When is the whitetail rutt in southern Ontario/Quebec?

I would say the pre rut is on in my area in Southern Ontario. I have found doe scrapes, buck scapes, scape lines etc. Cold weather makes deer more active and the amount of daylight is what starts the rut as it does the spring fish spawn. I have called in a bull moose in May grunting and coming to the call same as in the fall. If they are in hearing distance and in the mood they will come.
 
It seems to be starting anyhow. I haven't seen any scrapes yet but I did manage to call a buck in on Sunday morning. He hung up about 50 yards away under a crab apple tree. I couldn't convince the ba$tard to come in any closer, and after about 1\2 an hour he left. I hunted this same buck last year and he wouldn't even turn his head to a call but he was always with a doe last year. Once we get our first frost things should really get moving.
 
lackeyse said:
In general, peak breeding of white-tailed deer above the 4Oth parallel occurs during the second week of November.
Click to expand...

You get my vote! lol
You can also tell when the bucks start running around with massive erections... typically last week of hunting season in November. If weather is too warm, it gets pushed into December after the season is closed.

It is triggered by combo of temperature and daylight.
 
One of my old friends, Jack Leggo would hunt deer from his stand for the entire time between the first and second week of Nov.

I think he lived in the trees.

Shot his 9Th Ont record a few years ago,
Prolly on # 10 by now.

When seeing his mounts, the brass plate down below always says Nov7, or just after, and know he hunts the rut. He don't fool around!.:D
 
I would say that the pre-rut started about a week ago....
1st signs of rubs and scrapes WITH licking branch.
With the full moon on the 14th, this will kick start the action.
Temperatures are supposed to remain above avg. for
the weekend though, which will impede rutting activity.
In my area, the start of the full rut is approx. Nov 5-12.
Depending on temperature. :)
 
Did a quick scout around my hunting spot in WMU 63a yesterday. Didn't see any sign of rutting activity yet. Got one of the trailcams setup on a favorite feeding area. I do expect it to start soon.
 
I was scouting yesterday in WMU 65...not much recent activity...some of the early rubs are more evident, but scrapes...nothin !!! :(
 
Cambridge Ontario area, a friend of mine saw 2 large bucks yesterday in a field at approx 5:30 in the afternoon walking along a tree line... not sure if that means it is here but I have seen some scapes and rubs in my hunting spots for a week or two .... that being said I have not seen any bucks roaming as of yet... with this cooler weather it should make them move more, or I least I hope so, I will be on my way to my stand in a few minutes..
 
However now, we are starting to get close to pre-rutt

I am starting to see some bucks out and about behind the does, not right behind but curriously behind.

It will start halloween night this year I figure, and be in full rutt mode nov-6to the 10th than look out!
still no scrapes in 60, or 57 that I found.
 
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