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This was the first weekend we hadnt seen a deer this season. Winds were pretty crap this weekend so did t see any deer. Did see two coyotes and shot the bigger one. Found one scrape. No real fresh rubs yet. I don't normally have rubs and scrapes in my bush. I have a doe honey hole and come the pre n rut that's when I start seeing a lot of bucks.
We can agree to differ Smitty. You said "temps have no effect on rutting activity, hormone levels are all related to daylight hours dropping".
I think there's more then enough evidence to dispute that, the weather plays a huge roll in seeing daylight activity, for the reasons I've said already.
The area's dominant buck will be well established before the breeding begins in November.
There's a couple of the reasons you'll see young bucks, usually yearling bucks following does at this time. One, because they don't have the memory of getting their butt's kicked for paying too close attention to the does that the dominant buck has rights over. They will before the the ruts over though lol. Also, it could be that doe's offspring and he may even try to mate with her at some point, but she wont let him.
Right now bucks are busy marking their territories. This years temp's so far have been ideal for daytime activity.
Rubs are for a more visual marking and scrapes are for more of a scent marking. Once breeding starts to occur, that dominant buck will abandon the majority of his scrapes because he has no time as he'll have to stay with that hot doe. He will however freshen ones in the area where breeding is taking place.
If someone has some evidence of "actual breeding" in October, I'd love to see it.
Hey I agree on temps affecting daytime activity. Remember two years ago it was so warm no one was seeing many deer during the day but were still seeing lots on trail cams at night. What I'm talking about is testosterone levels, which are the major contributor to rutting activity, not general daytime activity.Quote:
Originally Posted by onelessarrow
Cheers
Have a new buck on the property was moving some dirt with backhoe he was watching me not nervous at all
Later seen fresh rub
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When neighbours get couple more corn fields harvested will see more
I’m in no rush to see them come off just yet
Have a doe honey hole also. Just wait for the boys to show up lots of scrapes
“When government becomes a law breaker, it breeds contempt for law”
Walked the corn field edge tonight with the dog. Seen 3 small scrapes but no broken branch, just tore up ground by the looks of a young buck.
Seen a 11 point taken not far from here in Oct. 20th with the bow and the bucks neck wasnt very swollen.
Hope it stays cold for controlled hunt as I think it helps with daytime movement
There rubbing hydro poles now
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“When government becomes a law breaker, it breeds contempt for law”
Fresh scrapes this weekend. Haven’t found any rubs though. Saw a doe Saturday morning and ya e deer on the camera all day, everyday this week past.
Quiet in 72a. Couple does so far