buckee Posted December 1, 2005 Report Share Posted December 1, 2005 The Magic of the rut POOOOF ... Where the heck did he come from ? You hear these stories all the time, and they are always a pleasure to hear. It's the rut, that magical time of the year when bucks get blindsided by their own instincts. The does are going into oestrus and the bucks are chasing everything in sight, just to find out if she's ready or not. It's not uncommon at all for a big monster to leave his regular haunt, in persuit of a hot female. I'm writing this little story as a hunting tip, to encourage young and old hunters to hang in there during the rut, because you just never know what is going to happen. One day it looks dead, the next day the woods are alive with action. The most magical thing about the rut, is not just that the bucks have thrown caution to the wind and your seeing them make stupid, fatal mistakes, but it's the fact that you may just see a buck, a monster buck, that you have never seen before, if you just hang in there and put in your time. I personally like to fill my doe tag before the rut ever gets started. Why? #1....because it takes away the temptation to shoot a doe during the rut, when right behind her, out of my view, could be Mr. Big, who I have never seen before and would most likely never see again, if I pulled the trigger on the Mrs.. #2 .... By taking your doe/does early you are creating more action for yourself where you hunt, by heightening the competition level between the bucks in your area. It has been my experience along with every other seasoned hunter I know, that the rut, is a very special time of the year for us all. And it is due to that surprise factor of a stray buck showing up on the property you hunt, that you have never set your eyes on before, plus the fact that every other buck you may be familiar with, will have his guard down. The pictures below are a very good example of what I'm trying to convey here, because each one of these bucks, were never seen by me and my hunting buddies, until that magical day, during that magical time of the year. And these deer were all taken, over the last 4 years, by my two friends and myself (praise the Lord). Every year I say it, just to convince myself to hang in there ... "The rut is full of surprises" The only thing left for me now, is to take my own advice to heart ...next year. 3legs' (Ken W's) 2004 buck taken during the rut - saw this buck once, two days before Ken nailed him, for a brief second My trophy swamp-buck, taken on a still-hunt during the rut - never saw this buck before My 5 minute buck taken during the rut - never seen him before Wilfinator's 2005 rutting buck - never seen before until 21/2 weeks into the rut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrud Posted December 1, 2005 Report Share Posted December 1, 2005 Re: The Magic of the rut Never saw this guy until the rut either. We saw a few different bucks before the rut. But once the rut hit, the number of bucks we saw tripled and quadrupled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted December 1, 2005 Report Share Posted December 1, 2005 Re: The Magic of the rut [ QUOTE ] but it's the fact that you may just see a buck, a monster buck, that you have never seen before, [/ QUOTE ] So true Sherm. Like ghosts wandering in and out of your life in a heartbeat. The 140 class I videoed 3 weeks ago, bedded in my neighbor's field only to be rousted out by my son playing in the back yard, wandered off to who knows where. I knew I had a trail camera out in my field, and had hopes of seeing him there, but I just got those pictures back and he wasn't there. Just out cruising, looking for love, in my life for a mere 11 seconds, and now he's gone, maybe forever. Every single buck I've shot was shot during the pre rut or rut or 2nd rut. Buck #1 was November 1st, #2 was on November 7th, #3 is the only odd ball and he was out looking for love on December 27th, #4 was on November 5th, #5 was on November 17th, and my last buck was just a month ago on November 3rd. Magical time indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted December 1, 2005 Report Share Posted December 1, 2005 Re: The Magic of the rut Yep, see bucks every year during the rut that have escaped all of the scouting, trailcams and hunting before the rut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockefeller66 Posted December 1, 2005 Report Share Posted December 1, 2005 Re: The Magic of the rut i know just what you mean! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbarnhart20 Posted December 2, 2005 Report Share Posted December 2, 2005 Re: The Magic of the rut Looks like some fun there. The rut is the most exciting time of year for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
double_drop Posted December 2, 2005 Report Share Posted December 2, 2005 Re: The Magic of the rut the rut is the reason that really draws me to bowhunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 2, 2005 Report Share Posted December 2, 2005 Re: The Magic of the rut Yep, good post Steve. No doubt the rut is full of surprises. Have seen deer we never knew were there show up during the rut several times. My best luck has almost always come the third to fourth week of November when the rut is usually really kicking in good around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdvantageTimberLou Posted December 2, 2005 Report Share Posted December 2, 2005 Re: The Magic of the rut Yeah they tend to get "stupid" during the rut and let their guards down just a bit. Their out there and the rut makes them a little easier to hunt because one thing is on their mind lol!! That is why I love bowhunting during the rut than gun season. More up and personal with them. This was the first year I had 4 bucks chasing a doe right in front of my stand and at 15 yards they stopped as the doe needed a breather, all the deer looked exhausted from the chase but the biggest one made sure the others never "got" his doe. Was great to see! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted December 2, 2005 Report Share Posted December 2, 2005 Re: The Magic of the rut Yes Steve I agree, Thats how this brute was taken he was tending his harem in the late season, when the does that did not get bred first time around were cycling.His last mistake.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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