To stay or to go??

Alright guys so I’m here to ask the experts here at Thf for a little advice lol. Just a little back story. All of our nice bucks at our lease in Hamilton co disappeared 2 weeks ago. We had several nice deer that just up and left on what seemed like the exact same day. My question is I’m scheduled off the next 5 days, I’ve been here since last Thursday. I’m only seeing doe and smaller bucks right now. I did see a nicer young 8 point come and chase the doe off the feeder sun night but I’ve since had that same group of doe at the feeder still together with the yearlings so I don’t think she was in heat just yet. So I can cancel the days off and save them to use later in the season or I can go ahead and take them now and hope one makes a mistake. Traditionally this is when the rut usually happens. We are seeing young bucks chasing but that’s it, nothing mature at all yet. So what do you guys think because these deer really have me scratching my head? Thanks for any input guys!

On another note anyone else in Hamilton or surrounding areas seeing sign of the rut?

When our bucks disappear suddenly, we usually get new bucks show up that we've never seen before. Usually happens for us the week of Thanksgiving. Makes for some interesting times because you never know what will show up.

I guess if there is a specific buck you are targeting you can hold off and hope he doesn't get shot while he is wandering searching for does, and wait for him to hit the feeder hard after the rut.


If you aren't seeing anything of interest now, thats a tough call. But anything can happen once they start chasing.

Hamilton rut should be close to peaking. I wonder if you had an early rut-what did the cameras show? I hunted Mills for the opener and saw quite a bit of rut activity (Nov 7-9). If I were you I'd keep hunting, maybe find a spot other than the feeder and see what happens.

I actually prefer post rut over rut if you're hunting over a feeder.

So the cell cam the last week of October showed 4 of my target bucks up on their feet searching for the does but it did not look like they were chasing them. They would come in and scare the doe out of the feeder and looked like they were checking them out but after the doe would leave the bucks would stay in the feeder

GO. Always GO. You'll never regret the GO option.

Hard to say. Well Saturday I went to my place to fix up a blind for my dad. I sat in the morning and saw quite a few does. I worked through the afternoon and decided to sit in the new blind set up. Well there it was a doe and fawn came out and then came one of the nicest 8 points I've seen on the place. Of course I'm not hunting so I watch him sniff around and then run down the doe but she wasn't ready so he went back to eating corn for about 5 minutes and walked off. What made the day interesting is while unloading lumber and slamming 2x4's together a buck ran out of the woods to challenge but realized i was not another deer and ran back in the trees.

I dont know the areas rut timing but it sounds like you do and I trust Quits opinion as well. Im of the belief that the rut doesnt change much from year to year at all. Its just not as visible for whatever reason. I think in warmer weather most of the movement is at night if you arent seeing it in daylight. It may be too late to change your whole setup but I really believe in being able to see as much country as possible, especially if you expect rutting movement, Try to see down a long line of sight and corn it. The way I look at it if its rut time and there are shooters in the area then its just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. If hes dumb with a doe it will only take seeing him to be able to close the deal. Hunt all day. Bottom line, STAY.

I'm surprised for those north of the state centerline saying rut hasn't started. I believe rut is either peaking or post-peak. Doe are showing up more at the feeders again, smelling has stopped for the most part, and no more fighting on camera in Erath. It doesn't mean some does aren't still in heat, just feels like it's calmed down.

To me, that means that mid-December will be perfect to pick up the next portion of rut for the does who didn't take the last one.

One other thing. In my experience with sightings of big mature shooter type bucks there is usually not a "build up". In other words you dont always see a bunch of younger deer and then a middle aged deer and then as you get all geared up and youre on the edge of your seat the big boy finally makes his grand entrance like the finale of a big show. Usually its when youre lulled to sleep thinking you ought to go home and come back another time and then all of a sudden out of nowhere hes standing there(especially if hes dumb with a doe.)

I’m a fan of staying. You can never shoot a deer if you aren’t there is my logic. A lot of the deer I have shot have been on hunts that were absolutely horribly boring and the only deer I saw would be the one that I was after

Last weekend in Coleman mature buck weren't hitting the feeders. Makes me think they were still chasing tail. I would come back next week.

Hunted there for 7 years.. we always had to kill our target bucks in October or mid December. Our mature bucks would vanish during the month of November and like stated above, new bucks would show up. It’s almost like they’re migratory. Lol. Good luck. I’d save my days for December but you know you’ll be kicking yourself sitting out next week.

Asking here for advice on hunting is like asking for medical advice. It is all opinions. Do what you think is the right thing to do and either learn something or live with your decision. That is how you learn.

Disagree with that one. This hunting forum is a great place to get hunting advise. Sure, you may not heed the advise, but get it and then decide for yourself if it may work for you.

Well I stayed and thanks for all the advice guys I took it in and I stayed. Well let me just say this I am now a firm believer that if you stay good things could happen. I ended up shooting a very nice 10 that was after a doe this morning!

Awesome!!! Congratulations!

I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER!!!!! Sounds like it went from the worst day hunting to the best in a heartbeat. Pictures......

Good deal, always best to hunt as much as you can during the first rut. Often times when the older breeding bucks 'seem' to disappear it's really just a matter of them having a doe 'locked down' and you simply aren't seeing them. That can all change at any time AND new bucks you've never seen can also show up.

Hunting the main rut can be trying. My preference is actually pre-rut and post-rut....though post rut will usually involve some pretty skittish animals.

Congratulations for sticking it out.

^^^^Good advise on staying with it during the primary rut. Murphy Ray was known to say "gimme the rut, and you can have the rest".

Here you guys go

That's a great buck! Congratulations!

I would have suggested you stay for reasons that are not related to when you may see, or not see, your shooter buck. Sometimes the unexpected happens, such an illness, work, personal, or family issue. Hunt when you can, and make the most out of it. Glad this worked out for you.