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Started By
Message
Pre/Peak Rut Southwest Kansas
Posted on 4/14/17 at 4:06 pm
Posted on 4/14/17 at 4:06 pm
Got invited to make a hunt on a friends land in Ford County this year and I'm looking to see when the best time to go will be. It's up to me whether to bow or rifle hunt.
When does the rut begin and peak in that area? TIA
When does the rut begin and peak in that area? TIA
2
Posted on 4/14/17 at 4:56 pm to eyepooted
I have a friend who hunts Ford County every year. He has been going to the same outfitter for the past 8-10 years.
He goes during the Early Muzzleloader season. I believe it is the last two weeks of September. He likes it because the deer are easy to pattern. It's big, wide open country and you can see deer going to and from alfalfa fields. Then, you build a ground blind along their route to the plum thickets and catch them on their next pass.
He has about 50% success on 160" deer. He has a 170 and two 180s from there. He also owns an "ultimate muzzleloader" because it is good out to 300 yds.
He also tips the outfitter $1000 in cash discretely when he gets there. And he always gets in a premium spot.
I have never been. But he tells me all about his hunt every year.
ETA: Pre rut of course.
He goes during the Early Muzzleloader season. I believe it is the last two weeks of September. He likes it because the deer are easy to pattern. It's big, wide open country and you can see deer going to and from alfalfa fields. Then, you build a ground blind along their route to the plum thickets and catch them on their next pass.
He has about 50% success on 160" deer. He has a 170 and two 180s from there. He also owns an "ultimate muzzleloader" because it is good out to 300 yds.
He also tips the outfitter $1000 in cash discretely when he gets there. And he always gets in a premium spot.
I have never been. But he tells me all about his hunt every year.
ETA: Pre rut of course.
This post was edited on 4/14/17 at 4:58 pm
Posted on 4/14/17 at 5:16 pm to No Colors
Man that's sounds amazing to just be able to see deer of that size. Much less kill them consistently.
I know I need to talk to my friend but I was looking for a rough outline of dates for the rut. I can't seem to find it anywhere online.
I know I need to talk to my friend but I was looking for a rough outline of dates for the rut. I can't seem to find it anywhere online.
This post was edited on 4/14/17 at 5:17 pm
Posted on 4/14/17 at 5:39 pm to eyepooted
I would think first week (give or take) of November to be prime. I've never hunted Kansas but a friend lives up there and that's when he tries to take vacation. Hope that helps.
Posted on 4/14/17 at 6:24 pm to eyepooted
The reason my buddy doesn't hunt the rut is because the racks are so torn up from fighting. He's all about the score.
Posted on 4/14/17 at 9:40 pm to No Colors
quote:
The reason my buddy doesn't hunt the rut is because the racks are so torn up from fighting. He's all about the score.
I'm assuming he only bow hunts. I want to go when there is the most activity and when their racks aren't torn up. So that eliminates late season.
Posted on 4/14/17 at 10:43 pm to eyepooted
Halloween through about the 12th of November
Posted on 4/15/17 at 7:14 am to Raz4back
If you only have 5-7 days, i think you are much better going off sometime from Nov 1-15 and preferably the second full week in November. Plenty of deer don't have broken tines.
If you go earlier than November you are really risking warm weather, in which they may be mostly nocturnal to beat the heat. I've had 70 degree days the first week in November in Illinois. Additionally, some years they won't pick the corn until very late October so they have much more cover, given this doesn't apply for parts of Kansas.
Another reason why going during the rut is nice for unknown properties is deer from surrounding areas will pass through. It's one thing to hunt a nice buck if you can pattern him and are local, it's another with only 5-7 days.
If you go earlier than November you are really risking warm weather, in which they may be mostly nocturnal to beat the heat. I've had 70 degree days the first week in November in Illinois. Additionally, some years they won't pick the corn until very late October so they have much more cover, given this doesn't apply for parts of Kansas.
Another reason why going during the rut is nice for unknown properties is deer from surrounding areas will pass through. It's one thing to hunt a nice buck if you can pattern him and are local, it's another with only 5-7 days.
This post was edited on 4/15/17 at 7:17 am
Posted on 4/15/17 at 7:47 am to baldona
Last year we were in Great Bend on a duck/pheasant trip the week after thanksgiving and it still hadn't snowed. It was pretty cold though.
Would you say the run is over at that time?
Would you say the run is over at that time?
Posted on 4/15/17 at 7:57 am to baldona
quote:
If you only have 5-7 days, i think you are much better going off sometime from Nov 1-15 and preferably the second full week in November. Plenty of deer don't have broken tines.
I second this. We hunt north central KS and the second week is always better than the first. Ive killed on 11/11 three years in a row. They respond to calling more aggressively and move all day long. You will have a few deer broken up but many that are not.
If you are hunting a buddies land maybe he wont lock you to specific days and you can play the weather.
Posted on 4/15/17 at 8:07 am to eyepooted
quote:
I'm assuming he only bow hunts.
No. You can read my post above. He muzzleloader hunts during the early muzzleloader season in late September.
Posted on 4/15/17 at 9:37 am to No Colors
Ok by the sound of it, I need to go the second-third week in November. 
Posted on 4/15/17 at 1:10 pm to eyepooted
I used to hunt SE Kansas a bit. I liked to hunt the first week of November. Late pre-rut to rut. Very responsive to calls. I went twice during Thanksgiving week so my son could go on his school break. Not a tremendous amount of difference. Back side of the rut. We never had any problem with bucks being busted up. You may also want to carry a shotgun. In the event you tag out early, you could do some pheasant hunting.
I assume the outfitter mentioned is Perry Ross. He's in that part of the country and lives in North Mississippi. I've elk hunted with him. They don't come any better.
I assume the outfitter mentioned is Perry Ross. He's in that part of the country and lives in North Mississippi. I've elk hunted with him. They don't come any better.
Posted on 4/15/17 at 1:37 pm to eyepooted
I'd be on the stand November 10th. Not sure why but that date sounds like a big buck down date
Posted on 4/15/17 at 1:55 pm to 257WBY
quote:
257WBY
Tell me about the terrain?
Flat and open? Rolling hills?
How did you hunt? Spot and stalk?
Posted on 4/15/17 at 2:12 pm to 257WBY
Pheasant won't open till the first or second weekend of November. If the area has lots of corn, more deer will be seen when the corn is cut
Posted on 4/15/17 at 2:26 pm to wickowick
Don't worry wick, Mack and my shotgun will be coming along in case I tag out early.
This post was edited on 4/15/17 at 2:27 pm
Posted on 4/15/17 at 4:23 pm to eyepooted
Hunted out of stands. We had a big block of hilly timber to the west of us, and farm fields on the eastern half of our farm. The best part of the farm we hunted was a partially grown up pasture. There was broom sedge, or there version of it, cedars, and briars. It was a bedding area and the bucks would cruise it looking for does. The best stand was a cedar tree. We climbed the limbs and cut out a hole for the stand. You could see across the entire block, north to south, from there. I killed a 157", 150", and a 131" from it and my son killed a 140".
What will shock you is how little cover the deer need. Most times, a fence line with a few trees, is better than a block of timber. The deer act like deer are supposed to act. Don't pass up the chance. Put in for the tag draw.
What will shock you is how little cover the deer need. Most times, a fence line with a few trees, is better than a block of timber. The deer act like deer are supposed to act. Don't pass up the chance. Put in for the tag draw.
Posted on 4/15/17 at 5:36 pm to 257WBY
Why do I need to put in for the tag draw? I was reading the about licenses and I was under the impression that if I was hunting in private land I could just purchase an over the counter tag?
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