Rut Research- When is D-Day?

[RS3]

I was talking to a biologist in Kansas yesterday about bowhunting whitetails. He told me that D-Day in Kansas was Nov. 18. His definition of D-Day was the day that they have the most deer/vehicle accidents, which one would assume is the day the bucks are really chasing the does hard and don't care about anything else in the world, i.e. the day the does get bred. I'd never heard it put that way but it made a lot of sense.

So, I have two questions. When is D-Day in your hunting area and how many days before that is the prime time to rattle in the bucks?

[mesquitecountry]

i've always said the best rattling is the week before and two weeks after the rut. My favorite time to hunt is post rut. Bucks are hungry, horny, and ready to fight. Just my $.02.

[BrandonA]

From what I have seen the third week in Nov. in Kansas is the peak. This year I will be Nov 8-18.

At our ranch in Zavala Cnty if I had to pick it would me between Dec 5-15 for the best rutting action.

I agree with MC on the week or to before and after the rut. If the rut occurs during the dark moon and cold weather then the rut is easily observed. Duruing hot weather and full moon the running is done at night.

During the peak, or when bucks are locked down with does, I hunt water holes. Bucks can go days without food but can't survive long without water. IMO hunting feeders during this time is a waste.

[qzilla]

This won't cover KS but, here is data compiled in Kleberg, Kenedy, Brook and Jim Wells counties. This is last years data from our reproductive studies.

[Africanbowhunter]

In Illl & Iowa mid- West and East Coast MD & VA its Nov 9th
More trophy bucks are bow shot on Nov 9th than any other day IMHO


Tink