Early Rut this year?

[Dipsnort]

I was out locally on Saturday and saw 3 deer, all bucks!  The largest, a 3-point, had a huge swollen neck and stunk of rut from 15' as we surprized each other when he stepped out between a couple of trees right behind me.  Unfortunately I was in the thick doghair (where I had just seen a 2-point) and it only took one jump for him to dissappear.  The spike and 2-point didn't show obvious signs of rutting.

[boneaddict]

It is most certainly on already especially for the younger bucks.  Big ones haven't fired too hard yet and NOTHING from the whitetail camp yet.

[Machias]

You guys need to remember, the rut is dictated by the does.  Bucks are ready and capable of breeding anytime, the testosterone levels are high right now and they are on the prowl for any early season does.  THIS time, RIGHT now, is PRIME time for rattling and grunting in bucks, more so then in a couple of weeks.  Most of the really big bucks I have called in have been the 1st of Nov trough about the 14th.  Then the does come into heat and all mayhem breaks out, should be one of the best ruts in recent years, IMO, due to the phase of the moon this year.  The new moon falling on or near the 15th usually has increased and intense daytime rutting activity.  But it is the does who dictate the rut not the bucks.

[boneaddict]

VERY TRUE points

[bow4elk]

You guys need to remember, the rut is dictated by the does.  Bucks are ready and capable of breeding anytime, the testosterone levels are high right now and they are on the prowl for any early season does.  THIS time, RIGHT now, is PRIME time for rattling and grunting in bucks, more so then in a couple of weeks.  Most of the really big bucks I have called in have been the 1st of Nov trough about the 14th.  Then the does come into heat and all mayhem breaks out, should be one of the best ruts in recent years, IMO, due to the phase of the moon this year.  The new moon falling on or near the 15th usually has increased and intense daytime rutting activity.  But it is the does who dictate the rut not the bucks.

Bingo, Machias!!   Full moon on the 4th of November.  I brought my rattling antlers to work to see if I can call in some local bucks near the office for fun.  Can't hunt around here and I'm tagged out anyway but rattling is a blast.  I saw a nice fork this morning at 8:45 nosing the ground with his tail held straight out, a telltale sign of a buck on the prowl.

[boneaddict]

You guys are killing me.  I have to wait til Sunday before the vacation starts....Hoping to scrounge up som egood pics for you this fall.  My goal is a monster whitetail on film, or a booner muledeer public land washington.  I see about one of each every fall, but never get them on film.  They don't get big by being stupid.

[BLUEBULLS]

You guys need to remember, the rut is dictated by the does.  Bucks are ready and capable of breeding anytime, the testosterone levels are high right now and they are on the prowl for any early season does.  THIS time, RIGHT now, is PRIME time for rattling and grunting in bucks, more so then in a couple of weeks.  Most of the really big bucks I have called in have been the 1st of Nov trough about the 14th.  Then the does come into heat and all mayhem breaks out, should be one of the best ruts in recent years, IMO, due to the phase of the moon this year.  The new moon falling on or near the 15th usually has increased and intense daytime rutting activity.  But it is the does who dictate the rut not the bucks.

very true, but, the bucks get stupid well before the does are ready.