There are a couple different lines of thinking for hunting the rut. The first and maybe most popular is to go into the thick stuff, hunt the best spots and get into  or near doe bedding areas. But another strategy worth considering is hunting high visibility areas. Idealy these would be in some kind of natural funnel, resulting in lots of deer traffic. But the reason you want high visibility is because of  the unique success you can have this time of year with calling to bucks.

At no other point in the season are bucks more receptive to calls, so now is the time to employ them. If you hunt an area where you can see a long ways, you’ll have the opportunity to realize there is a buck near, call to them, read their body language and then determine how best to adjust your calling strategy. I would typically start with a grunt at a moderate level and then adjust up in volume until he reacts in a way that would indicate he heard you. If you can’t get his attention with a grunt, try rattling. Either way, once he starts coming your way, stop calling and let him move in on his own.

This tactic when employed correctly can result in super exciting hunts, lots of deer sightings and in the end a buck at the end of a blood trail. Shoot straight Nation!

With the rut upon us, I thought it would be useful to share some quick tips on hunting the rut. And one of the most important tips to keep in mind this time of year is to hunt downwind of bedding areas. Big bucks soon will be getting on their feet and cruising for does and you need to be in the right spot to intersect them. Just like humans, bucks are lazy and to avoid walking through every doe bedding area, they will often travel just close enough to scent check them for hot does. These bucks will travel downwind of doe bedding areas, check the scent, and then if they don’t smell what they are looking for, they will move on to the next.

This is where you need to be, especially if you’re hoping to see midday action from a mature buck. Expect to see bucks cruising in between these doe bedding areas and utilizing the thickest cover they can to get from point A to point B. Set up downwind of the bedding area and watching over one of these well covered travel corridors and you will be well on your way to enjoying a full day of big buck action.

Do you have a favorite rut hunting tip? Share it in the comments and maybe we’ll post it up as a full story for everyone to see on Wired To Hunt!

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

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!