Timings of the rut up North

[rnjc]

Morning all,

What are people's experiences in terms of whether the roe deer rut runs until slightly later into August in the North than down South. If so by approximately how long? Richard Prior in his book says the rut goes on until approx 15th Aug which presumably is based on roe stalking in Hampshire, Wiltshire etc and was wondering whether anyone stalking in Yorkshire accounts for a later end to the rut?

Clearly very subjective as deer don't follow specific dates and there are significant variables such as the weather.

thanks

 

[bogtrotter]

Never goes on much beyond mid August and often not that long (Scotland) the rut is rather historic in that it usually
starts and ends around the same time in any given area, so if you have known your area for a few years you can usually
Predict within a day or two the start of the rut.
However like most things in nature there are exceptions.

 

[Freeforester]

As Bogtrotter says above, but that doesn't mean you won't be able to call in a buck feeling the urge to
"Spread
His
Almighty
Genes"

right up until the end of the month.

 

[Ewich]

My experience in my part of Scotland is mid August for the most part but as Freeforester says you may get the odd, usually ypounger buck, trying his luck after this.

 

[Freeforester]

Have to say it's the older animals I tend to call up toward the end of the month, the younger ones are quicker spent, I've tended to find over the years, but every area can differ.

 

[Mungo]

I don’t think I’ve ever really seen much evidence of it past the 10th or so. Latest I’ve ever called a buck was the 8th

 

[Gnasher308]

After the rut do the bucks lie up being spent and when do they start moving again, is it weeks or more.

 

[spannulman]

I shot a smallish buck with single spikes in the borders in mid- September which was following and sniffing A receptive doe. He was a skinny thing with short thin antlers and was covered in gouges and grazes, especially in the belly and groin. I guess he was a young un chancing his arm after the strong bucks were spent and lying up somewhere.

 

[spannulman]

Interestingly, well to me at least, was what happened after the shot. I shot him crossing a track a few feet behind the doe. I was stood in middle of the track with rifle on the sticks and stayed watching through scope after the shot. He dropped on,the spot but I reloaded and watched, as you do.

The doe took a step or two, looking about nervously. Then walked over and sniffed at the dead buck and then just milled about for a minute or so. But she seemed unaware of any hazard despite me stood open to view 60/70 yd away. Maybe she was an inexperienced youngster too?

 

[Mungo]

After the rut do the bucks lie up being spent and when do they start moving again, is it weeks or more.

Hugely variable.

I’ve never really noticed much of a drop off in activity - they have to eat, after all, and have a big deficit to make up before winter.

But plenty of experienced stalkers do notice a drop off, so it’s probably very much dependent on local conditions.

 

[ChrisWill184]

Hugely variable.

I’ve never really noticed much of a drop off in activity - they have to eat, after all, and have a big deficit to make up before winter.

But plenty of experienced stalkers do notice a drop off, so it’s probably very much dependent on local conditions.

I think a lot of people just compare the weeks after the rut to when they were watching animals running all over the place in the rut. Totally forgetting the months before!

Like you say, they have to eat etc and are on the move as per usual. With high cover at this time of year they are just damn hard to spot sometimes especially up here in Aberdeenshire when the crops may not come off until mid September in a lot of farms

 

[JH83]

I’m north lancs/south Lakes and we generally see all the rut action in the first fortnight in August, probably this year the peak was 5-8th. Went out a bit in late July and it was very quiet, had a couple that were out marking territory edges but no rut per se. I read on here that folks were seeing fully rutting bucks 20th July onwards, it’s an odd thing. Perhaps it’s the incessant rain here

 

[mike308]

I was in Argyle 31st July till 4 th August and the rut had not started, tried calling some bucks that I could see but they ignored it completely. The bucks were defending there territory but not quite ready, another couple of days and I think it would have been on. Last year the rut was in full swing on those dates, perhaps it was the weather. I still managed to get 3 bucks.

 

[Freeforester]

I’m north lancs/south Lakes and we generally see all the rut action in the first fortnight in August, probably this year the peak was 5-8th. Went out a bit in late July and it was very quiet, had a couple that were out marking territory edges but no rut per se. I read on here that folks were seeing fully rutting bucks 20th July onwards, it’s an odd thing. Perhaps it’s the incessant rain here

Rain definitely dampens the enthusiasm, a bit like a bucket of cold water might do to us! Conditions have to be favourable, generally speaking, which is why it is often such a very localised and stop-start event.

 

[Rob-E]

Roe were charging around like nutters and were being called in this week in Inverness, shame the stags weren’t playing ball though!

 

[foxhunter]

Yesterday evening 24 August saw a buck chasing a doe very hard in Northumberland.

 

[Coddy]

Yesterday evening 24 August saw a buck chasing a doe very hard in Northumberland.

Ooo err Mrs.