When planning your deer hunting trips dont forget about pre rut hunting. Hunting feeding areas is a good strategy for early in the season. A whitetail bucks sense of smell is probably his most important attribute, and as the first does begin to come into estrus you can use this sense against him. Prerut moose hunting tactics alaska outdoors forums.
With a lateafternoon moonrise, also focus on field edges or oak stands. The folks who put meat in the freezer and racks on the wall, season. Nov, 2017 the pre rut, peak rut and post rut fly by so quickly that christmas is just weeks away. Prior to the increase of deer activity leading up to the prerut phase, bucks will spend the majority of their summer in allmale groups of three or more, commonly referred to as bachelor groups. A wide spectrum of hunting tactics can be productive during the long rut.
However, during the late prerut and early rut i sometimes carry as many as three decoys in the field. Sometimes the weather conditions and hunting pressure can push the deer to the thickest cover, only feeding at night. Big bucks may be laying low for most of the day, but when they are out feeding, checking scrapes, making rubs and chasing off lesser bucks. Finally, the pride and selfrespect each hunter gains from an ethical h a p p. Try these tips to improve your wild boar hunting skill set. While some mature bucks will stay on your property late in this prebreeding period, others will start to expand their range. Hunters fail primarily because they continue to use prerut tactics. Enter your email and well email you instructions on how to reset your password. Using a deer decoy during the pre rut montana decoy.
The prerut is the best time to rattle like two bucks fighting over a hot doe. This is a period when deer have transitioned from their early season patterns to their fall ranges. But this brief period can be chaotic, somewhat unpredictable, and often difficult to hunt due to intense outside hunting pressure and other uncontrollable factors. This is exactly why you need to take advantage of the early season and exploit a mature bucks routine long before. This book gives whitetail hunters exactly what theyre always looking for. Hunting tactics for the prerut and rut bone collector. Absolutely, you should reserve some vacation time for the peak rut. Prerut on the move migration photoperiod snow depth trigger mountainous. Do you have a hunt you would like featured on the deer societys viewer submission. Karl miller and cohorts conducted a trailcamera study in georgia and found that bucks build scrapes in hightraffic spots where other does and bucks will see and smell them. But whichever week you choose, weve got you covered with this weekbyweek plan on how to hunt the rut.
If you hunt a more pressured area, youll want to use calling techniques more sparingly. Show host adam tucker is hunting in middle georgia and talks about some of his favorite ways to hunt deer during the prerut. Prerut moose hunting tactics i am heading out in about a week for a moose archery hunt. Books and videos that i have readwatched have mentioned that you can wave a boat oar or a white trash bag to keep. This short period usually fills many tags and provides buck sightings we dream about for years.
This day should kickstart heavy prerut activity across much of the midwest and northeast. Although the peak rut is often considered the golden time to be in the deer woods, when you look through your bowhunting journals over the years, the prerut period has surrendered just as many bucks, if not a few more. Many hunters would agree that you should hunt that monster during the prerut. Learn the latest goose hunting techniques from some of the best in the business as they discuss their favorite tips, techniques and equipment for hunting one of the most majestic birds that. The rut can be broken down into three distinct phases. The last and final week of october is upon us, and sweet november is just around the corner. In september, does and bucks commingle and graze together in fields and woodland openings. Jan 01, 2008 the earlyautumn pre rut is the time before deer mate. With that being said, here are three highimpact calling tactics that you can use right now to coax a massiveracked shooter into close range. This is a prime hunting tree stand location for early prerut bucks that are still. Bowhunting the phases of the rut whitetail habitat solutions. Below i will outline five of my favorite tactics for early season elk hunting.
Utah elk will prove to be almost impossible to hunt successfully like you would in states with later hunt dates. Sep, 2015 the early season tends to be much slower then heat of the rut, but it can also be a great time to catch that bullofalifetime off his guard. The pre rut hunting period can surrender as many bucks, if not more than the peak rut. While bowhunting the phases of the rut, your tactics need to change as each phase passes. Yes the rut is upon us and your chances look good, but it doesnt automatically mean success. This is exactly why you need to take advantage of the early season and exploit a mature bucks. Bucks are aggressive and will respond to these techniques in many instances. It is definitely easier to hunt moose during the rut as they are responsive to calling. Whether youre brand new to the sport of deer hunting or a seasoned. Benefits of hunting early and late most bowhunters think the peak of the rutroughly the third week of september here in the rocky mountain westis the best time to hunt elk. I have gotten swamped with the questions and spend about an hour per day answering them, but i dont seem to be catching up. Unfortunately, many hunters dont realize bucks abort their patterns as soon as does come into estrus.
Nov 04, 2011 unfortunately, many hunters dont realize bucks abort their patterns as soon as does come into estrus. No matter which rut phase you are hunting during late season deer hunts, the further you are from the food sources you are, without getting too close to the deer bedding areas, the better your chances of seeing deer during the day. The 2018 rut strategies, tactics, and timing tips to help. Deer huntings liquid gold outdoors unlimited media and. This is one of the only times that males and females are seen side by side. Using a deer decoy during the pre rut pre rut is a favorable time to arrow a trophy buck as they tend to scrapes and rubs, increase their protein intake for the upcoming rut, and even sniff the air a bit more checking for a doe in estrus. But the same axiom can also be applied to deer hunters.
The pre rut, peak rut and post rut fly by so quickly that christmas is just weeks away. The bucks tend to move around a lot during rutting season, so keep your eyes open for fresh deer sign like fresh and active scrapes and rubs, hunt where the does are and your chances. Hunters enjoy two primary benefits during the prerut period that werent in play throughout the early season. If you find one of these rubs during the late prerut, hunt it as soon as possible. Mule deer rely heavily upon their senses sight, hearing and smell a good rule of thumb is they need to have at least two of these peaked at all times. Here are a few simple tips that just might help you notch that tag before season closes. Talk to many bowhunters today and this is when theyll say they most want to be in the woods. Over the years, ive had to find ways to hunt them without any rut action and without the use of calls or the opportunity of chasing bugles.
Oct 25, 2017 50 expert tips for hunting every phase of the breeding season, including 2017s musthunt dates. Bowhunting post rut bucks no matter how disappointed you may feel because of your lack of success, the post rut offers some excellent hunting opportunities. One last tip for hunting mature whitetail bucks during this transition from prerut to rut is using the power of smell to your advantage. If youre hunting an area that doesnt get a lot of pressure, you can feel free to grunt, snortwheeze or doe bleat fairly aggressively.
Its almost like they begin to realize there are more deer there besides them. True, peak rut is a great time to be in your tree stand from sunrise to sunset. It is getting closer, but in the meantime you must plan for prerut. Sep 20, 2010 however, during the late pre rut and early rut i sometimes carry as many as three decoys in the field. The pre rut phase is not quite yet the time for all day sits. The thing to remember is that during the rut the game of hunting deer completely changes. Pro hunters avoid these whitetail hunting mistakes. Most does were bred during the peak of the rut, but the bucks still maintain some contact. This persistent impression is often based on a memorable news report of. It was as good, if not better, than my favorite time to bowhunt elkthe prerut. Prerut in late october is when bucks are on the move a.
Moose hunting ends at the end of october were i hunt. My latest book, all weather whitetails, can help you choose the best days to hunt during the pre rut, peak rut and post rut, as well as the entire rest of the season. Post rut deer hunting tips make the push when all else fails, its time to do the man drive. Whitetail pre rut strategies whitetail habitat solutions. Bucks are revving their engines but still somewhat in a pattern. I have been a very avid bowhunter since the early 90s and have never missed an archery season. This will be my first pre rut moose hunt and i am just looking for tactics people have used before to close the last few yards of a stalk in the event the animal is aware of your presence. About a month after the peak of the rut, does that werent bred come back into estrous, causing a smaller, less activity charged rut peak. Post rut deer hunting tips deer hunting tips va outdoors. Below youll find a list of all posts that have been tagged as deer hunting prerut tactics public land rut hunting tips rut hunting tips for diy public land hunting it is widely known that the rut is one of the best times to catch mature whitetail bucks out and about. Big bucks may be laying low for most of the day, but when they are out feeding, checking scrapes, making rubs and chasing off lesser bucks, they are susceptible to aggressive tactics. Prerut hunting tactics for october whitetails pre rut. The first couple weeks of november, for most of the country, receive the bulk of the rut hunting hype.
Keep in mind it always helps to know that a buck is in the area. Stillhunting or stand hunting, either on the ground or in a tree stand, can work. Not using peakoftherut techniques during the second estrous cycle. A few years back, i was hunting a stand in a wood lot that i felt sure was a prime location because of all the trails, deer droppings and old rubs i found during my summer scouting missions. Deer are moving more frequently and may be ranging farther, while an abundance of scrapes provides hunters with focused areas of deer activity on which to concentrate. Its a season we eagerly await each year, so spend as much time as you can in the woods, and adapt to the deers constantly changing behavior. Jan 01, 2008 stillhunting or stand hunting, either on the ground or in a tree stand, can work. Look for a major uptick in scraping activity, and be ready to set up overlooking the freshest spoor, or on trails leading to it. How to hunt the phases of the rut deer hunting realtree camo.
Agenda introductions photosvideos hunting strategies homework. No doubt youll hear lots of bugling then, which if nothing else helps you locate. The rut is the most exciting time of the year to be in the deer woods. I am heading out in about a week for a moose archery hunt. Early season calling tactics for elk hunting success. This is the time when we are able to use different calling techniques to lure unsuspecting deer within range. Bucks make scrapes during the prerut period by scraping the ground with their hooves near the base of. Basic hunting kentucky department of fish and wildlife. Mule deer strategies and management wild sheep society. There are several effective hunting tips and techniques for bow hunting. The stages of the rut vary a bit throughout the month. But remember, even though a buck is less wary as he looks for does, he is no pushover. What are the dates for the prerut, rut and postrut.
I have had great success with a pattern of hunting an oustanding morning stand that relates to a mature bucks daytime bedding area as late as noon, and then switching to an evening stand that relates to food for the last 3 hours of the day. What techniques work the best during the pre, peak, and postrut. The 2018 rut strategies, tactics, and timing tips to. But weather asside because does enter estrus regardless of the weather, moon, etc the peakrut begins when the does are ready. In other years, the prerut may offer the best hunting of the year, as warming patterns take over for early novemember.
When bow hunting the primary rut, i jettison rublines and scrapes and concentrate on hunting doe family units because bucks are hunting doe family units. All deer have to eatparticularly in the prerut period, when whitetails are stoking their stomachs for breeding challenges, and after the rut, when theyre recovering and building stores for winter. Below youll find a list of all posts that have been tagged as prerut calling tactics public land rut hunting tips rut hunting tips for diy public land hunting it is widely known that the rut is one of the best times to catch mature whitetail bucks out and about. I touched on this already but cow calling is your main tool on a moose hunt. It is official, we are beginning to enter some of the best days that you can spend in a tree stand or ground blind hunting. Its thanksgiving in november and those of us with tags are outside hunting during whats left of the rut. This shift can occur anytime between midseptember and midoctober, but it usually always happens by october 10, which is generally when i begin implementing prerut hunting tactics. Does drive yearling bucks away and sometimes seek isolation. Time spent hunting together allows open communication about all subjects. Oct 11, 2017 the rut is the most exciting time of the year to be in the deer woods.
Aug 16, 2014 but hunting success to me is more about the entire strategical process, and i look forward to explaining both the why and when for your pre rut strategies guide. Prerut most bucks experience their best body condition during the prerut. Peak rut tactics whitetail properties hunting land. But a variety of urine products are available, and knowing what to use and when is the key to unlocking the full potential of this liquid gold the correct product used at the proper time will put deer at ease and pique their curiosity a condition that can lead to a successful. Trail camera photos allow hunters to estimate age of bucks before hunting. Frank,i may have gottent to your question too late to do you much good this time around. One of the questions im often asked is in reference to hunting techniques during the course of the rut. In this article we are going to give you some tips for hunting and calling elk pre rut. It allows a parent to share an activity with his or her spouse and children, and it allows children to be valued as a partner in an activity.
Look for tracks and pawed areas in the leaves near these food sources and wait for the deer to come to feed. Dont go out and buy moose calls unless it is the birch bark cone. Hunting also develops healthy family relationships. This will be my first prerut moose hunt and i am just looking for tactics people have used before to close the last few yards of a stalk in the event the animal is aware of your presence. Hunting a bucks home range during the peak of the rut.
Typically those words are used to remind athletes that victories are earned through tremendous selfsacrifice. During the prerut, rattling and grunting can be very effective. For some of us archery elk hunters, and to be more direct, utah elk hunters, we have to deal with hunting elk during the early part of august and early september. The early season tends to be much slower then heat of the rut, but it can also be a great time to catch that bullofalifetime off his guard. Pinpointing choice foods is especially important these days, with severe drought. Find the best deer foods, and you can bet does and bucks will show up in good numbers.
These rut hunting strategies, tips, tactics, and videos will dive into exactly what you should focus on during this time. Jones without question, most diehard deer hunters get fired up for the muchanticipated rut. Bucks separate from their bachelor groups choosing to battle for dominance of their respected area. The information contained in this manual was collected from the washington. A hunter must still be quiet and windconscious as he moves into a bucks domain. Prerut hunts can be just as productive as peakrut hunts.
Bowhunting the phases of the rut shed hunting starts and ends, food plots are painfully established and maintained, and finally the bow season begins with the full anticipation of the approaching rut. When you dream of the rut most of us are thinking about those magical days between halloween and the middle of november, and for good reason. Pinpointing choice foods is especially important these days, with severe drought affecting much of the. The 5 best prerut deer hunting tips for bagging a trophy. Oct 15, 2012 all deer have to eatparticularly in the pre rut period, when whitetails are stoking their stomachs for breeding challenges, and after the rut, when theyre recovering and building stores for winter. But hunting success to me is more about the entire strategical process, and i look forward to explaining both the why and when for your pre rut strategies guide. The earlyautumn prerut is the time before deer mate. Pre rut moose hunting tactics this will be my first pre rut moose hunt and i am just looking for tactics people have used before to close the last few yards of a stalk in the event the animal is aware of your presence. However, dont worry because 2017 post rut opportunities are coming in hot. Typically most of the deer that have been on your property for the past summer are still going to be frequenting that same location. Nov 26, 2015 show host adam tucker is hunting in middle georgia and talks about some of his favorite ways to hunt deer during the pre rut. While i have painted a rosy picture for the postrut, prewinter hunting seasons, there are many downsides.
Nov 01, 2016 yes the rut is upon us and your chances look good, but it doesnt automatically mean success. In this article we are going to give you some tips for hunting and calling elk prerut. I have logged hundreds of encounters and have been blessed with great. The actual rut, when a high percentage of does are in estrus and breeding actually occurs is generally the last two weeks of november.