The Pre-Rut is heating up starting now!

[Highguy]

October 14 and it is pre- rut time here in New Jersey. From now moving forward rutting activity is heating up. This is the time of year when I put out all of my trail scouting cameras to see where the all of the does are hanging out since that is where all of the bucks will be looking for love. In addition to these cameras I also have six others already out there including my Spartan Remote cameras which are fantastic in giving me up to the minute reports of what is happening at their locations. Since the first mature does will be coming into estrus beginning around the 15th of October here in Northern New Jersey it is a great time to do some rattling and calling. I have had my best antler rattling success here in New Jersey during the last two weeks of October. As November first arrives there are so many does coming into estrus that our bucks don't have to fight for them. Although a buck may still respond under the right conditions The rattling and calling works best when all the bucks are ready but only the most mature does are available to breed. I am sure this may be different in other parts of the country, but this is what I have observed over my many years of hunting here in North Western New Jersey. As we enter this year’s rutting period I wish everyone the very best of luck. Remember, be safe and good hunting, and as always it is "Scent Off. Game On."

Edited October 15, 2018 by JHbowhunter

[Highguy]

Sorry about the misspelling of Rut, Fat fingers. LOL!

[Bannock-pt.]

Whats up with the state of nj sticker?

[Nomad]

1 minute ago, Highguy said:

Sorry about the misspelling of Rut, Fat fingers. LOL!

I thought you were turkeywing.

[BHC]

The area I hunt is very deep and away from the road, in all the years I hunted this area I have only found rubs in very late October or early November, as far as scrapes I would find them a few hundred yards from the road, never have I found one as deep as I hunt until almost two weeks ago within 70 yards of the tree I hunt from, I decided to put a camera looking over it, not one deer hit the scrape in fact it was covered over in leaves.....I uncovered it with a stick, I will check it next week

[Highguy]

43 minutes ago, Nomad said:

I thought you were turkeywing.

LOL!

 

[LRG]

have a few bucks sparring on cams and tonight I heard a grunt about 100 ft way...    they start grunting already?

 

[JHbowhunter]

I fixed your title. Scent elimination can make a difference for sure but creating setups that put the wind just a little bit more in your favor and less in a mature buck’s favor is still hard to beat.  Having multiple stands for the wind direction, or ability to use a climber is huge. Also during rut - stands in much thicker areas than u would hunt pre-rut or post rut are productive. Does get flushed out of common feeding areas and go into thickets to not be bothered. Bucks go on the prowl nose to ground into these areas and the action can be wild. . It’s great to have “rut only stands” where u get in early and hunt all day. 

[1190ftalt]

2 hours ago, JHbowhunter said:

I fixed your title. Scent elimination can make a difference for sure but creating setups that put the wind just a little bit more in your favor and less in a mature buck’s favor is still hard to beat.  Having multiple stands for the wind direction, or ability to use a climber is huge. Also during rut - stands in much thicker areas than u would hunt pre-rut or post rut are productive. Does get flushed out of common feeding areas and go into thickets to not be bothered. Bucks go on the prowl nose to ground into these areas and the action can be wild. . It’s great to have “rut only stands” where u get in early and hunt all day. 

^^^^ THIS !

[Highguy]

3 hours ago, JHbowhunter said:

I fixed your title. Scent elimination can make a difference for sure but creating setups that put the wind just a little bit more in your favor and less in a mature buck’s favor is still hard to beat.  Having multiple stands for the wind direction, or ability to use a climber is huge. Also during rut - stands in much thicker areas than u would hunt pre-rut or post rut are productive. Does get flushed out of common feeding areas and go into thickets to not be bothered. Bucks go on the prowl nose to ground into these areas and the action can be wild. . It’s great to have “rut only stands” where u get in early and hunt all day. 

 

[Highguy]

 

Thank you Sir!

[hunterbob1]

Good stuff greg!Thanks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

anks

[tcook8296]

Looking forward to my first sit of the season. 

Bucks definately started moving with the cooler temps. 

I watched 4 bucks sparring and kicking scrapes yesterday. 

[Live to Hunt]

Wow cameras I would forget where most of them are.   Hope you share some pictures. Good luck it will be fun and exciting