Rainey River Area

[Marlin25]

Guys,

new to the forum. I make an annual trip to Ontario above Rainey River to bow/muzzleload hunt for deer.

This will be my fifth trip up and I have taken a couple of decent bucks and one really nice buck.
The best buck so far was shot on November 14th. Previous to that I had been going up on the first week of November. I was wondering what you guys thought was the best time to be in the woods in Southern Ontario / Northern Minnesota?

Thanks in advance.

[stevejedlenski]

i would say right around the end of OCT. if you are a fan of moon phase and other science related to the deer rut, they are predicting the chase phase of the rut to be last couple days in OCT to first 3 days in NOV. then they will be in breeding phase which the bucks will be moving only when the doe they are with does or when in between does.


my prediction on what ive been watching with moon and deer is that if its full all night they move all night. this is what it will be during the predicted "chase phase" so im betting most of it will happen during night, unless its cloudy. im betting around the 6th of NOV for morning and evening movement to be the best in relation to moon phase. this is just theory but so far ive definately seen more during these times than others. may not work for you but the prediction was the same for sunday night and i saw 5 bucks 3 of which were over 130" (at 70yrds ) and this happened at 6:30pm. all the pics of these bucks have been after dark. may not be your cup of tea but it works for me (some of the time) its still hunting right.

[Marlin25]

Thanks. I typically sit all day when hunting up there, and have had the best luck in the middle of the day. Last year I killed a ten pointer on 11/14 at approx 12:30pm, my best so far.

have had no luck with rattling or grunting there, though. hopefully the weather will be nice and cold. Thanks again.