Is There Really a Second Rut - How Strong is It? | Whitetail Watch w/ Bill Winke

[@phillipsmith1981]

I killed a buck on December 1st, 2019 that was hanging out with 7 does. I killed a buck in mid December of 22 that came out chasing a doe. Both bucks were at least 4.5 years old. I found fresh rubs and scrapes this past weekend. I would rather hunt this late season than November. My 3 biggest bucks have all been harvested in December. I witnessed a young 6 point dogging a doe in February a few years ago in the suburbs of Indianapolis. Love the show and thanks for the helpful tips and advice.

[@troyboulware3518]

This is good info, was gonna ask approx what time of day were your mature buck encounters in Dec?

[@phillipsmith1981]

@@troyboulware3518 all of them were in the evening. But the farms they were harvested on are not good for morning hunts in October and December due to the fact that I have to walk through ag fields on the way to the stand.

[@troyboulware3518]

@@phillipsmith1981 thank you 😊

[@dougboyd5851]

The buck i killed Monday was with a small doe

[@pathoag7006]

I have definitely seen it over the years as well. Dec 3-7 seem to be the most active days according to my observations and trail cam footage from the past 10 years.

[@whitetail229]

Same here, usually the 1st weekend of our gun season in pa

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Pat. If I do see it, it is always near food sources. Good luck.

[@whitetail229]

Ill be ready for 2025's whitetail rut watch! Really do appreciate all you do with the videos. Thanks, Bill

[@dustyrhodes8672]

Here in ky we had a great amount of acorns and it’s been hard to pattern any deer if you don’t have corn or soybeans! They don’t have to move very much! Look forward to your videos! Please do one on how to find buck beds! Would appreciate it!

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Dusty. We had that same situation last year. Deer never did come out of the woods much last year. Less acorns this year though.

[@TheTacticalHouse]

Clayton county Iowa… it was cold Saturday morning. 12 pointer chasing doe 7:19 am.

[@Julie-u6r]

just had a 150 inch plus buck tending a yearling at 9 this morning in my backyard in SE Wisconsin

[@bill-winke]

Good input. Thanks and good luck if you are still hunting!

[@tysonames5016]

I hear all the big ones are in SE Wisconsin this year

[@CaseO_Outdoors]

Bill, Two years ago I seen a doe walk into the road with twin fawns that looked like they were born a month before. Spots and all. This was during the main rut of November.

[@mikeney5113]

Thanks Bill great information as always

[@bill-winke]

Thanks. Have a great day.

[@shanetrudell4061]

Terrible weather hear in Michigan bill wind sleet mist but I had a random buck show up on camera fingers crossed I can be there waiting if he shows again!

[@troygaines4119]

Curious your thoughts on harvesting does during late season? I know deer are already on edge, so thinking through if it would have been better to harvest does earlier.

[@bill-winke]

Definitely best to harvest them as early in the season as possible, but if the goal is to shoot a certain number of does, you need to get them whenever you can. So shooting them late season is better than not shooting them if you have a goal in mind. Good luck.

[@451whitworth4]

Like the pic @ 2:57, the cedar tree stand!

[@bill-winke]

Yep. That is it. There is a huge scrape under it now. Some day we will kill a good buck there.

[@randyh.6019]

Hi Bill, excellent info. At some point please elaborate on deer density. The info I use is the Mn. DNR webpage on harvested deer, It says we have in my county 4.45 deer per square mile...Is that good, average, below average? I try doing it with trail cams but in my area when the fist shot rings out in gun season everything changes. Do you know your density on your new farm and how does it compare to your old farm?? thanks Bill

[@bill-winke]

Boy, that seems really low. The lowest density I ever hunted was in Manitoba (the Interlakes region). That was supposed to be two deer per square mile. I sat dark to dark for six straight days the last week of October and saw a grand total of two deer. The density you mention is super low. The density on my old farm was probably around 100 to 125 deer per square mile. You may want to double check your number. That seems really low.

[@gsquared2394]

Two years ago, I had good camera activity of bucks rutting right in the middle of December but it was also brutally cold. Last year essentially nothing; haven’t really paid much attention to it in the past, we’ll see what the cameras show this year.

[@alexpinnow6509]

Great follow up to yesterday's video and your reply to my comment. I don't think the science can be denied on this one especially is higher deer population areas and after seeing mature bucks actively chasing fawns

[@donwaldroopoutdoors3665]

last two years warm weather til late november never saw buck til 11/24 last weekend of rifle , after cold snaps, and ive seen bucks chasing and breeding into january, i think theyll go til does are bred out , thats ky though,

[@trevorlamble3645]

Here in SE Pennsylvania I see a 2nd rut now n a 3rd around the 1st of January

[@robertfmccarthy2360]

Yeah, great topic, 2nd Rut Is a big yes! In my new spot I had a Tactacam SK from Mid April. And I kept seeing this yearling running & bopping around It had very light spots. And then I remember there was a tree that fell, canopy on the ground 10’ h 12’ x 12’ it held the brown leaves. It was like in a hole / saddle, area. In between two hills. Long and behold, May I start seeing two just born (freaking Beautiful) yearlings doing the same thing. And occasionally, I’d see the mother and the other yearling. The two just lost their spots, mid October. I seen them in person and they are still passing through w the mom. The 5 get free spas for life. But I believe the 2, 3 maybe 4 yo are moving good. 4 & 5 i think they chase, but staying home range mostly. FB blew up this week with a lot of 6ptrs 8ptr But young class age, nothing wrong with that. But just not those 8 & 10 w mass Glad to see it pick up for you guys! Be safe, dream ______

[@billkenyonbk]

Thanks Bill.

[@bill-winke]

I appreciate the support and comment. Have a great day.

[@ryannoel8978]

I’ve seen two bucks chasing a doe hard during rabbit season prob late December but I think hoping for it is a long shot pretty random

[@williamcox7190]

Large buck chasing a doe in my backyard yesterday morning. Also seen bucks chasing does around on cams the past few days.

[@reelgamecalls1744]

Love the informative videos

[@SOKYRIDGERUNNER]

Getting more activity on one of my mobile cams again this yr. Kinda stumbled on a hot spot 2nd week of December last yr. Killed a 5 1/2 yr old there and it’s picking up again. It has a good mix of things for late season. It’s an 80+ acter block that was select cut 4 yrs ago. It still has bearing Red Oaks and I’m guessing does that cycle during that period along with great cover and browse. Seeing again more daylight activity and chasing by small bucks just the last couple days. Hope I can get my wife or nephew on a good one in late muzzle loader season in KY 12-14 through 22nd. Heard interesting theory on another podcast about if you killed a mature deer in an area on a specific date then likely another mature deer will use that area within a 3 day window the following yr. Gonna apply that for our late season this year. My other farm still has standing beans due to water so pretty stoked about late season for my peeps! They hopefully beat my mature buck from November!

[@tomcruise9815]

Yes there is. We’ve all seen it in action.

[@jaylonbachman]

I killed my 2nd best buck on December 16th last year. He was chasing a doe along with 3 other bucks! She was in heat and every buck in the neighborhood knew it.

[@sureguy8124]

I assume buck fawns are mature enough to breed too?

[@bill-winke]

I am not sure about that. Somehow I don't think so, but I am just guessing. Need to hear from an expert on that one.

[@Huntoutdoors1]

@@bill-winke yes most Button bucks when the body reaches close to 100lbs can breed "According to the Biologists".That is a good read if you get a chance .

[@NCsurfer607]

Did you make those electric scooters or purchase?

[@acelove3667]

You can buy them there like 7k

[@bill-winke]

Those are called Xidar Spyders. They sent those to us to test. They work well on trail but don't really have the ground clearance for a lot of use off trail.

[@gavinbenz9034]

Not sure how much of a “rut” it is but I do know this time of year the does are grouped up and you’ll see a buck with a group of 5+ does

[@timmytim6427]

Few yrs ago Ohio gun week on Sat I saw a nice tall 8 point walking away then a doe and a fawn came out and a GIANT buck came out chasing that doe. Evidently he chased off that 8 and he ended up 5 yards away from me and I was on the ground prob 2 mins shooting time left. He had no clue I was there and I shot his doe with him right next to me big muzzle flash... I already had a buck..... I was sick

[@tedrickabus2087]

The later breeding months are typically in southern states that dont have the fawn morality issues due to low temps like in the north. They were out before i was at 3:00 yesterday. Had 34 does and 3 spikes looking for food last night. Ine spike was checking the does and must have found one hot one as all of a sudden the chase was on. None of the other does gave the spike the time of day. Light rain falling here. Temps jus above freezing. Feeling good about the next few days. Good luck. Hunt safe. Respect the game. Honor the tradition.

[@tedrickabus2087]

Bucks are tending for sure. Two different spikes not letting their respective doe out of their sight. Just standing and waiting to follow wherever sh goes. Maybe other does will have a mature bucks in tow tonight.

[@tubesurfing]

What God would create animals and extreme cold weather and expect whitetail deer to sit and live in it? Seems kinda cruel to me...these animals pay a heavier price than man ever could imagine and they are tougher than man ever dreamed of being. Man needs clothing and shelter and cannot survive in the wild without it. They make mankind seem like pussies.

[@nsant]

He didn't create it like that

[@tylerberry2476]

Your a cry baby ! If you don't like this don't watch it pussy ! 😢😊

[@Gibsonlife573]

They were built by him to be able to survive this

[@mattswisher1]

What Bill’s new spot tells us is that the ground you hunt makes all the difference. The second rut means nothing if you don’t have the big bucks coming to your place.

[@bill-winke]

In my experience, they need to actually live there in the first place. I rarely saw strangers show up during the season. Everyone talks about roamers, but I never saw them. They are either there most of the season or you very likely won't see them late either. Thanks for the comment Matt.

[@Huntoutdoors1]

Does the doe's come in later after the first cycle ??Yes ..But in the lower deer herd numbers it is more rare to catch a second rut happen in all my years here in lower numbers its not really worth so called rut hunting effort .The food is king as the frigid temps and snows hit hard in Dec. Truth is we if needed just hunt the high carb food sources in the evening when their stomach is empty and they need to feed.With most Midwest states having a late Muzzleloader season it can be perfect to take a hungry buck that needs food and or just happens on a warm doe.