Any rut stories?

[tuffshot]

The rut is the most active time of year for the big boys to show up when least expected, and most of the time you are not prepared when it happens. I hunt a small wood lot the is a corridor for deer to pass thru in the evenings and to brows on acorns and persimmons during the time of the rut.

It was a nice clear day and I was off work so I thought I would get to the stand a little early, just incase the bucks were moving. The wood lot I hunt is at the end of an open field and not expecting anything to be moving at 1:30 in the afternoon I drove back to the edge of the wood lot. I got to the edge and turned the Jeep around so it would be facing back out when I would return after dark. I got out of the Jeep and opened the back tailgate and window. I put on the fanny pack and safety belt then the tree stand on my back. I picked up my bow and closed the back window and door. Then just as I turned around, there thru the brush on the other side of the ditch, within 20 yards 4 deer got up and looked right at me. A split second later the deer started to bound off then up jumps this nice high tined 10 point looks right at me the bounds off with the rest of the does that had brought him there. Oh well, thats the rut for ya. :sbrug:

That was the only time I saw that particular buck that whole season, so one just never knows where and when the big boy is visiting your neighborhood :)

[Pinelander]

I told this one last fall, didn't get to see it though... but my buddy sure had a good time re-counting it after we met up later.

He was on stand watching a doe approaching across a field intermingled with small willows (great bedding area). There was a decent 8 pt. milling around nearby her. Then all of a sudden, out of the bordering woods bolts this huge-bodied 10 pt! He never slowed down a bit, lowered his head and bowled-over that 8 pt. knocking him off his feet like he never knew what hit him, LOL.

The 8 pt. scrambled to his feet and got the heck out of Dodge and the big boy? Well, he just non-chalantly proceeded to mount that doe. Couple of quick thrusts... she walks off and he moves out into the field and lays down to take a rest, sheesh. :rolleyes:

[Pinelander]

Well, Forrest's mama said "Life is a box o' chocolates and ya never know what you're gonna git"....

It was November 9th, 1987 in southern Iowa, about 1:15 pm. I was setting a new stand in preparation for the following day. Looked to be a right fine-looking place, located at the point of a wooded draw that came up out of a hollow to meet an alfalfa field that was like a huge plateau surrounded by many of these draws. Real nice worn-down path nearby the oak I had chosen for an ambush. I had just finished setting the stand and trimming a few small branches up there about 16 feet. Was about ready to pull up my bow to take a few practice shots and then... there he was, must've come across the alfalfa and didn't hear or see him until he was nearly right under me! Just lumbering along with that dazed, rutt-filled look in his eyes. And I'm just standing there... bow on the ground, thumb up the butt, and the largest-racked whitetail deer I've ever seen in my life passing by my unbelieving eyes... He had the widest, most impressive-looking head gear I had seen, before that and ever since. It was a GUMP moment for sure.

[Pinelander]

And then there was the year before last... where the little 6 pt. was crawling on all fours like a little puppy dog wanting to get closer to that doe... but of course, all the big boy had to do was look over his way and little one would cower down with his head flat to the ground. I was busting a gut!

[G.Watkins]

About five or six years ago I left work at noon on a saturday and went hunting. On my way in to the stand I kicked deer up and thought they were bedded in the area. So I thought crap just ruined my hunting for the day. Then after about 15 mins on stand the churning in my guts drove me out of the stand to go well you know. So I went out in the field and up the ridge away and back into the woods and kicked a nice buck up. Darn I was really feeling bad at this point. So I did my buisness and realized I had No More toilet paper, there goes another cotton glove. Made way back into the stand and look out across the valley and here comes a nice buck headed my direction he travels 1000 yards in clear sight right to me. Well almost right to me he turns just out of bow range and heads in a different direction. So for the rest of the day I watch deer running every direction. Finally at last light a doe gives me a shot and I take her. I have never seen such a huge amount of deer activity since. It was magic hopefully I will experience it again some day. Oh and by the way I always make sure now I have plenty of toilet paper with me.

[1bjd]

The most bucks I ever saw chasing a doe happened two years ago in New York. The rut just wasnt happening so after a very slow morning I decided to move a stand to get ready for the shotgun season. After carrying everything to the new spot I was lifting the Screaming Eagle stand into place 16' up a white oak tree. Heard a noise and looked out to see a doe running by about 20 yards out followed by a line of bucks. When it was all finished nine antlered bucks and a button had just passed by single file while I watched with my bow and video camera at the base of the tree. I really felt sorry for the doe who I bet was in for a long afternoon. I had not seen any of the bucks on the lease before so I figure they were from out of town! John

[tuffshot]

I was in a tree stand on the West side of a hill, conditions were perfect and the rut was just starting up. I heard some leaves rustling and turn down the hill to see 2 large does and 2 yearlings, one was a button buck. The button buck would chase the other does and get ran off by the larger 2 and then he would come back for more, it was a fun sight to watch. They finally moved down the hill side and just blended in with the woods and fallen leaves.

It is getting late but still good enuff light to see a nice 8 pt coming from my left and heading down the hill towards the other deer. He was too far out of range and could not get a clean shot so all I could do is watch him walk by with my binos. As he was heading down the hill and still watching him he suddenly went sideways as if rammed by something. And as the 8pt regained his balance I could see that that little button buck was hidding behind a tree and rammed him as he walked by. Between shivering and laughing so hard I lost site of them after that but it was really funny to see the big boy get a shot from the kid...

[Gutshot]

A few years ago while hunting the edge of long, narrow swamp here in Michigan, I started a rattling/grunting sequence that lasted for about 2 minutes. The buck to doe ratio was superb in this area, and as a result there were several half racked bucks walking around. Loads of competition. At first light I started to rattle. Within seconds of putting my horns away and sitting down, I heard a twig snap from behind me and to my left, coming out of the swamp. I looked back and saw the biggest buck I had ever laid eyes on. He was a typical 8 point with a spread so wide that I think I could sit inside it, and I've been told I have hips made for giving birth. I'm guessing his G-2's were 13-14", with the rest of the rack in proportion. BIG! His eyes were all bugged out, ears laid back, hair standing up all the way down his back, stomping with his front legs and coming right to me. It was cold that morning and you could see his breath shooting out about 3 ft. from his nose. The perfect picture...right? Just like in the movies. Man...I was shaking like Don Knots! He started at about 30 yards from me, but was closing the distance fast. I was quickly doing the math up in the tree..."Let's see, the wind is with me...he doesn't know I'm here...it'll be an 18 yard slam dunk shot with just a few more steps...HE'S GOING ON MY WALL! I've got this one!" Just then, at about 20 yards and quartering slightly toward me, he stops and snaps his head back into the swamp. I follow his line of sight and see two does about 30 yards away with a look on their face like, "Oh...no, he saw us!" Without any hesitation, he bolted into the swamp after them and I never saw him again. I sat back down and my right leg started to shake uncontrollably. I'm starting to get all worked up just typing this. He was huge! I feel like I got pick-pocketed. I still wake up during the middle of the night thinking about that day. Ahhhh...this is the internal burn that puts me in the woods year after year and not giving up.