Schu72
Well-Known Member
My "magical" days always seem a little later. November 11-15 is what my log shows are my most productive sits.
If you really want to get accurate dates and become more scientific about peak breeding and the rut I would suggest harvesting a doe in the late season and then measuring the fetus. There is a specific "ruler" for this application. By doing this you can pinpoint the day the doe was bred and then count 3 days ahead and 3 days back to acquire "Peak" activity. Obviously weather will affect this slightly...cold fronts, hard rains, etc but overall this will give you a true 7 day window! I know this doesn't really help for this year, but something to keep in mind for years to come!
I'm not sure why that's leaves you speechless....it's a fact?? If you do some due diligence, you will find it to be true. I'm not saying that's the only time I hunt, I was just responding to the thread. That process will give you an accurate "peak" breeding timeframe. This is just one article, there a dozens out there.....
http://ecosystems.psu.edu/research/projects/deer/news/2014/can-you-predict-the-rut
I'm just busting your chops man... I'm sure there's scientistic proof behind it, there's science behind everything, I'm an engineer so everything is black and white to me, I get it. (btw I'm a PSU alum so hell yeah for posting a PSU.edu link)
I'm just saying I'm not gonna be harvesting the a doe in the late season hoping to find a fetus and remove it and measure it just to determine the rut for the next year. But I understand you're just saying it can be done.
Also I guess I don't understand how the peak rut in the woods I hunted growing up could fluctuate from 1st week of November to the third week. That would mean the doe isn't coming into heat the same time each year. If the article explains this then I'm sorry for the ignorance.
I didn't even read the report but I know some does come in heat early and some does are missed the 1st-2nd heats. So you can really tell anything unless you would measure say 10-100 fetus to get a average?
If you really want to get accurate dates and become more scientific about peak breeding and the rut I would suggest harvesting a doe in the late season and then measuring the fetus. There is a specific "ruler" for this application. By doing this you can pinpoint the day the doe was bred and then count 3 days ahead and 3 days back to acquire "Peak" activity. Obviously weather will affect this slightly...cold fronts, hard rains, etc but overall this will give you a true 7 day window! I know this doesn't really help for this year, but something to keep in mind for years to come!
hahahaha ummmmm I have no words for this.
I think we missed the rut again tho boys, heard it was May this year. The hens and does started syncing up after all these years together.
All joking aside, I'm with Taylor. If I didn't have to drive 90min to hunt I'd be in the stand Oct 21-Nov 31. Which I am on the weekends but can't during the week.
My bad, it was Dr. James Kroll not Grant....
I'd hope you shoot late season does for food first, not to cut out their unborn babies to predict peak rut. (Or for management purposes with the fetus as caveat.) I understand the science, but the presentation may need some work.