hoytman62 Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 Went hunting today and saw a four point whitetail. I noticed he is scraping and peeing on the scrape and then he is rubbing trees as he goes and the branches with his face as he keeps walking. Am I correct to say that he is starting to mark his territory or am I wrong. Now, is this the time to start scents, if so, what type (estrus, etc) and is it time to rattle or use the deer call? I am new at this. Thanks for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WStreblo Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 Help You can ask 10 people what they would do and you'd prolly get about 10 different answers! Right now deer are starting to split out of their bachelor groups and are startin to prepare for the few weeks of non stop action. Yes now is a good time to be in the woods and it's an awesome time to start working the deer. Here I've noticed the bucks are starting to work the does a little more as far as checking them... Non are in estrous at the moment but I would bet my bow that by the weekend and the deep cold we are fixing to get there will be some serious activity going. That's when I will really rip the rattling horns together and start stinking the woods up with some estrous. Now is also a GREAT time for all day sits if you can manage them.... Even if you get down and still hunt slowly to another stand. Rattling is my favorite thing to do, but you have to be patient and you have to have an idea of how a fight sequence usually starts with deer. Mimic that as closely to a dee as you can and you will see more reaction. 99% of bucks will circle downwind so I like to set up so that bucks either can't circle or will expose themselves in open woods when they do. If you have a set up like that and prevent them circling be ready for deer to come in very very cautiously and searching hard for another deer and they will bolt quick fast and in a hurry if they pick you off. I like to be in thick cover or have a decoy to give them something to look at. You rattle in wide open woods a deer don't have to come to you to see what's going on. Aggressive grunts can be a good thing at this point of the game. Deer are starting to establish the breeding hierarchy and when an intruder enters with attitude.... Antlers are gonna be swinging. If you can really work a deer with all his senses, you can't go wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowhunter97 Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 You can ask 10 people what they would do and you'd prolly get about 10 different answers! Right now deer are starting to split out of their bachelor groups and are startin to prepare for the few weeks of non stop action. Yes now is a good time to be in the woods and it's an awesome time to start working the deer. Here I've noticed the bucks are starting to work the does a little more as far as checking them... Non are in estrous at the moment but I would bet my bow that by the weekend and the deep cold we are fixing to get there will be some serious activity going. That's when I will really rip the rattling horns together and start stinking the woods up with some estrous. Now is also a GREAT time for all day sits if you can manage them.... Even if you get down and still hunt slowly to another stand. Rattling is my favorite thing to do, but you have to be patient and you have to have an idea of how a fight sequence usually starts with deer. Mimic that as closely to a dee as you can and you will see more reaction. 99% of bucks will circle downwind so I like to set up so that bucks either can't circle or will expose themselves in open woods when they do. If you have a set up like that and prevent them circling be ready for deer to come in very very cautiously and searching hard for another deer and they will bolt quick fast and in a hurry if they pick you off. I like to be in thick cover or have a decoy to give them something to look at. You rattle in wide open woods a deer don't have to come to you to see what's going on. Aggressive grunts can be a good thing at this point of the game. Deer are starting to establish the breeding hierarchy and when an intruder enters with attitude.... Antlers are gonna be swinging. If you can really work a deer with all his senses, you can't go wrong. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 I would ask first where are you located. Sounds like you're a lot further north than me, our rut won't get prime until last half of December. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoytman62 Posted October 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 I'm in Central Ohio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 Now is a great time to get a mock scrape started. Use active scrape here most often to start them, but will also use my own pee. A little dominant buck urine in a scrape being used by that deer will tick him off and get him back around to see who is invading. Good time to be grunting/calling too if you are seeing that type sign. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WStreblo Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 I'm in Central Ohio. I'm in eastern Ohio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeddington Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 in mo Here in missouri the bucks are still in their bachelor groups. I like using plain doe pee until november and then starting the estrous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 He's doing what most bucks do this time of year..making scrapes and depositing scent on the licking branch..it;s called pre rut activity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.