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Planning Your Vacation on Weather, Moon and the Rut
Every year I hunt the Midwest rut I hear so many people planning their rut vacation based on moon phase. My suggestion (if you have the ability) is to hold off to plan your vacation to see what the weather will do. Last year, I planned a rut vacation way ahead of time, and ended up sitting in 70 degree weather for 5 straight days without laying eyes on any of the giants that were on the trail camera several days before I hunted. They happened to be on their feet in daylight October 30th last year when the weather was colder.
This year we happen to have a later “rutting moon” (Nov 14th) than average, but in my opinion, weather always trumps moon. If we have a cold front move through the first week of November, followed by cool temps, the rutting activity will be better the early part of November compared to later if/when the weather warms up. If the weather is the same for both periods, hunting the 7th-8th-9th of November may be better than the 1st-2nd-3rd this year. The best hunting dates occur before the peak of rutting because when bucks are tending and breeding does, they hardly move.
Looking ahead to next week, it looks like temps are going to be above average for most of the Midwest. Up until this time, bucks have spent most of their time feeding in order to bulk up for the marathon we know as the rut. When warmer than average temperatures hit, bucks will not move as much during daylight because it’s like they are wearing a winter jacket with all the fat they have built up.
The extended monthly temperature forecast from NOAA does not bode well for seeing low temps. If you cannot adjust your vacation days and are forced to hunt when it’s warm, try to focus on water sources. Also, focus on morning hunts. Even if the daytime highs are in the 70s, morning temps are usually significantly lower. Midday can also be productive over water sources. If you had to choose between a creek and a pond, hunt the pond. For whatever reason, deer feel more comfortable drinking water that isn’t flowing. I think it may have something to do with the sound of trickling water and not being able to hear predators, but that’s just a hunch.
-Tim Neuman, Wildlife Biologist
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