Alberta rut timing

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slammer1

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If you were going to book off 4 days and wanted it to be peak rut for Whitetails in central Alberta, which days would you choose? I realize that the Whitetails don't have alarm clocks to set, but what's your best educated guess?

Thanks!
 
This coming week could be good. The middle of the month seems to be when they used to start when I lived at Wainwright and I also lived up to 2006 at Linden and after that Strathmore.
 
I've found the third week of November to be the peek of the rut. Thats when the bucks brain moves to the little head!! It can be delayed a bit if it is too warm.
 
Thanks to those who chimed in! I'll aim for Nov 17 - 20.

I have located the does. Mr big has yet to show; this may be the only chink in his armor...
 
peak of the wt rut in Alberta is usually around Nov 18 or 19 or so. Primarily depends on the length of the day.

Temperature, moon phase and weather do determine a bit how early and how long they are active.

Your time off is good.
 
How big? Any size buck & 4 days only? I'd go Nov 20-24.

If you're after the horns then go as late in Nov as you can, like 24-28 or 26-30 etc... like as close to season end and lines up with your 4 day window.
 
The "peak of the rut" is about the same time every year and I think it is generally accepted that in Alberta it is around the 15th of Nov.

Now the "peak of day time buck activity" is something that varies and is more dependant of moon phase, weather conditions and such.

Right now (Nov. 7,2011) bucks are visiting scrapes and sniffing at does and ready to dance. I reckon it is a great time for rattling and grunting. The bucks are anxious to find a hot doe and the sound of a buck fight should be very enticing.

Towards the end of Nov. the bucks are looking hard for that one last estrus doe and so they can be on the move and called in at that time as well.
 
The rut will very from place to place, region to region, township to township and land owner to land owner. In my 39 years of whitetail hunting I noticed that between November 17 to 20 in when most or all of the big bucks are actually breeding a doe or does. This four day stretch is when 80% of the does are breed. Therefore, don't expect alot of buck activity. They are with the doe breeding her.
It is after the 20th of November is when the rut gets into high gear. There is only a small percentage of does left to be breed, therefore; there is a frenzy among the bucks to find does still in ustrus or unbreed......all biological. In other words, the peak of the rut is after the main breeding is over.
Short answer.....November 20th to the end of the hunting season. Don't believe in moon phases..............it's a myth. I've killed many of mature bucks in every moon phase. People who believe in moon phases read to many hunting magazines.
 
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