How do you hunt the rut?

[dan]

I hunt high in ridges and focus on terrain in relation to doe bedding groups... I don't even need to see trails (I rarely see a mature buck use a "doe" trail)... they use terrain to check doe trails efficiently as possible

Right on, it don't get discussed much on here, but when hunting cruising bucks in rut a lot of my best spots don't have much for rub's or trails, im setting up like Bucky, based on the terrain.

[stash59]

Give me a refresher. What terrain? And how they relate!

[dan]

Give me a refresher. What terrain? And how they relate!

Top 3rd elevation, corners, pinch points, funnels, transition edges, etc.

[Bucky]

Read Mapping Trophy Whitetails.... best deer hunting book I have ever read by FAR

[stash59]

Got it in the mail last month. Waiting for big bro to build me a stand to hold books so I can read them. Did page through and look at the pics and diagrams.

[Bucky]

Got it in the mail last month. Waiting for big bro to build me a stand to hold books so I can read them. Did page through and look at the pics and diagrams.

Damn - that sounds rough

[IkemanTx]

Give me a refresher. What terrain? And how they relate!

Top 3rd elevation, corners, pinch points, funnels, transition edges, etc.

The most distilled down and to the point tip on the whole site. Awesome.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[mheichelbech]

I like to hunt urban spots where you have a neighborhood or homes very close by to block deer in one side...if you find an area that is a ridge top or crop field on the other side of the woods you be in rut heaven. Only takes about 75 to 100 yard strips of woods to focus the deer and still hold them.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[attackone]

when you guys hunt DW of a doe bedding area, how far down are you going or are you still staying close to he 1/3

[justin84]

bump

[Debo03]

I hunt high in ridges and focus on terrain in relation to doe bedding groups... I don't even need to see trails (I rarely see a mature buck use a "doe" trail)... they use terrain to check doe trails efficiently as possible

Low I focus on water - creeks, rivers, ponds and terrain pinches and parrallel trails in relation to doe bedding groups

When I hunted public more I focused on pressure and getting as far away from it as possible

Bucky,

Can you elaborate on when you would hunt Low? assuming this is hill country ..

I've got a sweet water hole that would be a prime spot for warm rut weather but its surrounded by big ridges and I've always been afraid to hunt it because every time I've been in there the wind swirls.

[Graham_van]

Depends on where I'm hunting, down here in texas (east texas piney woods) its a matter of hunting edge where the does bed. Find some cover near stands of white oaks where the does are and bucks will cruise by.

I also hunt Kansas, and in Kansas its all about cover. Find a hot cover transition area and sit all day. Anything can happen in Kansas.

[Graham_van]

I like to hunt urban spots where you have a neighborhood or homes very close by to block deer in one side...if you find an area that is a ridge top or crop field on the other side of the woods you be in rut heaven. Only takes about 75 to 100 yard strips of woods to focus the deer and still hold them.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

Urban areas can be super hot during the rut. find a wood lot with does and you will be sure to have some luck.

[swampyak]

Downwind of field edges and inbetween doe bedding.
How about beaver ponds as funnels. Do you notice bucks crossing on the dams or just downstream.

[Hawthorne]

I hunt mostly in farm country. I have a couple good spots that are fence rows that connect two big pieces of timber. I've shot many bucks hunting these spots. Nothing over 3.5 tho. Like dan said the mature bucks still need to be hunted in bedding areas during the rut in heavy pressure areas. I've laid eyes on a few in heavy cover and they pace back and forth because they won't expose themselves in daylight. I've set up on bucks the next day after observing this and they are gone. Never to be seen again.