Where is the Rut?

Like most hunters, I get excited and look forward to hunting at the end of October and the first part of November. This is the time when bucks are on the move during the day, hitting scrapes and fighting to breed. No matter where you are in the northern part of the United States, hunters sit all day and work hard to close the deal on a mature buck.

In my home state of Pennsylvania, the rut usually heats up during the second and third week of November. I have killed most of my mature bucks during the second week of November while hunting mock scrapes. Since bucks are more active during daylight hours during this time, I use the mock scrapes to my advantage. This strategy has worked well for me over the past twelve years.