Start Planning for Your Upcoming Midwest Rut Hunt Now

Question: I finally drew a tag in Iowa, and I’m putting all my eggs in a 10-day basket in November. Which 10 days would you choose? And, if you have other suggestions, I’m all ears. — Jaxon D., via e-mail

Answer: Choosing hunt dates is always a gamble, mostly because of the unpredictable nature of the weather. We all eventually learn that weather is out of our control, so my advice is to refrain from sniveling, think positive and deal with the cards you’re dealt. Since you have a long time to hunt, my instinct is to advise you to hunt the first 10 days of November. I’ve heard a lot of “influencer” advice that the last eight or 10 days in October are better, but I’ve never found that to be true. It might work for locals who can keep track of a specific buck and get a pattern on him, but for a non-resident such as yourself, November is superior to October.

Since photoperiodism determines the timing of the rut and the breeding cycle, the peak of those periods is relatively constant. In the Midwest, the seeking and chasing phases take place in very late October and the beginning of November. There are always exceptions, but by the time it gets to the 12th or so, the breeding phase begins, and bucks can disappear while they’re locked-down with an estrous doe. Once she submits, the buck is off searching again, which helps, but I’ve seen reduced activity in the middle of the month. Once we start to approach Thanksgiving, there is often a spike of activity as bucks lapse into what I call the Desperation Stage, for obvious reasons.

The weather will always impact the “apparent” rut, or in other words, the activity you will see during hunting hours. Hot weather is bad; cold weather is good. That said, if a doe is in estrus, bucks will be in pursuit no matter the temperature. Of course, there are many variables, which is why timing is always a gamble.

Here are some other tips:

• Don’t be content with just sitting in a tree and waiting for something to happen. Have a grunt call, a bleat call and a set of rattling antlers ready to help make something happen.
• Lay down a mock scrape or two in your shooting lanes. You have nothing to lose doing so.
• A decoy or two can really add effectiveness and excitement. I prefer two decoys — a buck and a doe. It’s a hassle, but not many bucks can resist an interloper with a girlfriend.
• Don’t let wind direction keep you from hunting. Make sure you have stands or blinds for every wind. Ten days goes fast, so don’t waste any time.
• If you see some consistent activity somewhere other than where you are, don’t hesitate to move. There’s a reason the deer are doing what they’re doing. Don’t ask questions. Strike while the pattern is hot.
• Prepare to hunt all day during the first part of November, especially if it’s cold. Pack a lunch, something to drink, a lot of patience and sit dark to dark. No one likes doing it (especially cameramen), but it works. And, maybe best of all, it cuts your in-and-out incursions in half.
• If a snowstorm hits and you can get to your hunt location safely, get in a deep woods tree. Field edges aren’t the best, but the thick timber can be alive during a snowy day.

Enjoy your Iowa tag and good luck!

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