Post Rut

[trkyhntr]

Anyone ever have Any luck with scents or calls during post rut? I know deer are vocal and use grunts, bleats to communicate to each other. What about an estrus bleat? Some does are receptive during the post rut, would that work?

[timhicks]

I am not sure but I think post rut is after they have rutted and just a few does may come back in heat. The ones who didnt get hit during the big one, I think you may mean pre rut and yes, calls doe bleats and rattling will sometimes bring in a bruiser. He thinks somebody is in his territory. They also have a few early pre rut scents that can help lure them if the situation is right. Tarsal gland works great dragging from your stand away and then the opposite direction , I always try to start from my stand and walk away thus making it stronger around my stand. I then hang a dripper or gland handy. I hope this helps .. Tim

[kahuna]

After the "big" rut when the majority of does come into estrus, there will be a "second" rut, where does that have not been bred will go into estrus again. "Sex scents" may work then, but there is a small window of opportunity, and you have to hit it perfect. I have used food scents after the rut because deer now have to regain the weight they lost during the rut, and they will be looking to add some pounds.

[Phishy]

post rut meaning the peak of the rut is long past, the peak of the rut is mid Nov around here yet i have seen a resurgence of scrapes in Dec i assume this would be the second rut if you want to call it that, but like Kahuna said it is short lived and, but rather intense, i typically see more action working food sources after the peak, then again we might have snow by then

there is also another small window which sex scents can be red hot, immeditely after the peak of the rut and there are few does in estrous - if any, but the bucks haven't figure it out yet and are still revved up, this is the prime time to use sex scents, but it last only a few days

I've had scents work in the pre-rut, or more accurate, early stages of the peak, around here that would be around Halloween. I've tried sex scents earlier but never really had confidence, i typically use a non sexual curiosity scent, there's a few brands out there, give em a try, if nothing else they make a deer stop if i place some on a trail in a shooting lane.

[trkyhntr]

After reading the posts I was thinking of the same thing, curiosity scent. This year instead of taking my weeks vacation the first week of the rifle season, i'm taking it the second week. Less pressure on the deer. I noticed last year not as many people around, in fact hardly any. I'll probably try the curiosty scent and a doe bleat or grunt.

[mrjbigfoot]

I believe in trying to get out as much as possible before our gun season because they normally pound the crap out of the deer on opening day & there aren't as many deer left to hunt after that...

[THE GOB-FATHER]

The post rut is a great time to capitalize on a phase that most hunters overlook. Think of it this way... many hunters will plan for time off from work around the peak of the rut. They'll schedule trips, spend all their time possible in the woods during it and then one of two things happen: 1)They got their deer and frequent the woods less often if even at all. 2)They lose momentum if they didn't harvest and spend less time in the woods after the hard work put in. What does this mean to you? Well, it means the woods start "getting back to normal". Deer will start going back into feeding mode and survival is one of the top priorities for the buck you're after now. He'll be looking to put back on the weight he lost while chasing after those does for weeks on end and prepare for the upcoming cold winters. In other words... he'll be lookin to fattin up!

Your strategy should be more focused on food sources as stated previously more-so than on scent attractants. Food sources that are high in protein and fat are great staples to focus on. Getting in there to find a funnel with travel corridors and escape routes leading to these food sources will be key places to hang a stand. The deer will have developed a "schedule" due to the hunting pressure they're used to from the rut hunting activities so find the areas that hold a lot of cover and staging areas as a lot of the times the deer may be close to, or are "nocturnal".

As I stated previously, Post Rut can be a great time to be out hunting because the deer start to become more predictable and patternable once again. Start thinking like a deer and what's important to them at that given time and you're already one step closer to bagging that trophy "Post Rut Buck"! Good luck with it this year!

[trkyhntr]

The reason I asked this was last year the second week of rifle season, which is the second week of Dec., I stumbled on an area that had, I would say, in a 200 yard radius, a spot that had over 27 scrapes and over 50 rubs in it. I'm talking about rubs on trees anywhere from 2 inches up to 8 inch trees! Some of the scrapes were being used yet. Every time I went up there, I always jumped deer.

[Phishy]

you bowhunt?? ummm.... i would hunt near this area alot, try to play the wind( what ever the @#$% that means, the wind never cooperates) trails leading in to it? ummm... set up and put down scent?? is it a bedding area? Can i hunt it for you?? will you accept money??

hunt it!! you confident in the area? even if you just sit here and waste your time, you will see deer moving through at some time and learn a little bit more each year, is there alot of competition in this area? you like to call? but one thing, hunt the area now! don't wait til the sign shows up, it might be too late. you'll take money right?

[trkyhntr]

This area I found is on top of the mountain. I always go up from the winter side. There's a road that runs east and west along the mountain and it takes me about 2/3 of the way up. So I can easily walk up through the rocks. It's pretty thick in there with mountain laurel. When I walk up there it's just breaking daylight and when I get to the top, the deer are already up there. That's why I was thinking of using grunt or bleat calls. Just still hunt my way around up there. And yes, I do play the wind. When I walk across the top the wind is always in my face. I've walked within 30 yards of deer already, but it seems they always see me.

Last year I was walking out a deer trail, less noisy, and came upon an area with rocks on the ground. I would always sneak across rocks, but this time I stepped on one that made a noise and three of the biggest deer jumped up to my left and took off. I jumped deer in that same area before. Never did get a shot.

[trkyhntr]

Oh, by the way, i'll take you up there. I won't accept money, just fill up my gas tank!

[Phishy]

good grief man, i can't afford to fill my truck let alone yours

you figured out how to play the wind?? my past three times out the stupid wind keeps changing and doing all sorts of swirling things to me, so whenever i read in some outdoor magazine, "play the wind" my first reaction is "what ever the #@!$ that means", its always said but never really that easy, deer do a better job on playing the wind on us. so yeah i play the wind as well, like a sore a$$,- real careful like- but it still burns.