The rut will soon be here
From all indications, the rut has begun. By the rut, I’m not saying the full rut is in or that deer are in rut in all areas, I’m just saying the rut has begun. Some hunters believe they saw signs of the rut beginning two weeks ago in areas they hunt, but just about everybody I’ve talked with who has been out hunting a few times in the past week or so believes the rut has begun.
If what I’m hearing is true, bucks have begun fighting for territorial breeding rights.
Dominant bucks will viciously protect their territory, so now may be the time to change tactics a little. By changing tactics I mean use a little more scent and give rattling and grunting a try.
As full rut approaches, rattling and calling work better than they did in the early season.
If you are hunting an area where a buck has clearly made his scrapes, take advantage of them.
Get him riled up by introducing another dominant buck scent to his scrape, and place some doe in estrus scent a few feet away to really get him interested.
Over the years, hunters related to me how they successfully use a grunt call to bring bucks to their stands or get their attention as they approach.
Along with the grunt, snort and wheeze calls are also effective at time, especially to slow down a running buck and cause him to stop and check things out.
Bucks respond to doe bleats – especially mating calls – and many of the new calls on the market are phenomenal.
I brought a trophy six-pointer right up to a few years ago, but, unfortunately, I was hunting in a four-point restricted area.
When all else fails, go to the fawn bleat. Often it will draw on the curiosity and motherly instinct of nearby does, which just may be under the watchful eye, or be in the process of being actively courted by a buck.
Since water is available everywhere this year, focus more attention on the bucks’ primary needs, which, at this time, are mating and food in that order.
Food alone will not attract a buck in full rut, as bucks have been known to go days without eating while pursuing does in estrus. However the does have to eat, so setting up near a food source is always a sure bet, since the bucks will follow them.
The biggest problem this year is the fact that there is food everywhere. Apples and acorns are abundant in most areas.
In fact, most hunters report finding the ground covered with acorns that appear to be untouched by any game.
The whitetails’ food preferences shift in the fall from the summer diet of grasses, corn, alfalfa and soybeans to mast such as fruits, acorns, hickory nuts, beechnuts and persimmons, when they can be located.
Crabapple thickets and orchards are popular congregating spots, as whitetails are now beginning to feed on fallen fruit.
If you know of an orchard, which includes some winter pear trees, give it a try. One friend tells me the deer completely ignore his neighbor’s apples, but move one house down each night, where they feed on the fallen pears.
If you know of an area where the mast is – especially acorns and beechnuts – is abundant make a note of it. That is not only the place to hunt now, but it may well be the area where you score in the upcoming rifle seasons.
Unfortunately, we have had one full moon since the start of archery season and are looking at another come Tuesday. Deer harvests usually pick up after a full moon.
The Solunar tables say mid-morning until dark is the best time to hunt this week with mid-morning being best on Sunday and the prime time advancing each day until it dusk on Saturday. Use the table only as a guide. With the rut getting under way and farmers moving deer around as they bring in corn and soybeans deer will move accordingly.
The change in the weather over the past two weeks helped get most game active with the cooler weather being what was needed to kick off the rut.
With all small game species now in season, along with archery deer and turkey, this is good time to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.
Herald-Standard Outdoor Editor Rod Schoener can be reached online at rschoener@heraldstandard.com.