The onset of prerut activity is thrilling, as young and mature bucks become more lively at night! They’re busy hitting scrapes and showcasing their dominance. I love how my SpyPoint cameras have captured incredible pictures and videos of these spirited bucks. This time of year in the deer woods is absolutely exhilarating, especially when you sit over a scrape, fully immersed in this vibrant wildlife moment!
Scraping Picks Up
In mid-October, I always notice an increase in the number of bucks pawing at the ground beneath scrapes. Before this time, bucks mainly focus on licking branches, vines, and ropes using their preorbital and forehead glands. However, as mid-October approaches, they start to aggressively paw at the ground, leaving a strong scent from their interdigital glands in the scrape to challenge other bucks.
In a recent video, I observed a buck working multiple scrapes on my property overnight. The temperatures were cool, and the damp ground made it easy for him to dig. When bucks begin using their interdigital glands to disturb the ground, it’s a clear indication that they are starting to enter the rut.
Day Walkers
When conditions are favorable in mid-October, I notice that bucks become active during the day. Cooler-than-normal daytime temperatures encourage them to move around to feed and visit scrapes. Although mature bucks that walk during the day in mid-October don’t exhibit the same level of activity as those during the rut, it’s still exciting to see them out and about instead of being nocturnal. Observe this buck as it engages with a scrape and then urinates in it. Having a well-placed, high-quality camera at a scrape will provide better insights into the behavior of both bucks and does. Set those cameras to video mode and enjoy the action!
Curiosity
I was discussing mature does that come into estrus in mid-October with my hunting buddy, Brian Milo, who lives in Ohio. We both agree that some mature matriarch does enter estrus before the rut officially begins. During this time, bucks begin visiting food plots and bedding areas to scent-check these does. They utilize their nasal glands and Jacobsen’s organ to detect which does are in estrus. I want to thank Brian for sharing a video of a buck scent-checking the does in his food plot. The buck is clearly showing some early pre-rut behavior.
Dominance
Who will rule the land? After the mature buck on a property dies, the remaining bucks compete daily to establish dominance. My friend, Scott Spaid, harvested the dominant buck on his property a week ago. Now, the bucks that still frequent his land are battling to determine who will become the new leader. In the background of Scott’s food plot, you can see a scrape. Recently, two bucks met in this plot and ended up pushing each other around. Who do you think came out on top?
Sunset Scrape
What is more beautiful than a sunset? Watching a magnificent buck work a scrape as the sun sets. Fred has been a regular at the inside corner BuckRope scrape. While he has been active at other scrapes, his intensity at the inside corner scrape is increasing. His aggressive behavior is keeping other bucks away, and last week he even fought them to maintain his dominance over the scrape. I might need to take one of my kids to that stand near the scrape.
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