This is the place to post your observations about rutting activity in Michigan or simply find out what other hunters are seeing in the woods. Be sure to tell us the area of the state, indicate the date of the observation and describe what you've seen "bucks chasing does, fresh scrapes, etc.".
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Young bucks 2 1/2 and under are really starting to chase does. I've had some success rattling, but no mature buck activity yet where I hunt in southern Michigan. Are you guys seeing the same?
On the 24th of October, I had a bachelor group of 4 bucks walk under my stand. They were 1 1/2 year olds. I hunt and live in the Thumb area and haven't seen any mature buck activity."Most don't make it to maturity" However, the rubs and scrapes have really picked up the last couple of days.
On October 27th I was hunting in southern Ingham Co. I saw a large, mature buck following another buck "2 1/2 yrs", following five does. This is really exciting because this means that the rut is just around the corner.
The deer have become extinct... as of 10/29 seems like there are none. I suspect this to be the calm before the storm. The weather is warm but supposed to cool off again Monday. Hopefully this will get them moving again and showing rut activity. I love this time of the year
I am not having the problem of not seeing any deer. I again saw a large buck following some does Friday "10/28" evening. I shot at him "30 yards" and shot over his back. Later on that evening I had several does enter the food plot. Can't wait to get back out to see if the two big bucks will show themselves again.
Last night "10/31" i hit my estrous can and a spike came in and stood under my stand for several minutes. Then a doe and 2 fawns wandered in and the buck stuck his nose under the does tail and promptly got whopped along side the head with a well placed front hoof. I almost laughed out loud. She was much bigger than the spike. Other than that, no other deer.
Tonight "11/3" was real interesting because of the warm weather. I would have thought that some of the movement would have been down. How wrong I was. I made to my site at about 4 pm. Within 5 minutes I had 3 does in front of me. They played around for almost 30 minutes. After they had left I hit my can and grunt. Within 20 minutes I had a spike in front of me. He left and I hit the grunt again and had a 4 point come in. At about 5:30 I hit the rattle bag and grunt and had a 6 point come out with a large 10 or 12 point following. The large one never made it to me before dark.
I had to wait for him to go through before I could leave the woods. Can't wait til morning if you know what I mean.
The deer are REALLY moving well. The firearm opener should be exciting. Except for the nasty weather....yuck. Good luck everyone!!!!
You were correct!They were moving well.Day 2 was poor "except at dusk"Day 3 started out fairly decent.
Hope everyone was pleased!
"I left a rosebud in there for ya"