When will the rut start?

R

RuttCrazed

Member
For those of you (like me!) trying to pass the time until the pheasant hunt starts by sitting in a tree all day waiting for a buck to walk by, when do you think the rut will start? I haven't seen much sign of it happening in Johnson County yet, but hope it will start soon.

Rut
 
I have not seen any sign of it here in Dodge yet. Heard a report from N. OK that is is beginning there.

Just back from a run to SE KS, NE OK, NW AR, SW MO and didn't see much wildlife activity. A few deer, but not many. Probably 50 turkey. One armadillo in Pittsburg. Came back today via Hwys 166 and 160 across the southern edge of Kansas and nothing moving there either.

Should start soon.

Do you know if you can bow hunt in Lenexa city limits?
 
The deer are starting to move here.:D Saw two bucks, one pretty good, slip by just out of range Friday morning.

Only shooting opportunity was at a coyote. I did my duty and scared him with a clean miss. He just wouldn't stop for me and I guess I am not too good at leading a running coyote with a bow.:mad: He was within 10 yards when I finally let fly.:D

I hadn't been seeing squat this season, so it was a really big deal to see two bucks and a coyote in an hour. I'm not picky, so I would have taken a poke at either buck if I had a clear shot at around 30 yards. I saw a tall 6-point and a ho-lotta-point biggun. Both passed by at about 40 yards through the brush and trees. I had a brief chance to shoot at the 6-point, but I thought it was going to follow the trail under my stand so I just sat still and waited while he walked away.:eek:

After all the time and fuel I burned up for zero deer last season, "if it's brown, it's down!" I wish I already had both tags filled so I could spend more time running the dogs instead of pretending to be a squirrel.:(

Oh yeah.... Also saw two young bucks sparring on Monday last week... Not while hunting though.
 
Enjoyed my trip through the Chautauqua Hills yesterday. Looked like quite a few hunters in the area. That is some beautiful country. Love it. Wish I owned a piece of it.

Toad, glad you are seeing some activity. Deer left my place this year and piled up in the irrigated alfalfa fields. I hope now that the weather has moderated some, they will be coming back.
 
Limited rub and scrape activity at my spot. I'm going to work in a few hours of stand time next weekend, along with some waterfowling and dog training. It's going to be a busy weekend, but given the circumstances I don't mind at all! :D
 
Dad's got a hedgerow behind his house in SEK with beans in the field. In about a 200 yard span there are 4 scrapes that they're half-heartedly working right now. He's got a trailcam out, of course it never gets a picture of the big boys that he has seen, but there are some pics of them working the scrapes, as well as some sparring in the background. None really chasing any does yet though.
 
Rattling / Grunts works

Well I think the rut is going on. I was in Jeff Co. yesterday morning and rattled/ grunted in a big buck from about 220 yards to within 57 yrds of my stand but he caught my winds and turned tail back into the draw. Going back out friday to see if I can give that deer a Muzzy moment on video.
Deer is well outside his ear's with long G1'S & G2's. I believe he in the mid 150-160's with heavy horns!

BONUS ....found a 20+ bird covey of strong flyin quail on a the property I hunt on too. So there may be hope after all!:thumbsup:
 
I killed this deer 3 days before halloween last year I rattled him in. With in the next 2 week big boys will be lock down with does and not moving
 
riverghost said:
It is almost a curse it has ruined deer hunting. I could hunt the rest of my life trying to shoot a better one and not happen so I bought a bird dog right after I killed him and getting back into birds
Click to expand...

Birds and deer are both lots of fun.;)
 
M. R. Byrd said:
Toad, glad you are seeing some activity. Deer left my place this year and piled up in the irrigated alfalfa fields. I hope now that the weather has moderated some, they will be coming back.
Click to expand...

Thanks, me too.:D If I was a deer, I don't think I would stray too far from irrigated alfalfa either. Hope your plan comes together and the deer return for you. I'm sure whoever is irrigating alfalfa would like that too...:rolleyes:

I'll let you know when I'm headed your way in December. Maybe we can hook up for a beverage and BS.

Riverghost, that is a very nice trophy! Nice job. I would probably pass out while waiting for a deer like that to walk into bow range.;)
 
Toad,

Give me a shout.

I am hoping some nice bucks will be showing up on trail cams. With me making my run to SE Kansas and beyond, I have not checked cams but will soon. Bucks we were watching last year that are showing up have a lot less mass than last year. This drought has really hurt the groceries on the table for the critters. My calves are hundreds pounds lighter than normal. Heard yesterday of a herd of cows with really high percentage of open cows(more than half open). Hope my girls are bred back okay. One of those years I hope won't repeat any time soon.
 
KS Rut

Its-a-comin...> Bucks are moving hard on our property in Geary Co. My buddy took "Corkscrew" Thursday evening pushing some does. There are 2 other bucks worth while that have been on trail-cams for a couple weeks now. Good luck guys, this should be a great weekend coming up!!! Cold front coming in from CO Thursday.
 
P4PLABS said:
Its-a-comin...> Bucks are moving hard on our property in Geary Co. My buddy took "Corkscrew" Thursday evening pushing some does. There are 2 other bucks worth while that have been on trail-cams for a couple weeks now. Good luck guys, this should be a great weekend coming up!!! Cold front coming in from CO Thursday.
Click to expand...

Another nice buck! Thanks for sharing the pic.:thumbsup:
 
P4PLABS said:
Its-a-comin...> Bucks are moving hard on our property in Geary Co. My buddy took "Corkscrew" Thursday evening pushing some does. There are 2 other bucks worth while that have been on trail-cams for a couple weeks now. Good luck guys, this should be a great weekend coming up!!! Cold front coming in from CO Thursday.
Click to expand...

That's a stud!

Peak rut should be in the Nov. 7-10 range, with elevated activity about 7-10 days on either side of those dates. It's the best time to be in the woods! I say this because while you're in the woods, I'll be out shooting less pressured ducks and roosters:p
 
this picked up here pretty good. younger bucks chasing. seeing good movement tho. passed a heck of a good 11 point tonight. about 145-150. was only 3 1/2 year old so should be a hog next year. he had great mass and height on him.
 
I saw a nice buck moving at 10:30 am this morning. He was lookin for a date and not paying much attention to me and the dogs.
 
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