Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: frogman338 on November 15, 2018, 09:59:12 AM
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Anyone had any luck with a "doe in estrus" call in this late season? Im in this deerhole with trashed trees at every 10-15 yds and super fresh signs. Its quite thick in here, the only way is to slowly walk the trail so I wondered if that call would increase the chances. I know damn well there are big bucks near me, just need to connect
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Grunt tube !! Subtle grunts and groans
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Sounds like a rut hole, if there are numerous and different fresh and old rubs over a large number of trees. These are top secret areas for bucks. It should be top secret for you too if it turns out to be a true rut hole. Tell no one of it's location.
I'd probably stay on the periphery (rather than stink up the place with human scent) and glass with the expectation that bucks will be coming through there occasionally and leaving some scent/rubs. Occasional grunting or rattling wouldn't be a terrible idea. I've read about rut holes but never seen a good explanation for their existence. Apparently, it's kind of a man cave for deer, and for sure, the best bucks around will be coming and going if it is a true rut hole. They may push a doe into an area like this and breed them there. There's not many stories about hunting these type spots so you're on your own to figure it out. Watch your wind.
Doe in estrus scent has never worked for me, but I've seen plenty of positive reports by hunters using it. I don't know if it is appropriate for your situation there though.
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I agree with short tending grunts as I’ve had success calling bucks in with them.
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The general consensus on rubs/rublines in post-rut is that bucks may abandon them, though there a plenty of hunters who swear by sitting on rublines. Whether bucks continue to work the rublines or swing through a ruthole on their way to parts unknown is probably dependent on each individual buck's personality. You cannot guess if sitting on rubs will be time well spent during the last four days of the season. You can only decide to spend time there or not.
You should be able to find some good articles on using drag rags or drips with doe in estrus urine on the web if you're interested in pursuing that.
Good luck!
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I have a spot like this too. Mine has a small hill with a swath through it that’s much more sparse with trees so I’ve been sitting above on the uphill side and watching below while rattling/doe bleating etc. Hung doe in heat scent wind down there on the 28th of October. A few hours later my wife and I had one of the biggest blacktails of ever seen at 200 yards. I don’t think he got wind of the doe pee, he was cruising through nose to the dirt and rubbed two trees never presenting a shot for my wife. I left two cameras down in the bottom near where he came though until late buck and got a whopping zero pictures. Sat there yesterday for 6 hours and saw nothing. He’s the only deer I’ve ever seen in that area but there’s probably 30+ rubs. It’s a newer spot for me as I found it towards the end of last season but I’ve probably sat on it and watched it for 14+ hours total. We did hang more doe pee before late buck and there was definitely some new activity near a couple of the spots. I’ll be littering the area with cams and Apples going into next season and see what I can turn up.
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The thing about this time of the season is that you can't predict where a buck will be. He may rub a spot today and return a week from now, or he might not show again till next year. It make sense that if you're going to sit on a spot, it has fresh sign and is likely on a travel route or intersection of trails where you can expect bucks to pass through as they move from one area to another. You just don't want to spend four days on a spot and have nothing show at all.
Many hunters here seem to prefer to keep moving and try to find does. Find a single doe or pair of mature does with no kids close by will likely have a buck visit sometime during that day or night. He may already be right there with her but just hidden from view. Stay well back and just glass. Her actions will tell you if she's alone, with another animal, or hears something coming. If her tail is sticking out at 90 degrees, she's ready for action. Stay with her all day.
Posting up on a clearcut and glassing for a few hours is never a bad idea either.
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I don’t have a lot of experience but a doe bleat in estrus call stopped the mature blCktail we got yesterday. Good for stoping deer if nothing else..
