Realtree's Deer Hunting Forecast | October 25-31

Many deer hunters, particularly those in the eastern half of the country, have been wondering if summer would ever end. It’s been an exceptionally hot and dry fall for most of this season so far, and those conditions have spurred a few severe outbreaks of EHD. But many folks finally got a reprieve earlier this week with the arrival of the season’s first major cold front. Here in Kentucky, where I live, daytime high temperatures plummeted more than 20 degrees this past weekend, and the weather has been nice and seasonal since. I sat in a stand in Tennessee this morning (Oct. 22, as I write this), and was treated with a show as a pair of nice 3-1/2-year-old 8-pointers sparred and chased does in a clover field in front of me.

Our regional rut reporters have been checking in with positive updates that include a good bit of rubbing and scraping activity, particularly in the Midwest and Northeast. Little bucks seem to be up on their feet and bumping does around major food sources, although mature bucks remain elusive, with most of their activity happening at night. Out West, mule deer hunters are reporting early movements of does from summering areas to rutting areas. The best days of the rut are still a couple of weeks away, but the days are getting dramatically shorter, and right now is a good time to be a deer hunter.

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MOON AND WEATHER OUTLOOK

The new moon was Oct. 21, and the next full moon will be Nov. 5. That one, often called the Beaver Moon or Rutting Moon, is the one to watch. We’ll get to it in our next deer hunting forecast. Another cold front and rain event is forecast to sweep across the country’s mid-section late this week and into the weekend. Realtree’s Fish & Game Forecaster predicts good movement throughout the weekend, with afternoon peaks at 5:40 p.m. Saturday and 6:20 p.m. Sunday.

It’s still a touch early to expect much cruising activity, but whitetail hunters in most regions would be wise to try a little rattling and grunting this weekend, particularly during the last hour of daylight near active food sources. There’s a heavy mast crop in much of the country, so white oak acorns, as well as any food sources that are still green and tender, get our vote as the best places to sit if you’re going in blind.

Overall, we give the next week’s deer hunting forecast 3.5 out of 5 stars. Now, let’s dig into the regional Rut Report updates.

Northeast Region Rut Reporter Tim Kent says oaks are the ticket right now in New York, where he lives, and in much of the Northeast region. Kent’s daughter arrowed a heavy 8-pointer this past week as it scarfed down acorns, and Kent reported seeing some pretty sporty fights between young bucks while in a stand this week. Scraping activity is getting heavy, and new rubs are popping up every day.

Read the Full Northeast Rut Report Here

Midwest Rut Reporter Darron McDougal says big bucks have still been moving mostly at night around food sources in his home state of Wisconsin, but things are looking up. Corn is being shelled, and McDougal says that if it’s off within the next week, the timing will align with the season’s early seeking and cruising activity. Contacts in states including Minnesota, Michigan, Kansas, and Nebraska were all optimistic about the hunting in the days ahead.

Check out the full Midwest Rut Report here.

Southeast Rut Reporter Stephanie Mallory says that deer are fat and happy across her region right now, courtesy of a bumper mast crop. Mallory’s sources in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and the Carolinas all said that abundant white oak acorns have made the hunting a little tough, but the deer that are being tagged are rolling in fat and entering the rut in peak physical shape. In much of the region, scraping activity is on the rise, and young bucks are beginning to nudge does around active food sources. Cruising should start in the next 10 days in many states, though hunters in places like Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana still have several weeks to wait.

Read the full Southeast Rut Report here.

Northwest Region Rut Reporter Jackie Holbrook had unfortunate news this week from parts of her region, as outbreaks of EHD have been detected in areas of Idaho and Montana. Fortunately, freezing weather should help that subside. And there’s better news, too. Holbrook says some friends were in the field this past weekend for Montana’s two-day youth season, and one friend’s daughter shot a fine 5-by-5 mule deer buck. Bucks are still holding in loose bachelor groups, Holbrook says, but that should be changing soon.

Read the full Northwest Rut Report here.

Hunting guide and Southwest Regional Rut Reporter Miles Fedinec says it’s a tough time of year in southern Colorado, as mule deer are in the very earliest stages of the pre-rut. While out scouting, Fedinec says that he’s noticed groups of does moving from their summering grounds to traditional rutting areas, but so far, mature bucks aren’t with them. Fedinec says that’s going to change soon, and deer hunters in his region need to keep a close daily eye on travel corridors. Elsewhere in the region, blacktail hunters in California’s A Zone are still enjoying good rutting action, and hunters in the Texas Hill Country are starting to see things fire up as well.

Check out the full Southwest Rut Report here.