The Most Colorful Time of Year
It is late October, bucks are cruising, rubbing, and scraping. Some bucks may even be chasing does around. The leaves have changed, and started to fall. It has been unusually warm here in Ohio; however, deer are deer. The rut will happen with or without us, or the colder temperatures. We are being blessed with the most colorful time of year, fall.
For those of us that pray for big rutting bucks, it’s the best time to be to be in the deer stand. There just isn’t a sight quite like a mature whitetail buck chasing a doe. To hear them crashing through the leaves, grunting and bleating as they run aimlessly through the oak flats, farm fields, marshes, and hills. Sights that mostly only hunters will see to enjoy. Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.”. Views like this are the proof that God is real, He cares about us, as we take in the beauty of His creation.
You should have rubs and scrapes that have been worked frequently for the last several weeks now. Hopefully, you placed your Moultrie Edge cell cameras on some of these sites. These are good areas to sit. As the bucks cruise, they will stop by these public scent stations checking to see if a hot doe has checked in. Adding your favorite doe estrous; such as J&S Scents or Flawless Whitetail Scents to a fresh scrape can help bring your target buck in and keep him in that area for you to possibly get a shot.
When blind calling, we at Created Outdoors usually start with just a social grunt. A social grunt is a soft, short grunt that a buck will make just to say “I am here”. Tending grunts will be the next choice. Tending grunts are also soft, and short in duration. Tending grunts are a series call though, anywhere from 3-7 grunts. Adding in an estrous doe bleat can add realism to the scenario. Bucks will only make tending grunts when they have a hot doe.
Estrous bleats can also work when blind calling. This call can be a single bleat, or up to three. Each estrous bleat will last 3-5 seconds. If you are using a tube style call, basically just say “Weow” into the call. Most usually just use the bleat can calls though. You can also add in a few doe grunts, this will add the effect of a group of does together feeding. Using young buck grunts will help capture the interest of any mature buck that is passing through.
Rattling antlers can stir up some activity if the right buck is within ear shot. When rattling, throw in some long and short buck grunts. Thrash some leaves and brush if you are on the ground. If you are in the tree stand, tie off a branch to your bow or gun rope. Make sure it has enough branches on it to make some noise, and it is long enough to reach the ground. Throw the rope over a wrist while you clash the antlers together, and use that motion to rustle the leaves at the base of your tree. This will add all of the realism of two bucks fighting that we can possible get.
Grunt calls and doe estrous bleats are highly effective this time of year, especially when you see the deer. Pay attention to the deer and their body language, if they look, they heard the call. Give them a little bit, they may just turn and come in. If they go back to what they were doing, call again. If they don’t seem to care at all about the call, then try a different call. Don’t be afraid to use a snort wheeze, rattling antlers, or a growl when you see a mature buck. This just might be what they need to hear to commit.
As we reflect on the beauty in this time of year, remember to thank the Lord for making all of this possible. It is only by His glory and grace that we are so blessed to experience his creation in such an intimate way. Psalm 104:24-25 says, “O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great.” Take the time to slow down from our fast-paced busy lives, soaking in the beauty and peace of the Lord’s creation. Until next time, hunt hard, and pray harder.
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Written by,
Evan Gersper Created Outdoors Staff