Was out at my lease in Jacksboro this weekend and if I didn't know better, I'd swear the rut was just getting ready to start!!! We normally hit the peak in our area around 11/15 but every buck I saw this weekend was hot on the trail of a doe. Anybody else seeing this activity?


DPD25

Actually saw a 6 pointer with his nose on the ground, chasing a yearling doe last Sunday!!!!

This morning, I had a beautiful 120 class 8 pointer come to the feeder. Perfectly semetrical, but only 3 1/2 years old. Letting him grow another couple of years. I usually don't have any good bucks come to the feeder and check out the doe until around November 1st. I had 8 doe at the feeder when he came in. He went straight over to my mock scrape, freshened it up for me and then jumped right in the pen. He even put his hocks together and rubbed them as did his business. His hocks were stained dark and 1/2 the size of a full rut hock. He commenced to smelling each doe! He joined right in and ate for around 40 minutes with them. When the oldest doe left the pen, he watched her intently, jumped out of the pen and put his nose on the ground right on her trail!

Man, each weekend is getting better and better! Those gun hunters had better make sure that they are in their stands opening seekend or they are going to miss the rut!

Saw bucks semi chasing opening weekend just as I have the last three years. I hunt near Throckmorton and I still expect the peak to be the second and third week of November just as it has been since I have hunted in this area.

I don't think that the rut will be early this year. We have just started seeing rubs at our lease. Saw 15 does at one time this past weekend and no bucks with them. Our buck to doe ratio is about 1:5 so I figure that we would have seen some bucks if they were starting to rut. I think that the last couple of cold fronts may have had the young bucks excited but the does are not ready. We are in the Childress area. Hope this helps.

I shot about a 6 year old buck Saturday and he was stinking. His legs were covered with smell and he looked to be in full rut. I could smell him about 10 feet away. His neck was swollen up and he had wood shavings on his antlers. He was not chasing does. There were 4 there and he ran off a smaller 10 point.

Forgot to mention that they killed a legitimate 22 pointer on my brother-in-law's ranch. Each of the 22 points was 1" or longer. There were other points that were smaller than 1" that weren't even counted. They said he was chasing a doe through a mesquite thicket when they were able to get him. His ranch is near Lake Ivie, South of Ballinger. Guess the rut is going to depend on where you are located and the buck to doe ratio. Our ratio is about 1.7 to 1. My brother-n-law's ranch is 1.2 to 1.

I think they might rut a little early this year. Bucks seem to be more agitated than they have at this time in the past. I saw a good 10pt with his nose burried trail a doe all the way accross 150 acres of wheat. I'd say he's in pursuit. The next 3 weeks should tell.

I was at my lease in Cook Co. sunday 10-17 and all the bucks I seen were still running together if that means anything.

it could be early i dont know. but the one thing i know for sure is i have been on my lease for 6 years and all my bucks have came off of the second and third weekend of november.

I think it's been quite a few years since the full scale rut being on was prior to the second week of November. Last year, it was 3 days before Thanksgiving when the rut hit full swing around the Coleman area. But,,,, I honestly think that this year is going to be different. Everything points to an early winter.... the rattlesnakes, the cold fronts pushing all the way South, the mesquite beans double crop, the acorns dropping 2 to 3 weeks early, and many other signs this old country boy has been watching. Let's just say that it's going to be interesting in the next 2 weeks. My honest opinion (guess???) is that everything North of a line from say,,,,San Angelo to Brady to Killeen will be in full rut by November 3rd to the 6th.

Let's hear your predictions and see what happens. Could be fun!

We have'nt seen any real signs of maybe the rut might be coming early. I think maybe when had some early cooler weather and the acorns dropping early might have gave us some false hope. For the ones who have seen some signs I hope it waits another 20 days.

Every buck I saw while I was bow hunting was either by a doe or chasing one! So I think it coming early.

I hunted near Brady last weekend and all the bucks I saw were still running in bachelor groups, and they had no interest in the does.

Deer rut the same time every year. Some years, due to weather, you notice more than others.

I thought they were getting more active about a week ago, but I watched a bruiser buck this morning while looking for pigs that showed no interest in does or running a scrape. I followed him for about a half an hour and he didn't have a care in the world. Just nosing around. I thought they might run a little early but unless it cools off in the next week I think it will me mid to late November as usual.

WOODSMAN I agree with what you said about the weather.It does seem that the rut starts earlier in parts of East and Southeast Texas than other parts of the state that i have hunted.A friend of mine called the other day and told me about the 10 pt. and doe that his son had killed with his truck[Game Warden was called]here in Fort Bend County.I have hunted the Hill country for a few years now,and it seems the weekend before and after Thanksgiving[depending again on the weather] when we see the rut.Last year,even with some cold weather,where i hunt in Mason County,i never saw a full speed rut.

I dont think it is starting any earlier this year than any other year. My rush hour traffic to work is deer and coyotes. I have not seen enough to make me think the rut is any closer than it usually is this close to season.

Here is a link to the TXPWD site and a study on the Rut in Whitetail Deer.

The Rut in Whitetail Deer

I think many will be surprised by some of the data. Look for your particular region. Some of you may find what you think is the primary rut, is actually a secondary rut. I know if we were not MLD and started hunting early, we would all but miss the primary rut in our region. Hope y'all find this helpful info.

I was thinking it was going to happen early but last week end I seen 9 8 points and 1 ten point none of them were checking does.Two week ago I seen 2 bucks check does. I think the wormer weather has delayed it from being early. I thought It would be early but I have changed my mined.

some of the bucks we have been seeing are following does but the majority arent. Only time will tell.

If you subscribe to the theory that photoperiodism (diminishing daylight) triggers the rut, then the answer is yes. I've been keeping detailed notes the last two seasons, and the activity I've observed defintely corresponds with the predicted behavior. In a nutshell, the theory says that after the Autmnal Equinox (September 22 this year), the second full moon (October 28) provides a bright light stimulus to the doe's pineal gland, triggering the estrus cycle. Bucks move in three phases, Seek, Chase and Breed. Each phase lasts about 5 days, and the Seek phase generally begins in the days leading up to the full moon. This would put the Seek phase in mid-October, with the Chase phase happening now, which seems to correllate with what many have said on this thread. If the theory is correct, bucks will be breeding does within the next week or so, meaning I will DEFINITELY be in the stand for opening day of rifle season this Saturday. Good luck to all!

Good info, BW. Looks like the next week could be the week!

Very likely; at least that's what I'm planning on! Weather is also a huge deciding factor... warmer weather = slower "trickle" rut. As cool and rainy as it's been here in north Texas these last few days, I'll bet they're on the move. We'll see! Hope everyone bags some venison!

The bucks are starting to show up I saw one yesterday and three today on my way to work. I would say yes the rut is getting really close. Saturday should be a good day

The wife just returned from Fredricksburg and said she counted 3 dead bucks and 2 dead does on the side of the highway. That is usually a sign that they are starting the chase. Losing there caution...