Timing of the Rut…

[Nontypical]

The last several years since I started using cell cams, I’ve noticed subtle changes in timing of the rut. I’m sure there are plenty purists that say it happens at the same time every year, but it has become quite evident how the moon can directly affect the timing of the rut. The Metonic cycle of the moon repeats itself every 19 years. Looking back at 2005 and 1996, the Harvest moon occurred on Oct 17. Supposedly, we can expect a two pronged rut this year with 50% of the does coming into estrus in late October and the other half around Thanksgiving. It is also referred to as a Bifurcated Rut. That would mean that the first week or 2 of November might be on the quiet side. Who knows. In order for good daytime activity in October to happen, we will need some cold weather. If not, late November might be exceptional. 
What do you think?

[Rusty]

I miss Charlie!  He spoke at our church’s game dinner a couple of times, what a great guy!   

[Keith Nehrke]

I grew up with Charlie around the corner, and he always had a theory lol. I suspect that the bifurcated rut will be perceived by most as a trickle rut, since it can be difficult to differentiate between pre-rut activity and breeding based solely on individual experience. I for one prefer to see the bucks in search mode, covering ground and becoming more visible. The chase phase is exciting, but hit-or-miss for me. 

The only way to be sure not to miss anything is to be in the woods as much as possible! Without burning out those select stands, of course...

[Robhuntandfish]

for our property the most buck activity has always been the second week of November.  Whether that is considered the Rut, pre- Rut, searching phase, buck parade, or whatever its called its the time to be in the woods. 

I consider Oct 25-Nov 25 to be the prime time for our location and i concentrate on that. With the peak of activity being that second week of Nov

Edited October 3 by Robhuntandfish

[Trial153]

I think as weather patterns change  we might notice changes in activity. However since estrus is tied to photoperiodism, unless that changes the actual dates of conception aren’t going to vary much.   

[BAS]

I went to one of Charlie's seminars many years ago and it was very good.

We know that the peak conception date is around 11/13 consistently. So it would seem that the moon could only affect the intensity of the rut, not the timing.

Edited October 3 by BAS

[Robhuntandfish]

big fan of Bronson Strickland who does a ton of deer studies at MSU - heres what his studies have shown -

 

 

Edited October 3 by Robhuntandfish

[Bucksnbows]

With an early southern rifle opener this year and next, we should all see some chasing that first week. I plan to drive up on the 7th and leave the 16th this year. Combo bow and rifle hunt. 

[NYRturkeycall]

This is a great thread! Thanks for the information

[2BuckBizCT]

1 hour ago, Robhuntandfish said:

I consider Oct 25-Nov 25 to be the prime time for our location and i concentrate on that. With the peak of activity being that second week of Nov

Agree. Although for whatever reason the spots that I hunt have been better 11/20 to 11/25 than earlier November lately the last 3-4 years. Could be weather?

[lucky118]

2 hours ago, Rusty said:

I miss Charlie!  He spoke at our church’s game dinner a couple of times, what a great guy!   

I bought one of his books and had him sign it at a game dinner. Let an engineer  where I work borrow  it to read, and never saw it again. Lol

[Rusty]

3 minutes ago, lucky118 said:

I bought one of his books and had him sign it at a game dinner. Let an engineer  where I work borrow  it to read, and never saw it again. Lol

That sucks.  

[WNY Bowhunter]

9 minutes ago, lucky118 said:

I bought one of his books and had him sign it at a game dinner. Let an engineer  where I work borrow  it to read, and never saw it again. Lol

I have a couple of signed books and calendars from him too. He was born/raised locally and a close friend to my uncle as they went to school together. In December of 2017 he dropped his last harvested buck off at a buddy's taxidermy shop to be euro mounted, signed a few calendars that my buddy gave out as gifts for doing business (which I got one of) and then sadly passed only days later. RIP.

[Robhuntandfish]

28 minutes ago, 2BuckBizCT said:

Agree. Although for whatever reason the spots that I hunt have been better 11/20 to 11/25 than earlier November lately the last 3-4 years. Could be weather?

 A lot of areas seem to have their rut at different times but it is generally consistent year to year in those areas.  For instance in the south they might have a December rut every year.  But its still about the same every year.  I would say weather trumps all and the falls have been very warm lately.  One of the reasons im not hunting til Oct 25

Edited October 3 by Robhuntandfish

[grampy]

Whenever I'm asked about the best days to be in the deer woods, my answer is always the same. November 10th is what I call the "magic day" And the five days before and after, are the prime days to be in the deer woods. Of course, any day during the season could be the best one for any hunter. But, it's that ten day window, with the most concentrated deer activity, especially buck activity, of the year. In over 50 years of deer hunting I can go back and see that November 10th was a day where a mature buck was seen blindly crossing the road. Standing in the middle of an open field. Seeing multiple bucks trailing a hot doe. And all the crazy things, we as deer hunters see in November, are more likely to be seen during the time on and around November 10th. Same time each year. Though the moon can and does have some influence on deer activity, it doesn't influence the rut. Nature wants the doe to give birth to the fawns around the same time in the spring. Hence nature wants breeding done around the same time too. 

Can we see rutting activity at any time of the season? Early and late? Absolutely we can!! Not every doe will cycle at the same exact time. That's why we need to be out there as often as we can, all season!  My November 10th date and the few days before and after, is when the "majority" of the doe's will be looking to breed.

Charlie was a very smart, and great guy! I've met him several times, and tried to read anything he wrote. I greatly respected him, for so many reasons. But I just never saw with my own eyes, over many decades, the effect the moon has on rut timing. Just that the "magic days" always stayed consistently the same in my humble observations.