What part of the rut?

[calgarychef1]

Well it's 1:30 am --just got off work so I'm a little dozy. Do you guys think the rut has started yet or are we in pre-rut still?

Thanks

The chef

[RubberDuck]

Chef,

That's what I'm wondering, I've seen the smaller bucks on the does and I seen a bachelor group of 3 bucks on Saturday. WE NEED AN ANSWER......CAN YOU HELP?

[fishnutz4ever]

I'm wondering what difference it makes to your hunt? Do you employ different tactics, areas or what? I don't think all deer, in every area are in "rut" at the same time. It's gettin' about that time of year when the big bucks are roaming so you can't really pattern them anyways, so "they" say, whoever "they" are, LOL. If you find does, then a buck will probably be not too far away. Just wondering fellas. Good luck in your hunt regardless. ;-)

[calgarychef1]

Well, I guess they are in full gear now. At least they behaved that way tonight. Fishnutz if you decide to use doe in estrous scent it helps if they are actually close to the rut better if they are rutting. Also rattling seems to work better a week of so before if I'm not mistaken. I also wouldn't bother using a buck decoy before the rut but right now it might work better. Of course these are just guesses but I try to do things differently for different stages of the rut.

the chef