Signs of the Lockdown Phase
During the lockdown, it can seem like deer literally just disappear in one of the best deer hunting secrets there are. But there are signs that the peak rut is approaching. In the northern half of the country, the first two weeks of November usually overlap the lockdown period. The time frame will be the same from year to year within a few days, which is your best bet at estimating this period. But there are also other signs. If you notice fawns wandering around by themselves, looking lost without a doe, it’s likely the doe chased them away to breed. Similarly, you may only be getting yearling bucks responding to your Code Blue® estrous scents during this time period. They are chased off by larger bucks and often not accepted by doe groups, so they tend to wander the woods looking to take part in the action somehow. If you’d been getting daylight pictures of mature bucks regularly on your trail cameras, but they suddenly seem to disappear, you’re likely in the lockdown. Finally, you’ll rarely see a lone doe during the lockdown phase. Any estrus does will usually have a buck in tow, and any that aren’t in heat will usually stay in larger doe groups.