In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Midwest rut report-Who's seeing what?

Discussion in 'The Game Room' started by bocefus78, Nov 11, 2013.

  1. bocefus78

    bocefus78

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2013
    Messages:
    3,694
    Likes Received:
    19,839
    Location:
    Indiana
    Hunting So. IN. From what I have seen, it's still mainly the dinks on their feet during daylight. Biggest deer I saw all weekend was a baskethead 6. Saw him twice so you know he's looking for love lol. I almost shot a spike that had antlers so small they might have passed as a doe. (In Indiana 1 antler must be at least 3" to be a buck). At 30 yards and first light, those little things were HARD to see! I would have been pizzed off if that little guy burnt up my buck tag!

    So...who's seeing what and where are you hunting?

    I gotta believe that this cold front coming thrutoday/tonight is going to get the big boys up and moving!
     
  2. lukem

    lukem

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    11,823
    Likes Received:
    63,181
    Location:
    IN
    Went and took a quick peek at where my stand is set up yesterday and there's a lot of scrapes out there...a few decent sized rubs. Looks like they are running the ridge lines hard....and my stand is set up right on one of the ridge trails that they are working hard.

    Wall hanger or button buck is all the same to me. If its brown its down.

    My BIL is hunting with me Saturday and he's already filled his buck tag. He's going to set up on a good spot for does though.
     
    milleo likes this.
  3. swags

    swags Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    4,455
    Likes Received:
    13,240
    Location:
    NE Ohio
    Rut is late this year in the MW. Predictions were it would peak in late Nov which is about two weeks late and so far from what I've seen it's holding true. Lots of small 2-3 year old bucks on there feet but very little activity and I've seen no chasing yet. In another week it will be goin crazy.
     
  4. SmokinJay

    SmokinJay

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2013
    Messages:
    148
    Likes Received:
    230
    Lots of active scraps before the storm. Nothing after. You can smell that the does are in heat. If you get a big whiff of them probably 3 does with in 100 yds. Wow the hill was stinking!
     
  5. Boog

    Boog

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2013
    Messages:
    1,181
    Likes Received:
    2,600
    Location:
    Where my spirit is free
    Sat out in the kids "tree house" the other evening for the first time but didn't see a thing. Certainly no stinking hills around here! :D
     
  6. SmokinJay

    SmokinJay

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2013
    Messages:
    148
    Likes Received:
    230
    Since that heavy rain last weekend I have not found any fresh scrapes.
     
  7. bocefus78

    bocefus78

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2013
    Messages:
    3,694
    Likes Received:
    19,839
    Location:
    Indiana
    I saw one fresh scrape but not a single deer this weekend. Very few shots as well with the exception of Friday night. The hunt continues!!!
     
  8. lukem

    lukem

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    11,823
    Likes Received:
    63,181
    Location:
    IN
    Went Friday night and saw 15. Woods is tore up...scrapes...rubs...heavy trails. Not a lot of shooting too. Wind is blowing every direction and I got busted before anything got in range.
     
  9. bocefus78

    bocefus78

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2013
    Messages:
    3,694
    Likes Received:
    19,839
    Location:
    Indiana
    15?!?!?! Holy chit! I hunt large woods so seeing 15 in one hunt just doesn't happen for me. Im starting to give up on the horns and looking for freezer packages.

    *enters lukem's IP address and starts location services* LOL Your treestand may be comprimised!
     
    SmokinJay likes this.
  10. lukem

    lukem

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    11,823
    Likes Received:
    63,181
    Location:
    IN
    15 is pretty unusual for me....but they were up and moving before that front pushed through. I think I'm done for this season. Might try my luck in late firearms season if it isn't too cold.
     
  11. SmokinJay

    SmokinJay

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2013
    Messages:
    148
    Likes Received:
    230

    Same here.....Getting the cold weather gear and muzzleloader ready. Time for the shot gunners to lay down there arms!


    Here one of my ponchos reversible with polar fleece in the middle. Weights in over 5 lbs but back pack it and throw that on and there is nothing you cant set through.



    1479507_3756022036931_1869564757_n.jpg
     
  12. bocefus78

    bocefus78

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2013
    Messages:
    3,694
    Likes Received:
    19,839
    Location:
    Indiana
    I rolled a couple does this Saturday evening. Marlin 1894 and a corbon 300 grain hp. Both dropped in their tracks. Crapo cell pics...had to get em out in the dark. 1 good sized one and one of her 2 kids. Freezer is about there now.
     

    Attached Files:

    DexterDay and SmokinJay like this.
  13. SmokinJay

    SmokinJay

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2013
    Messages:
    148
    Likes Received:
    230
    I got my second Doe Saturday as well. Both mine where under 100 lbs but not by much.
     
  14. bocefus78

    bocefus78

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2013
    Messages:
    3,694
    Likes Received:
    19,839
    Location:
    Indiana
    Do you guys weigh them yourself? I check them on online so I never see a check station to get weighed.
     
  15. SmokinJay

    SmokinJay

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2013
    Messages:
    148
    Likes Received:
    230
    Just a good guess when we hoist them up in the shop. I am checking them in on line to. You see the weather for opening black powder? Grab the snow camo!
     
    DexterDay likes this.
  16. bocefus78

    bocefus78

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2013
    Messages:
    3,694
    Likes Received:
    19,839
    Location:
    Indiana
    I'll be plowing snow. Love to hunt in snow but gotta pay the bills first
     
    SmokinJay likes this.
  17. SmokinJay

    SmokinJay

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2013
    Messages:
    148
    Likes Received:
    230
    Got another one hanging in the shop. May have to fire another freezer up.
     
    Boog likes this.
  18. bocefus78

    bocefus78

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2013
    Messages:
    3,694
    Likes Received:
    19,839
    Location:
    Indiana
    Nice! See any horns? Were you at Brookville again?
     
  19. SmokinJay

    SmokinJay

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2013
    Messages:
    148
    Likes Received:
    230
    No horns for a few weeks now. Just using the public trails in this snow. One deer seen one brought back. (This one was shot by someone else) We do all the processing at my shop. It was a white knuckle trip Friday night for sure. Nothing was plowed and had to hand shovel our site. Oh and to the out house. Saturday 3 more campers showed up but that was it.
     
  20. SmokinJay

    SmokinJay

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2013
    Messages:
    148
    Likes Received:
    230
    You know of any Mossberg trophy cheek pads out there? I need the smaller one.