As promised, we’ll be bringing you weekly updates from the Field & Stream Rut Reporters, and this week there’s lots of exciting news. Rutting action is picking up across most of the US, as you can see in the above heat map of rut action. Below are a few excerpts of  rut observations being had across the country. Visit the Rut Reporters website to get the full scoop on how the rut is progressing in your neck of the woods!

North Central: “In the wake of this week’s record winds, buck activity has positively exploded. I’m getting reports from happy hunters all over the region, as they witness increased buck movement and, in some cases, are able to fill a tag. This is that rarest of time frames during the rut cycle; only a few does are ready to breed, but the bucks are feeling it, big time. And unlike the past several seasons, when warm weather has limited daytime buck activity, temps are right where they need to be”

West: “Whitetail activity is in a mixed-bag period around the West, with bucks displaying various stages of the rut. But in northwestern Montana, “We just aren’t seeing it here, yet,” said Ron Nail of Kalispell, noting that Montana’s opening weekend check stations recorded fewer than normal whitetails harvested. The opening weekend was quite warm while cold weather moved in during mid week.”

Northeast: ” Finally some actual mating. Hunters have reported seeing bucks chasing does over the past couple of days. Dave Zelina, who is out of action because of a fall from his treestand, saw three bucks in his yard. One was a 10-point with an outside spread of more than 20 inches. It chased a doe through his back yard three times, back and forth. This coincided with a drop in temperature through much of the region. Snowflakes were seen Thursday as far south as Pennsylvania. Most of the bog buck activity has been taking place from Ohio across through Pennsylvania into Maryland.”

Mid-South: “Daylight activity has increased over the past few days. I’m still not seeing any big deer on their feet, but numerous smaller bucks are up and cruising. Quite a few dead deer are showing up on the roads in this area, too. With the pre-rut in full swing, bucks are no doubt doing plenty of fighting. I made a few fairly aggressive grunts at a young 8-pointer yesterday evening (see video). He heard them, but didn’t seem curious enough to walk my way and risk a beating from a larger buck. Now is definitely the time to keep a grunt call and rattling horns handy in the stand.”

For more frequent rut updates, great rut hunting articles and to submit your own rut observations visit the Field & Stream Rut Reporters site.

It’s that time of year. The rut is here…

Hunter’s are drooling, bucks are chasing and wives or girlfriends are going on group shopping trips for days on end while their men are off in the woods. Frantic phone calls are made every night, checking in on what your buddy saw and what the bucks were doing. We all want to know what’s happening and where, given that the rut and all of it’s glory comes and goes so quickly. And luckily we have the internet to help make this furious information gathering a little easier. Over the years I have discovered that there are a number of different websites and forums that track the progress of the rut, but one in particular this year caught my eye.

Field & Stream recently launched their “Rut Reporters” site and Facebook page and because of several really unique features, they have catapulted to the top of my “to check” hunting websites during the rut. Rut Reporters first and foremost features the content and observations of hunters from across the country. Anyone can sign up and vote in a poll, to submit their rut observations, such as mature buck activity, midday movement and rutting sign. This information is then aggregated and used to create a “heat map” which shows where rutting activity is strongest across the country! Not only is this really cool, but for submitting your info you are also signed up to win some pretty nice hunting/outdoor gear.

In addition to the rut heat map, there is also a Rut Reporters “Buck Bulletin” which is essentially a blog from a few different whitetail hunters/writers across the different regions of the US, who are writing up reports on what kind of rutting action is being seen and tips for hunting the given situations. I’ve found this to be great content, and what is really  nice is that you can see specific info for your area. Regions are broken up pretty granularly , for example”Mid-South” and “North Central.” On top of this great up to date information, there also is a section on the site called the “Rut Handbook,” which essentially is a compilation of a bunch of really insightful rut hunting articles.

So all this being said, we’re going to be checking into the Rut Reporters frequently and then sharing some of the over arching themes with you once a week until the rut peters out. For the next 4 or 5 Fridays we’ll be featuring the Rut Heat Map and a few key status updates on Wired To Hunt, but make sure to also go check out the full site for yourself and share your rut observations.

Check out the F&S Rut Reporters here.

On a final note, according to Field & Stream’s “Best Day’s of the Rut” series, tomorrow is the first best day! Check out why here!

The Best Days of the Rut: Oct 26

In the most recent issue of Deer & Deer Hunting magazine Charles Alsheimer released his annual rut predictions and with an abnormally late full moon this fall, the rut could be the latest we’ve ever seen it! Last year’s peak was predicted to hit in the North around November 10, but according to Alsheimer this year the heat of rutting activity might not be starting until Thanksgiving week!

Now I don’t necessarily agree or disagree with Alsheimer’s predictions or methods, but I certainly think they are interesting to consider. So lets first take a look at Alsheimer’s methodology. Before going any further, it’s important to mention that Charles Alsheimer is without a doubt one of the most experienced and respected deer hunters and researchers in the country. That being said, his studies into the annual timing of the rut must be considered carefully and given some credence. Alsheimer has been studying the timing of the rut for 14 years now and it seems that the key factor in kicking the rut into gear is the occurrence of the second full moon after the Autumn Equinox. According to the this theory, once the “Rutting Moon” hits, most doe’s estrus cycles kick into gear and the peak of the rut follows shortly!

So if we follow this theory, this year presents an interesting conundrum. The rutting moon this year falls on November 21, the latest it has ever fallen in Alsheimers’ study and given that, it looks like the rut could be later than we’ve seen in a long time. That being said, here is the “cliff notes” version of Alsheimers predictions for the 2010 rut in the North…

• A minor “sweet spot” of deer activity will occur around Oct 22, as the seeking and chasing phases of the rut will begin, but at a slower pace than usual.
• Buck activity will really get kicked into gear around the 15th and increase steadily.
• The major “sweet spot” and the peak of the chasing phase will occur from Nov 21 through 25.
• Most breeding will be done in the last week of Nov and into early December.

So there you go, I can’t vouch one way or the other for these predictions, but they certainly raise some interesting questions. For instance, are most hunter’s going to be disappointed during their typical rut hunt vacation times of the first two weeks in November? Given these predictions, would any of you change your hunting plans?

If these predictions are true, for me it rings in both good and bad news. The bad news is that my hunts in Nebraska and Pennsylvania occur during what he describes as the lull before the real activity, the dates being Nov 7-14. The good news is that my hunt in Illinois, Nov 21-25, will be during the absolute peak of the rut this year! Definitely not what I was expecting, but I suppose it’s positive news.

So what do you guys think about these predictions and will they change your plans at all this fall?

For more information about Alsheimer’s predictions, tips for hunting the rut this year and much more, pick up the most recent copy of Deer & Deer Hunting or download the full online course describing this years rut predictions from D & DH here.

According to Scott…

Here in the upper Midwest, we are on the brink of an explosion. For the most part, the full-bore chase phase has not begun. But the bucks—including some of the mature deer—are getting very active. They are on their feet, roaming their core areas, hitting rubs and scrapes and looking for that first estrous doe.

Over on Versus Country it’s looking like the “Early Rut” is hitting across most of the Midwest. To see the map and updates from across the country check out the VS Weekly Rut Report. One point of interest to consider from Larry Weishuhn…

Based on conversations I’ve had with successful hunter throughout the MidWest these first days of November, I’ve talked to a fair number of hunters who have rattled up bucks, and also a bunch who tell me they’ve had more success attracting bucks with grunts. So, if you’re headed to the deer woods this week, don’t forget to take your grunt call with you!