Rut expectations?

[74MOPAR]

I always see a ton of rut posts and updates on here. My question is what are you expecting to see during the rut? Mature bucks moving during daylight, chasing , breeding ,fighting, rubs , scrapes ? I might see a deer or two chasing during the rut but that's about it. The deer I killed Saturday was just following a group of does and fawns.

 

[Bone Collector]

i think a lot of what you mentioned, rubs, scrapes, maybe some chasing, but the main thing is what you mentioned last. if a group of does or a single comes by a buck not long behind her.

what i don't expect to see, but have been seeing so far and last year was bad for this is bucks just feeding through like normal.

 

[MUP]

Actually not sure. Have seen an earlier shift in the usual routine of rut phases at my place. If this holds true, could be a slow rifle season for my place.

 

[Jcalder]

My expectations are very low. Deer sightings are very slim. I went over 2 months last year without seeing a deer. I expect a few more sightings as I'm hunting a different place but we have very few deer

 

[muddyboots]

I expect to see bucks bucks and more bucks for a bout a 9 day period.

 

[Bulldog25]

During rut I expect to see a buck worth shooting. At this point I would be happy with seeing doe worth shooting. Hoping it heats up soon.

 

[hitek7]

Some chasing (already seen), some cruising (already seen), some following (already seen), bucks responding to calling (a few so far), a few fights (already seen), 1 million young bucks (already seen 1/2 million), and hopefully that one mature shooter (still waiting on this). Have yet to catch the breeding part with my own eyes in my life...

 

[fairchaser]

Expect to see bucks chasing, grunting, hear bucks fighting. See chase parties where a hot doe is being pursued by a number of bucks. Daylight till dark deer activity. Watch mature bucks come to horns or grunts and basically lose their normal caution in daylight. I could be dreaming but I hope not.

 

[Lost Lake]

Already seen bucks chasing in Henry county, and killed a nice eight point following does on Sunday. All were grunting like fools. Usually don't see that until thanksgiving weekend in Henry county. Haven't seen much rut activity in Maury.

Hope to see more of the same this weekend.

 

[Adam Jackson]

Expect to see bucks chasing, grunting, hear bucks fighting. See chase parties where a hot doe is being pursued by a number of bucks. Daylight till dark deer activity. Watch mature bucks come to horns or grunts and basically lose their normal caution in daylight. I could be dreaming but I hope not.

I hope this is the case but the weather for the coming weekend and week does not look good at all. Warm front moving in with high winds 10-15+

 

[Mike Belt]

I expect to see does running and hear limbs snapping, leaves crunching, and bucks grunting .....or....I expect to catch a few bucks cruising through by my stand looking for a doe. A few of these will be borderline shooters (125-130") and 1 or 2 should range between 130 and 145". I'm ready!

 

[jb3]

Hoping that this weekend things will get going. We have had deer chasing does on our lease, but all have been smaller bucks. Not many shooters have been seen. Thanksgiving is later this year, so this weekend is about the time things get going in our area.

 

[lpo1981]

I expect to see younger bucks bumping does and chasing. Due to our over population of does I don't think you will see older class bucks doin this behavior there simply smarter and defin use the "work smarter not harder" saying. However i do expect to see older class bucks on there feet more durin daylight hours although that seems to never happen either.. If you have never been to a state or experienced a true rut then your missing out. My recent trip to Kentucky I saw 17 bucks and 14 does before 10am.. A lot I the younger bucks scent checked does and chased while the older class bucks 3.5 and older did not check or chase does but were defin on there feet throughout the day..

 

[megalomaniac]

I expect to see younger bucks bumping does and chasing. Due to our over population of does I don't think you will see older class bucks doin this behavior there simply smarter and defin use the "work smarter not harder" saying. However i do expect to see older class bucks on there feet more durin daylight hours although that seems to never happen either.. If you have never been to a state or experienced a true rut then your missing out. My recent trip to Kentucky I saw 17 bucks and 14 does before 10am.. A lot I the younger bucks scent checked does and chased while the older class bucks 3.5 and older did not check or chase does but were defin on there feet throughout the day..

I hunt several ruts in several states, and on my farms in TN the rut is far more concentrated and intense than anywhere else I hunt. Heck, where I live, the rut is off and on for 6-8 weeks. Just miserable.

What makes for a fun rut is having older age class bucks in the population. That's what causes all the normal rut behaviours and tightly timed rut activity. When your local herd is mostly 1.5y/o with a few 2.5 y/o's, you just don't get to experience what the real rut is all about.

 

[jard]

I am seeing deer everytime I hunt and have yet to see any chasing whatsoever. I seem to also attract small bucks. So far, I've seen spikes or small 4 points on every single trip. I hope something picks up soon. I know there are bigger bucks around, hoping the rut will bring something into view. Until then, doe watching, just like the bucks.

 

[BSK]

What do I expect out of the rut? Older bucks being far less cautious than usually; i.e. moving during daylight, cruising, perhaps chasing a doe. In my area, the rut is the one time of year, where older bucks are more visible during daylight.