Confused about the rut

[Pineywoodkiller]

I've seen one buck chasing a doe hard. But I've mostly seen does still with fawns and bucks in bachelor groups still. Does this mean the rut hasn't hit hard where I am?

[Pineywoodkiller]

Did I miss it or has it just not turned on hard yet?

[Antlers86]

It hit hard here in Athens the week of Halloween and first part of November. Around here now the doe are back to big groups and bucks are nowhere to be seen. Heres a pic of doe/fawns yesterday at my work. They were all hammered 2 wks ago by a 3.5 yr old 8pt. At my house in LaRue November 5th was the big day.

[Puggy625]

If you spend much time in the woods you'll know when the full rut is on. It will start gradually and hit a peak with in a week or so and then taper off. Kind of like a bell curve. The does do not all come in to heat at the same exact time, but usually within a week or two of each other. That's why you usually start off seeing one or two does being chased while others not. That being said, not all does get bred during the main part of the rut, but a month later, those does will come in heat again. That's commonly referred to as the "secondary rut" since it's not as pronounced as the main rut. All that said, I've always been told (and it seems to hold true for the most part) is that the first new moon after Halloween is usually the "peak" of the rut. This will vary from region to region somewhat. The bucks I saw this week weren't even trying to sniff does, and does were either by themselves or still had babies with them.

[HC Sniper]

Rut has not started in Fisher county yet. Bucks are not paying any attention to the does at all. Our rut usually starts thanksgiving weekend to the first week of December.

[mudkat]

I hunt in rusk by reklaw and we seen a little rut activity opening of gun but not much. Had a lot of buck early bow season on cam mostly at night. Then all the deer even the does included vanished and corn piled up. I know it's the acorns and we lost most of out oaks in that dang drought.

[WhitneyLakerat]

Only the young bucks are chasing at our place west of San Saba.

[Landrover]

not an exact science.........just keep hunting and the buck of a lifetime could be 20 yards away!!!