[Muddy41]

Really depends on when the cold sets in. With gun season starting a little later this year we might get to see the main rut happening the week of opener. But we need to get some serious cold weather.

Where are you hunting in S MN. We do some hunting down in the Spring Valley area south of Rochester.

 

[dusytr]

Im hunting south of mankato

 

[DougKMN]

does anyone know, are they predicting an "early" winter this year? I'm hoping for snow and cold well before November

 

[MN Doe Hunter]

It is usually the first week of gun season. Fortunately this is a late starting gun season this year so we can hunt the start of the rut before the orange army hits the woods.

Usually if the temps drop to the 30s or so by then you'll have really good action. Past few years it's been really hot for that time of year and the deer don't chase as much from what I have seen and they do most of the chasing at night.

 

[redwingsdude]

The rut doesn't depend on temperature, so early winters wont help or hinder your plans. The reason you see more activity is just because deer need to move around to maintain body heat, just like people, and they need to get those calories to stay alive.

Southern Minnesota is at around the same latitude as mid-Michigan, so I'd say focus on the second week of November. Bucks will be hounding does in chase phase during the first week or so of November, and breeding won't be too far after. Also don't discount the pre-rut, few if any does will be in heat, but bucks will be moving checking out their territory and marking scrapes.

 

[LiteSpeed1]

Minnesota rut normally peaks around November 12th. There may be some things that can throw it off, but what usually triggers the bucks is the decreasing amount of sunlight.