Second Rut in Play?

[clammer]

After an evening bowhunt on the ridge near Money Creek on Saturday, my brother in law reported seeing a 2.5 year old buck tending a doe 20 yards off the road near my home. Are any of you seeing any signs of the upcoming second estrous or rutting period? I have seen, and do believe that the 4th, 5th, 6th, of December is an awesome time to be out in the woods. Let me know what you are think?

[apollo]

I've been out Bowhunting all year and have seen a lot of deer early and took a nice buck in september. Now since I would like to take one more deer my valley seems to have no deer around. any one have any idea's on what's going on and where I can go to see a deer?

[adloos]

Apollo, welcome on board to the site!! that is a great question, Clammer is the man when it comes to deer hunting. How should a person be settin up with second rut coming up soon?

[clammer]

Apollo,,, You are experiencing what everyone seems to experience immediately following the 3A and 3B seasons in southeast Minnesota. Deer are literally on the run, and have typically been pushed from their prefered home range due to consistent hunting pressure or well planned drives. You need to identify an area that may have received a little less pressure or ideally an area that was not hunted. These areas as well as areas of dense cover are certainly holding deer right now. Most deer will be settling into their winter pattern of "bedding area to feeding area" and will be very huntable in the coming days. Others, like doe and doe fawns that have not been bred will be on the run in early December as their second estrous period begins. Bucks will repeat their reckless activity during this period, but not to the degree that they did during the first rut. Since you have already harvested your buck, and are probably trying to enjoy some late season doe hunting to pad your freezer, here are a couple things to try. Knock on doors in areas that you have seen a lot of deer in the past and ask to hunt archery and doe only. You may be surprized at how many people will let you in after the gun season is over to reduce the doe population. I set up near or in heavy cover on cedar points and ambush deer as they leave their bedding area during shooting hours. Many times a well used trail on the route to a feeding area will produce sightings, but few shooting opportunities before legal shooting expires. If you can locate a standing corn field, you have stumbled on an opportunity see deer and a lot of them. This field will be a magnet for every deer in the area, and given time will produce countless shooting opportunities. Hunt the wind, and find a tree with a lot of cover to conceal your position. If the deer see you, believe me they will check the tree before approaching the field. You will be shooting at a deer within a group of deer which presents a significant problem with too many eyes to fool, so picking the right tree is a must. Otherwise, you may be forced to shoot the last deer in the line, and it may not be the one you really want.
Good Luck! Let me know how you do. If you need a spot to knock, head south on 76 towards Houston and go door to door.

[apollo]

I appreciate all the good information. Im use to hunting up north and it's taking me a while to get use to hunting the Bluffs. It's sure a lot different from hunting in the International Falls area.

[clammer]

No problem Apollo.. If you are new to hunting this type of terrain, I would like to give you one more very good tip. In the morning as the sun rises and heats the ground, it creates thermal drafts or currents that literally push your scent up the side of the bluff if you are in the valley bottom, and lift it into oblivian if you are hunting the ridge top. I hunt 90% of my mornings on the top of a ridge and test the thermal effect often using a little squeeze bottle of corn starch. When I start to loose the effect around 9 to 10 am, if the wind is not what I need, I will climb down. You can have deer surrounding your position upwind, downwind, it does not matter... with a strong thermal they will not smell you. A little note too.. the thermals are not as dramatic with snow cover because of the suns inability to heat the ground as quickly. And, the reverse of this thermal effect is in play in the evening as thermals will force your scent down the side hill as the ground temperature cools and settles into the valley bottom. Use them. They can be a great tool if you hunt areas that rarely give you a favorable wind direction.

[apollo]

This is all good information. I just went walking one of my spots and there hasn't been any thing move through in a while. now i'll just have to go and look for some deer and maybe a new spot to hunt.