Saw 3 bucks this evening. The biggest was on a mission, the other two were just out for a walk...
Ohio 2013 Rut Report.
- Thread starter Jackalope
- Start date
ImpalaSSpeed96
Junior Member
The trickle rut theory seems to be right. My buddy almost killed the piebald we've been after since he was 2.5, he's 5.5 now. Doe brought him right by at 35 yards and he lucked out and trotted through the shooting lane. He was locked onto that doe though.
I came home from there a little earlier than planned. The hotel stay was up and I was seeing nothing to make me spend the money to stay. Saw no deer where I know a monster was hiding so I hit a new spot. I saw deer every sit, but never a doe. Saw two bucks, I think. Either way, they were all yearlings. Could have shot one 6 twice on different days, and the other 5 I saw 5 times total, had him within 10 yards 3 times. He was all over the place, non stop. Stupidly responsive to the grunting and bleating when I saw him. Just messing with him to see what combos would work. I rattled in the small 6 today, at least i believe so since he came in about 5 minutes after my sequence. Saw one 2.5, don't think he'd hit 100 inches, maybe… Wednesday to Wednesday and I saw 5, maybe 6 different bucks while on stand. 2, maybe 3 of them multiple times. The 2.5 I saw on stand, I saw again in a clear cut while scouting. Same deer, over and over. I like to think I know how to hunt, maybe I just don't know how to hunt those hills though. I need someone with experience of SE Ohio to show me how to hunt it, then I could know for sure. Flats, was mainly what I focused on. I'd like to get into the bottoms, but the wind swirls too bad to even attempt it, I learned that years ago. I figured bucks would be cruising the flats and edges, which they did, but all young. Maybe I just didn't luck out this year, maybe the wind swirled when a big one was going to come through, who knows. I learned a few things this year. Just when you think you have an idea, you don't, you need to scout even more and have back up spots to your back up spots, to your back up spots. Next, smoke is far from full proof. I shower with scent free before each hunt, and I take extra time getting in with minimal clothes to avoid sweating. I'm going to stick with the smoke through this year, but I was definitely busted more this year than other years, and I saw no deer come in from downwind. As sold as I was on the smoke at the beginning, I'm as opposed now. That being said, the research will continue. Lastly, I think i really have to committ next year to leaving the horns on the hanger and the tube in the bag, only for emergency situations. I saw zero does from stand and I really wonder if my calling sequences every hour may have had something to do with it. I call quite frequently out there and see minimal does every year. Being I haven't gotten a response from a mature deer in 3 years on lightly hunted public land, I need to lay off it and see for next year.
Finally, this is my conclusion. Does are being bred here and there. I didn't see a single doe at night by herself. Coming home tonight, I saw a doe with her fawn cross the road here in Jersey. I definitely don't think it's popped yet and I think when it does, you'll see an extreme lockdown, zero deer movement for days. And I'm betting you'll see it in 7 days or so. I'm also beginning to believe the rut isn't as wide spread as some predict it to be. We just get it in our heads that it's November, so it has to be starting. I'm really starting to believe the time to be in the woods every year is the 13-22, but every year, I hunt somewhere within the first two weeks of November.
So another year, I must live vicariously through you guys knocking down the big ones. Keep at it boys. I wish I was still in a tree with good activity, but nothing beats home.
I came home from there a little earlier than planned. The hotel stay was up and I was seeing nothing to make me spend the money to stay. Saw no deer where I know a monster was hiding so I hit a new spot. I saw deer every sit, but never a doe. Saw two bucks, I think. Either way, they were all yearlings. Could have shot one 6 twice on different days, and the other 5 I saw 5 times total, had him within 10 yards 3 times. He was all over the place, non stop. Stupidly responsive to the grunting and bleating when I saw him. Just messing with him to see what combos would work. I rattled in the small 6 today, at least i believe so since he came in about 5 minutes after my sequence. Saw one 2.5, don't think he'd hit 100 inches, maybe… Wednesday to Wednesday and I saw 5, maybe 6 different bucks while on stand. 2, maybe 3 of them multiple times. The 2.5 I saw on stand, I saw again in a clear cut while scouting. Same deer, over and over. I like to think I know how to hunt, maybe I just don't know how to hunt those hills though. I need someone with experience of SE Ohio to show me how to hunt it, then I could know for sure. Flats, was mainly what I focused on. I'd like to get into the bottoms, but the wind swirls too bad to even attempt it, I learned that years ago. I figured bucks would be cruising the flats and edges, which they did, but all young. Maybe I just didn't luck out this year, maybe the wind swirled when a big one was going to come through, who knows. I learned a few things this year. Just when you think you have an idea, you don't, you need to scout even more and have back up spots to your back up spots, to your back up spots. Next, smoke is far from full proof. I shower with scent free before each hunt, and I take extra time getting in with minimal clothes to avoid sweating. I'm going to stick with the smoke through this year, but I was definitely busted more this year than other years, and I saw no deer come in from downwind. As sold as I was on the smoke at the beginning, I'm as opposed now. That being said, the research will continue. Lastly, I think i really have to committ next year to leaving the horns on the hanger and the tube in the bag, only for emergency situations. I saw zero does from stand and I really wonder if my calling sequences every hour may have had something to do with it. I call quite frequently out there and see minimal does every year. Being I haven't gotten a response from a mature deer in 3 years on lightly hunted public land, I need to lay off it and see for next year.
Finally, this is my conclusion. Does are being bred here and there. I didn't see a single doe at night by herself. Coming home tonight, I saw a doe with her fawn cross the road here in Jersey. I definitely don't think it's popped yet and I think when it does, you'll see an extreme lockdown, zero deer movement for days. And I'm betting you'll see it in 7 days or so. I'm also beginning to believe the rut isn't as wide spread as some predict it to be. We just get it in our heads that it's November, so it has to be starting. I'm really starting to believe the time to be in the woods every year is the 13-22, but every year, I hunt somewhere within the first two weeks of November.
So another year, I must live vicariously through you guys knocking down the big ones. Keep at it boys. I wish I was still in a tree with good activity, but nothing beats home.
Blackbeard
Senior Member
WoodCoDep
Junior Member
Someone definitely flipped the switch on today..so far seen no less than 10 or 12..7 of which were bucks..every one had been grunting and checking and chasing does. The smallest has been probably 100 in. No shooters yet but several really nice young deer. I was really getting in the dumps till today.
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I could have shot him 3 of the 4 times, the last time being a 20 yard chip shot. Just not what I'm after. Unless a deer is old, unique, or I have lots of history with him, I'm not shooting any more 130ish deer. My 2004 buck was 136", 2008 would have been 130 had he not had 4 broken tines, 2010 was 129, and last year was 139. Time to move on up the ladder. That's not to say after 2-3 years of eating tags, I won't shoot another one. But for the time being, I need something BIG!
You on your place or close to my house?
Funny you posted this. I have hit it hard. One property just hasn't produced many "shooters" in my eyes. One of the shooters was killed and he ended up being 144" 8pt. I am happy for the hunter as he is a good guy and a friend. Kinda sucks he died under one of my stands and we didn't find him for a week though. lol
I am starting to think (on this property) if I get the shot at a buck. . . .he might just get my arrow. Have had 2 nice encounters with 115-120" deer. Seems they disappear from this property as they mature. I see one of them and there might be a euro mount hanging in the tree house or over the door to my shop. I believe I have burnt myself out and the chasing has dwindled. Ready to just kill a buck and be done so I can focus on work, family, and getting my son out more. This is not my normal attitude. I am not one to "settle". Just funny how after a few years of chasing one bigger than those on the wall our outlook changes. Oh well. One encounter of a "shooter" at 50 or even 100yds and my mind will be changed. One more encounter at bow range with one of these 110-120" deer will probably find me passing again. Just can't kill a 140" if you kill them at 120". Never said or thought it was easy. Just getting harder to keep passing I suppose.
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The thing is, who says you have to fill your tag?
I suppose if you have to fill your tag to feel you had a good season, and that it makes you happy to do so, then by all means you should fill your tag. I am very proficient at eating tags and there is no shame in it. Shooting a buck just to shoot a buck is not the approach I want to take and I hate to see people feel that way. You'll never kill anything big if you always settle and for me, I want to kill something big. That feeling of grabbing a big set of antlers is unlike any other feeling and that's why I invest all that I do. It is also why I have so many places to hunt. I could just be complacent and hunt our farm, but I want to be sure I have plenty of chances to kill something big. That drives me to secure property of different shapes, sizes, layouts, and in all different areas of the county.
Had a guy message me on FB last night and basically chew my ass for passing that deer and stating what I stated above about not shooting another 130" deer. If the only two bucks I have a chance to shoot this year are the 130" 8 from Monday and the 9 from yesterday, I'll eat my tag with grace this year. I've said it before, but not sure if I have said it here or not. I would rather eat a tag because I didn't shoot a deer I should have shot, than fill it by killing a deer I shouldn't have shot.
I suppose if you have to fill your tag to feel you had a good season, and that it makes you happy to do so, then by all means you should fill your tag. I am very proficient at eating tags and there is no shame in it. Shooting a buck just to shoot a buck is not the approach I want to take and I hate to see people feel that way. You'll never kill anything big if you always settle and for me, I want to kill something big. That feeling of grabbing a big set of antlers is unlike any other feeling and that's why I invest all that I do. It is also why I have so many places to hunt. I could just be complacent and hunt our farm, but I want to be sure I have plenty of chances to kill something big. That drives me to secure property of different shapes, sizes, layouts, and in all different areas of the county.
Had a guy message me on FB last night and basically chew my ass for passing that deer and stating what I stated above about not shooting another 130" deer. If the only two bucks I have a chance to shoot this year are the 130" 8 from Monday and the 9 from yesterday, I'll eat my tag with grace this year. I've said it before, but not sure if I have said it here or not. I would rather eat a tag because I didn't shoot a deer I should have shot, than fill it by killing a deer I shouldn't have shot.
Gordo
Senior Member
Shit u not. Sitting at a light on fuggin court street and a doe just went rippin ass down the side walk. Tail crooked. I could smell her.
Too funny. lol
Too funny. lol
I agree with you completely Jesse. If your not going to be satisfied personally, then eat the tag. I ate them for a few years straight. Fortunately i have had a few good seasons, but fully anticipate eating my buck tag again... Just a fact in my mind.
Any standards that you, me or others set in place are there only for our benefit. We desire, we invest time and money and we strive to meet those "standards." Many folks are happy just to shoot one and I have zero issue with that. Others place an enormous amount of pressure on themselves to meet their standards, also okay with this! To each his own!
Any standards that you, me or others set in place are there only for our benefit. We desire, we invest time and money and we strive to meet those "standards." Many folks are happy just to shoot one and I have zero issue with that. Others place an enormous amount of pressure on themselves to meet their standards, also okay with this! To each his own!
HA. That's hilarious. Seem a lot of hot tail on that sideway during my time there, but never that kinda hot tail! lmao
Well said Jeremy.
Buckmaster
Senior Member
If you need to settle than just shoot another doe. Didn't you do that in 2012? :smiley_coolpeace:
Buckmaster
Senior Member
It'll be me. If I don't shoot a buck before gun seasons, I'm done bow hunting. Waterfowl and getting the wife out will take over. So the expiration of my buck tag is November 30.
Boone
*Supporting Member*
Yesterday afternoon was the best rut-type action I have seen this season. As soon as I was settled for the afternoon, I had a basket-rack 8pt trot by me seeking a doe. At 330, a doe busted out of the thicket and ran full-tilt past my stand. Two bucks, unfortunately for me, a spike and basket 6, were 20 and 40 yards behind her, both grunting and growling. They covered 200 more yards and were out of sight in about 20 seconds.
The kicker is that I pulled memory cards after the hunt. I picked the wrong stand. There was a new 11pt on camera that walked by twice soon after the time I witnessed the chase. It's finally happening at one of my places in NEO.
The kicker is that I pulled memory cards after the hunt. I picked the wrong stand. There was a new 11pt on camera that walked by twice soon after the time I witnessed the chase. It's finally happening at one of my places in NEO.
Gordo
Senior Member
huntn2
Senior Member
WoodCoDep
Junior Member
Close to home..actually ended up with a shooter at 30yds but too many limbs...then he walked off made a scrape..right after that another buck came to that scrape from opposite direction worked it for a bit and left..never got a good look at his rack..had another buck chase a doe through at 1130 when I had to climb down and run to town..I'm back out again now closer to where I saw few bucks this morning.. of course damn wind blowing like a mother.