Iowa Rut Action

[Eric]

Hello Everyone. Was just curious if anybody is seeing much action of rut yet? I have not seen much action to speak of. The last couple of days I think they have hunkerd down w/ the high winds and colder temps.

[ultratec1]

There is no doubt that the rut is definetly in the beginning stages. The smaller bucks were in the chase phase early last week and I also saw a couple of good bucks already with does. My personal opinion on why the movement has been slow is not due to the wind and colder temps. If anything the colder temps will get them on their feet and moving more. I think that is due to the fact that the dominant bucks of the area are doe'd up already. Give them some time and it will really start to get crazy.

On friday I had a 140" 8pt make a scrape at 17 yrds from me. I saw a total of 10 deer that night with the biggest being that 8pt. As we were walking out that night we came across 2 bucks making scrapes nearly 15 yrds from each other and 15-18 yrds from us. We were downwind of them and we dropped and just watched. The biggest was a 160" 10 maybe more. It was dark and it took every bit of the binos to pick him up even at that close of a distance.

Then on Saturday I had a 140-145" 10pt work the same scrape as the 8pt the night before, at 17 yrds. I passed on him but watched a doe come in 45 mins later and work the same scrape. Needless to say that was her last expierence. She ran 20 yrds and did the ol' side shuffle hop and dropped. Saturday night was a cluster from the beginning so we wont go into that.

Sunday morning I had a perfect 150-155 10pt at 28 yrds with a doe and really contemplated on shooting him. He got a free pass and as he walked away with the doe I started to second guess my judgement on that one.

While I was at work this morning my good friend called and told me that his buddy shot a good one this morning but he was unsure of the shot so they were going to go back out at noon. This is the same guy that shot a 186" 2 yrs ago so I'm pretty sure that it will be a nice one. I was also told by another buddy that he had 155-160" 10 pt at 12 yrds but decided to let him walk. I think that next week will be the week to be sitting all day. The big boys will be out looking for an overnight partner and thats when they start to get dumb. Good luck and keep us posted on how things go for you!!

[jbeck]

Welcome to the forums, here in Pa. the rut is getting going well. I had a good buck running does in the field by the house last night. I'm headed out in the morning to do my best to let you have a real good look at him. Good luck and get after them.

Jeff

[ultratec1]

Last 2 days have been busy but nothing to get excited about. Saw alot of deer but nothing over 120". Thursday morning was a great day. Had that same 145" 10pt at 28-30 yrds running a doe all over. Then I had the same 135-140" 8pt running all over the field chasing a seperate doe. There was a total of 6 bucks that morning and 4 does. Drew back on a doe but they kept looking back behind them so I hoping that a buck was dogging them.......no such luck. Thursday night I was the closest that I have come to drawing back. I had a real nice 10 at 25 yrds but I wasnt convinced that he was the one I wanted to end the season with. His main beams weren't that long plus tine length wasnt good. His width, mass and extra character was the things that kept making me want to thump him. He was palmated at the G-2 and G-3 and his browtines were 8-9" and they were bladed. He probably would have gone in the 145-150" range maybe alittle bigger. This coming up week should be when the action starts to get real, real serious!!! Good luck to everyone and keep us posted on here.