My apologies…for calling Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day in last week’s report! The day had been long and sleep had been something I had and still and am doing without (after all it is whitetail season). Hopefully no one thought I was referring to the rut occurring in the Maryland area in May.

These last several days I’ve been hunting in South Dakota with White River Hunts, operated by my long-time friend Rich Sundberg, who is also the publisher of NORTH AMERICAN HUNTER, with the North American Hunting Club. Rich and I go back to the days when I served as the Whitetail Columnist for several years, before Mark Kayser, ably took over those duties. Blake Barnett, my cameraman for our “Winchester World of Whitetail with Larry Weishuhn” television show that appears on Versus watched the rut at it’s finest in South Dakota on the White River just south of Kennebec. Not only did we watch many whitetail bucks chasing does we also saw a bunch of mule deer bucks chasing does as well. On the 17th we watched a couple of whitetail bucks breed does, assuring us the rut was in full swing. In addition to the bucks being in full rut I was also able to rattle up some bucks, including one that I shot for the show (don’t tell anyone, please).

As this is being written Blake and I are “holed up” in a hotel room in Sioux Falls in route to southern Illinois for another whitetail hunt. In our drive today I counted no less than 9 bucks that had been run over on Interstate 90 in about a 100 mile stretch of road. Several obviously were mature bucks, even though someone had removed their racks. This too leaves no doubt the rut is in full swing.

Starting in Mexico, I got an email from my old friend and long-time hunting partner Richard Petrini who operates TriState Outftters. Richard holds dual citizenship with USA and Mexico. In about 2 weeks I’ll be headed to Sonora, Mexico to hunt primarily Coues whitetail for our Winchester World of Whitetail show, but also desert mule deer. According to Richard the Coues whitetail down below Arizona are still at about a month away, at least before  they seriously start rutting.

I also talked to another long time friend in southern Texas, Gary Machen, who in my opinion has some of the finest whitetail hunting available anywhere. “About the end of this rut report, I think we’ll be able to start rattling in bucks here in South Texas. In recent years it seems we have better luck rattling bucks the days before Thanksgiving than any other time, at least on my ranch. That’s the late pre-rut when the bucks are usually really doing a lot of scraping and they’re on the move just starting to look for receptive does. Traditionally the rut in the South Texas Brush Country occurs the two weeks before Christmas. Years ago it seemed the rut occurred right after Christmas, but it seems to occur a bit earlier these days.”

Late this evening the 19th, I spoke with Kent Keeler who among other things does the PR work for Silver Scent Products, the scent control products I strongly believe in and use exclusively. “Buck where I live in Iowa and also where I hunt in Missouri are going strong and I suspect t will be doing so for at least the next week or so. I watched four bucks chasing a doe in my backyard this afternoon. At least one of those bucks was in the 160s’. The problem we’re having however is that there is still a tremendous amount of standing corn. Farmers have not been able to harvest their crops due to rainfall and where they can’t get into the field. Thus the “corn forest” is still a concern. Warmer temperatures have also had a negative effect on daytime deer movement. No doubt the rut is continuing, but most of the rutting activity has been taking place after dark.”

Marc Shoenfeld also from Missouri essentially had the same thing to say about where he hunts in central Missouri.

Stan Christiansen in Kansas left me a message, “Bucks are going crazy! (Referring to the 18th) By 1 pm today I had already seen 14 different mature bucks, including two monsters. When I drove home to get a bite to eat, I found two big mature bucks in my back yard, bucks I had not seen before. I should add my hunters have taken some really good bucks, the latest a basic 180 with a bunch of kicker points.” He added, “It seems to me the rut started a little early this year, but I think it’ll continue at least for another week or two.”

I also visited earlier on the 18th with Clay Barker with Luxus Products, a company which builds some the finest and most beautiful wood stocks I’ve ever seen, about what’s happening in central Ohio where I’m headed right after Thanksgiving. “The rut here is going strong right now, seeing lots of big bucks particularly at night. One of my best friends just “collected” a 160 plus, unfortunately it was with his pickup which he totaled. Lots of deer movement in our area right now, and I anticipate it continuing for a least another week or so. (I hope he’s right and that the bucks will still be moving the same when I head that way the Sunday after Thanksgiving.)”

Down in eastern Oklahoma (Ponca City) Paul Schatte (who happens to do much of my taxidermy work) says the bucks in that part of Oklahoma are “running strong” and that the rut in his area has really just gotten started. “Suspect they’ll run strong here for another week or so.”

Wisconsin and particularly Buffalo County is known for big whitetail. Dennis Smeling tells me the rut there got underway seriously last week and is currently going strong. “Much of the rutting activity is taking place at night, but there is enough movement during daylight hours to keep things really interesting! Should be that way for at least another week.”

I also visited late on the 18th with Brian Cassium who manages the Cabela’s store near Harrisburg, PA. Brian stays in touch with a lot of hunters. “From PA to IL, I’m hearing the same complaint, too much standing corn! Due to rainfall farmers have not been able to get into the fields to harvest their corn crop. I hear tell about 50% of the corn is still standing, and that’s where lot of the deer are staying and hiding. The rut may be going on, but with all the corn the deer simply have too many great places to hide. We also had really cool weather early, and then it turned warm. That warm weather is causing movement primarily after dark.” He added, “With PA’s antler restrictions we’re producing some really nice bucks. But we also still have way too many does. And for that reason the rut may not be as obvious as if we had a narrower buck to doe ratio.”

To reinforce what Brian had to say about temperatures being warm in the northern climes. I talked to Craig Cushman who heads up theThompson/Center Arms media relations division. “I hunted the past few days wearing jeans and a long-sleeved tee-shirt. It’s been unbelievably warm in our part of the world. No doubt the rut is still occurring, but mostly at night under the coolness of darkness.”

To round out this week’s report I had a couple of emails from friend in western Canada. “Things here are poised for a really good rut period. We’re seeing some buck movement, but most of the serious chasing seems to be taking place at night…” Rumors are flying about new world record whitetails being taken, both typical and non-typical. It will be interesting to find out more about these rumors when those racks are taped and tallied by official Boone & Crockett scorers.

If you have not already taken that buck of a lifetime...I wish the best of luck in your pursuit.

*Editor’s Note: If you’re successful this season, get some bragging rights by posting your photos for all of us to see.