soillap Posted November 13, 2012 Report Share Posted November 13, 2012 I live in southern Illinois and have seen very little rut activity so far this year. Is anyone else from southern Illinois and what have you been seeing so far? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUDRUNNER Posted November 13, 2012 Report Share Posted November 13, 2012 That pretty much seems to be what everybody else is seeing too. There's a whole long thread over on archery talk about it. It sounds like it has been very hit and miss depending on where you are. I think the doe population is down this year where i hunt, and that EHD was worse than most people think it was. Some people are saying they are in lock down now, others are saying it hasn't really fired up yet. This week would be a greeat week to burn some vacation before gun season. I'll be in the woods all day Thursday trying to stick one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soillap Posted November 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2012 This morning I seen 9 does and a 8 point running across a field like they were herding up which would be very weird this early. I'm hoping something just spooked them from a bedding area or something like that. It has been an odd season that's all I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 13, 2012 Report Share Posted November 13, 2012 Southern Illinois is less than 60 miles from us as a crow flies. Seeing some chasing here, a few does seem to have already come in, and maybe were already bred. Saw some decent bucks chase last week or so. Earlier than usual for that for here. Alzheimer predicted an early rut and a concentrated rut where more does would be ready at the same time, not seeing it here, seems to be a trickle. Watched 4 does last night, had a 2.5 year old buck charge in and chase a smaller doe off the field, then the lead doe took off after them and the rest followed, and a ugly 1.5 year old buck came out and just watched and listened. I listened to them chase through the woods, then heard another chase in the woods on the opposite side of me, different group of deer, never saw them but did hear a buck grunt mid way through. Watched a single doe this morning right at light track her way across a field. After she got in the woods, heard a chase start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilhnter Posted November 14, 2012 Report Share Posted November 14, 2012 I hunt Southern Illinois and I agree that they haven't really starting doing to much rutting activity. I do think it is very close to kicking into high gear thougt. I hunted Nov. 4 - 12 and saw no real rutting activity to speak of. Last Tuesday evening I had a 150 and probably a 130 traveling and feeding together. There were seveal does that fed with them and passed by them and niether one of them paid any attention to them. They were concerned about feeding not the does. I did see one nice buck trailing 2 does, but he wasn't pushing them, just following 50yds behind them or so. I hope that this weekend during gun season that they are chasing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stone Cold Posted November 14, 2012 Report Share Posted November 14, 2012 I am in Central Illinois and this fella did not leave this HOTTIE all day long in the pasture. I sat in stand all day waiting on this fella to come by but no go. He was only 400 yards away from my stand and he stayed there in the pasture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soillap Posted November 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 Well after a couple of days of seeing nothing tonight I saw two bucks chasing. This morning seen one chasing and a nice 8 with its nose to ground the whole time. Hope I'm right when I say rut back on!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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