acorn crop.
However, does will sometimes avoid a field this time of year because they get tired of being pestured by immature bucks.
Also, mature bucks will likely check the fields with their nose and not their eyes.
I find this activity similar to daytime scrape activity. Mature bucks will let the younger bucks work the scrapes during the day and they will just cruise downwind scent checking the scrape to see if a doe has used it.
However, does will sometimes avoid a field this time of year because they get tired of being pestured by immature bucks.
Also, mature bucks will likely check the fields with their nose and not their eyes.
I find this activity similar to daytime scrape activity. Mature bucks will let the younger bucks work the scrapes during the day and they will just cruise downwind scent checking the scrape to see if a doe has used it.
BSK said:
Went and checked cameras late yesterday, and same thing, no mature bucks. Was getting them last weekend, but now just a few does and young bucks. I guess it has started.
Football Hunter
Well-Known Member
Not seeing any rut,but this pic was taken thursday at mid day,deffinatly getting a lot of use.
