2013 Rut Prediction Dates

[BHC]

Not that it fully matters as we will hunt anyway, but from Deer & Deer Hunting Magazine for the Northern States they claim that this years rut will be more of a trickle rut, reason is the 2nd full moon after the autumnal equinox ( October 18) will be November 17th, the rut of 2013 will be similar to the ruts of 2002, 2005, & 2010. The claim that we will have days (the first 15 days of November) when the woods are alive and hot then things can be dead. They claim if you had to pick one week to hunt they say between November 14 through 21.

 

Seeking Phase:

November 12-17

 

Chasing Phase:

November 15-22

 

Breeding Phase:

November 20-30

[Cousin Brown]

Good post...we will see how accurate they are!

[rec913]

lets see it the dates  come close could be a big help

[Bucksnbows]

Isn't this the 3rd or 4th straight year of a predicted "trickle rut"?  I know at least the last 2 have been trickle ruts based on my personal observations.  It would be nice to have a good, strong rut for a change. 

[Hatchet]

deer n deer hunting rut predictions show is on NBC Sports network now  HD ch 848 comcast

Edited September 2, 2013 by Hatchet

[Axiom]

 

I know at least the last 2 have been trickle ruts based on my personal observations

 

 

 

I was about to post the exact same thing a few hours ago but got distracted..  

 

  IMO the "peak rut" dont mean doodle squat anyway.. If you are waiting for peak to hunt a certain spot then, when you get there it may have already come an gone in that area... Last year on my land peak was in mid october...

[Palawman30]

The rut has already started when bucks shed their velvet. Its basically the beginning. The declining amount of daylight is the real trigger to the rut cycle of deer.  The breeding normally takes place a solid week after the harvest moon. The amount of activity we hunters ever witness is always dependent upon the bow/doe ratio and weather.

If its hot most breeding takes place at night. If there are a ton of doe for every 1 buck the bucks don't have to work as hard to breed.

Late born yearling doe almost always come into cycle the first week of December instead of November.

[nmc02]

I always find the first two wks of Nov are best.................had greatest success on Nov 5 & 6 in NJ

[Bucksnbows]

The rut has already started when bucks shed their velvet. Its basically the beginning. The declining amount of daylight is the real trigger to the rut cycle of deer.  The breeding normally takes place a solid week after the harvest moon. The amount of activity we hunters ever witness is always dependent upon the bow/doe ratio and weather.

If its hot most breeding takes place at night. If there are a ton of doe for every 1 buck the bucks don't have to work as hard to breed.

Late born yearling doe almost always come into cycle the first week of December instead of November.

 

The word rut means bucks breeding does.  Everything else is pre rut.  The pre rut activities will begin shortly, but the rut itself is still 2 months or more away. 

[BHC]

I always find the first two wks of Nov are best.................had greatest success on Nov 5 & 6 in NJ

every year I take vacation time for the first two weeks of November

[Matty]

 

I always find the first two wks of Nov are best.................had greatest success on Nov 5 & 6 in NJ

every year I take vacation time for the first two weeks of November

 

 

I would have to strongly agree with this. I'd even widen the dates slightly to include from the 5th to the 11th as the absolute best time to be in the woods. 6th, 7th and 8th are usually on fire where I hunt. Bucks are just going ape at that point.

 

I know it's actually a little different in other parts of the state though.

 

I never put much faith in these rut predictions, it's the photo-periodism that PALawman mentioned that really triggers the rut. That's why fawns are born right around the same exact time every year.

 

Of course, I've seen does come into estrous early in October and late in January, so breeding can occur all throughout that time. What I call the "peak" may not be the peak of actual breeding, but it seems to be the absolute best time to have a big buck stroll by. If you're not in the woods then, you better have a good excuse! LOL

[Palawman30]

The word rut means bucks breeding does.  Everything else is pre rut.  The pre rut activities will begin shortly, but the rut itself is still 2 months or more away. 

your referring to PEAK rut....The rut is a months long event with many different stages. Some deer can be pre rut while others are already post rut.  Does can and will be bred at the end of oct all the way into January if we want to be technical. Of course the main breeding takes place about the same time every year BUT the ACT of breeding is spread out and not a 1 or 2 day even. Its a gradual bell shaped curve dependent all upon how many doe there are to bucks.

 

 

From Wikipedia

During the rut (also known as the rutting period, and in sheep sometimes as tupping), males often rub their antlers or horns on trees or shrubs, fight with each other, wallow in mud or dust, and herd estrus females together.

The rut in many species is triggered by a shortening of the length of daylight hours each day. The timing of the rut for different species depends on the length of their gestation period (length of pregnancy)

[Bucksnbows]

your referring to PEAK rut....The rut is a months long event with many different stages. Some deer can be pre rut while others are already post rut.  Does can and will be bred at the end of oct all the way into January if we want to be technical. Of course the main breeding takes place about the same time every year BUT the ACT of breeding is spread out and not a 1 or 2 day even. Its a gradual bell shaped curve dependent all upon how many doe there are to bucks.

 

 

From Wikipedia

During the rut (also known as the rutting period, and in sheep sometimes as tupping), males often rub their antlers or horns on trees or shrubs, fight with each other, wallow in mud or dust, and herd estrus females together.

The rut in many species is triggered by a shortening of the length of daylight hours each day. The timing of the rut for different species depends on the length of their gestation period (length of pregnancy)

 

Agreed.  The end of October remains 2 months away.  This is the pre rut.  I was just clarifying.  

[Palawman30]

Gotcha!

Im not real fond actually of hunting the peak breeding period between nov.4th and 10th.... I actually prefer the chase period before that when the bucks are ready but the does aren't.

[Bucksnbows]

Gotcha!

Im not real fond actually of hunting the peak breeding period between nov.4th and 10th.... I actually prefer the chase period before that when the bucks are ready but the does aren't.

 

I've been keeping unofficial records of buck activity during the rut based on what I watch in my own woodlot over the past 16 years (this will be year 17).  I see the most activity during the 2nd and 3rd estrus cycle.  I attribute that to the fact that the bucks I see chasing does during those times do not live here or even really close to here.  I think they breed the does nearest them in the big woods in the main estrus cycle and then come looking for un-bred does in smaller, suburban woodlots like mine during subsequent cycles.  Either way, I see some smashers each year that are only around chasing in late November and through December into January each year. 

 

Having only gun hunted for the first 36 years of my hunting "career", I now enjoy the rut with the bow more than most any other type of hunting over the past 2 seasons with this fall being my third (thanks Matty ).  My buddy came over today to shoot and we both stretched out our bows at 30 and 40 yards.  My average 15 - 25 yard shots should be chip shots this year if all goes well.  Can't wait for EAB in less than 2 weeks.  I'll be pulling SD cards tomorrow and moving my cameras one last time.