This week the Rut Tracker Slides back down towards normal…But dont be fooled there is still estrous in the air! Wildlife Research Center, inc. Stealth Cam with Hunting #RutTracker2017 #DS4K
Posted by Hunting on Thursday, November 30, 2017
The rut meter is on the move again, sadly, in the wrong direction, after a few weeks of being maxed out the intensity of the rut is beginning to wane. This week we are placing it at a solid 75, there is still plenty of rut activity going on but some of the does already have been bred and a few of the bucks are throwing in the breeding towel, this is particular true in areas that experienced a rut which broke out (caused by an estrus doe) a little earlier than usual.
Case in point, the rut was rocking along (Nov 2-10) in full force on one of our observation properties another (a short 30 miles away) was showing little rut related activity, in fact, the rut wasn’t in full swing on the second property until Nov. 11. Individual does can have a lot to do with rut activity in a given location and it can vary by as much as a week or two.
Reports of intense rut activity (chasing, breeding, tending) are still rolling in on a daily (sometimes hourly) basis, so don’t give up on the rut. According to scientifically gathered conception data, many does experience their first estrus cycle (particularly yearling does) after the bulk of the breeding has been completed.
Signs of the rut winding down are: does and groups reforming, bucks and does comingling, and little to no interest in does by bucks, feeding becomes more important to the herd as a whole (as opposed to breeding). A lack of interest in breeding is often shown by young, non-dominant bucks who have been denied access to estrus does by bigger bucks. Photos of ranging bucks typically decrease as the rut winds down. That said, a doe can come into estrus at any time and the woods can explode before your eyes, also a dominant buck can move at any time as he ranges out seeking his next estrus doe.
Savvy hunters will still be in the woods, waiting for Mr.Big to come their way, as we always say, “the rut makes good hunters of us all”, and there is still plenty of rut action left in the back 40 (provided you are on the right back 40). And if your back 40 has quieted down, get back on the food (high carb foods like corn, acorns, and tender greens, are best) they are packing on the pounds, getting ready for winter.
