Hunting the annual deer rut can be a short event, if you utilize the right tactics.
The whitetail rut is the most exciting time of the year for deer hunters. Most hunters realize that the rut is the best time to kill a mature buck. Too, it seems that the most successful deer hunters hunt the rut with specific factors in mind.
The rut captures the hearts and minds of deer lovers everywhere. The rut is the breeding season when does are in heat and bucks are crazed with the pursuit of the estrous does. Mating deer lose their caution during this time, resulting in what otherwise would seem like very weird behavior, causing deer to run foot loose and fancy free in pursuit of mates. It’s the one time of the year when the woods come alive with movement of wild, free roaming deer.
The heavy upturn in deer movement provides deer hunters their best opportunity of sighting deer and perhaps taking the buck of a lifetime. Here are a few tips to help you determine when to hunt and the tactics that will help you succeed during the rut.
The start of the rut depends on location. Exact timing varies greatly across the country, especially in the Southern U.S. In the South the rut may range from August to February.
In the northern three-quarters of the country, the rut is much more predictable, providing hunters opportunity to plan their rut hunts rather precisely. North of the 32nd parallel, the rut occurs from mid-October to early December, with the normal peak taking place early to mid-November. In Missouri, the peak is November 5 on average.
The rut is not triggered by cool weather, delayed by mild weather, or influenced by the moon as many believe. However, each of these factors do have an effect on deer behavior and movement and a deer hunter must take them into consideration when planning a hunt.
The National Deer Association points to decades of data collected by state wildlife agencies and various university research studies that positively proves that photoperiod, or day length, is what triggers estrous cycles in does and the start of the rut. And, historically, it begins at the same time year after year.
As daylight diminishes in fall, a series of hormonal events are set in motion that result in egg development and release, and of great importance to a hunter, the behavioral changes that makes females attractive to bucks.
Mother Nature decides when the rut will begin. Only She synchronizes breeding so that fawns are born in the spring, the time that maximizes their chances for long-term survival. A doe’s internal clock tells her when it’s time to start the annual magical ritual that insures herd survival, and bucks being to chase with total abandon.
Rutting occurs in three phases: pre-rut, peak rut, and post rut. Deer behaviors change rapidly during each phase Knowing the behaviors of each phase goes a long ways towards a successful hunt. However, the best time to kill a big, mature buck is during the peak of the rut.
As the peak rut arrives, bucks become more active, usually from late October through late November. As the rut closes in, bucks begin trying to establish dominance in their area in order to breed with as many does as possible. Bucks abandon their normal patterns and become much easier to hunt as they engage in three activities: seeking, chasing, and tending.
Deer rutting behavior
Sparring: Full-blown antler fights break out between bucks of similar status.
Seeking: Bucks are actively scent-checking scrapes and cruising from one area to another searching for hot does.
Chasing: Bucks will chase does for hours or even days leading up to the time females are receptive.
Tending: Bucks tend during a stage also known as “lockdown.” It’s the period where bucks bed down and feed with receptive does. This stage can last for 24-48 hours.
Hunting Tactics
Bucks go where the does are, so locate the does! Set up stands near bedding spots and on trails in between food sources.
Use vocalizations. Deer calls can be made with grunt tubes or can calls—which imitate a doe in heat.
Rattle antlers to simulate fighting bucks.
Keep trail cameras rolling as you hunt the rut, especially
Hunting the annual deer rut can be a short event, if you utilize the right tactics.
The whitetail rut is the most exciting time of the year for deer hunters. Most hunters realize that the rut is the best time to kill a mature buck. Too, it seems that the most successful deer hunters hunt the rut with specific factors in mind.
The rut captures the hearts and minds of deer lovers everywhere. The rut is the breeding season when does are in heat and bucks are crazed with the pursuit of the estrous does. Mating deer lose their caution during this time, resulting in what otherwise would seem like very weird behavior, causing deer to run foot loose and fancy free in pursuit of mates. It’s the one time of the year when the woods come alive with movement of wild, free roaming deer.
The heavy upturn in deer movement provides deer hunters their best opportunity of sighting deer and perhaps taking the buck of a lifetime. Here are a few tips to help you determine when to hunt and the tactics that will help you succeed during the rut.
The start of the rut depends on location. Exact timing varies greatly across the country, especially in the Southern U.S. In the South the rut may range from August to February.
In the northern three-quarters of the country, the rut is much more predictable, providing hunters opportunity to plan their rut hunts rather precisely. North of the 32nd parallel, the rut occurs from mid-October to early December, with the normal peak taking place early to mid-November. In Missouri, the peak is November 5 on average.
The rut is not triggered by cool weather, delayed by mild weather, or influenced by the moon as many believe. However, each of these factors do have an effect on deer behavior and movement and a deer hunter must take them into consideration when planning a hunt.
The National Deer Association points to decades of data collected by state wildlife agencies and various university research studies that positively proves that photoperiod, or day length, is what triggers estrous cycles in does and the start of the rut. And, historically, it begins at the same time year after year.
As daylight diminishes in fall, a series of hormonal events are set in motion that result in egg development and release, and of great importance to a hunter, the behavioral changes that makes females attractive to bucks.
Mother Nature decides when the rut will begin. Only She synchronizes breeding so that fawns are born in the spring, the time that maximizes their chances for long-term survival. A doe’s internal clock tells her when it’s time to start the annual magical ritual that insures herd survival, and bucks being to chase with total abandon.
Rutting occurs in three phases: pre-rut, peak rut, and post rut. Deer behaviors change rapidly during each phase Knowing the behaviors of each phase goes a long ways towards a successful hunt. However, the best time to kill a big, mature buck is during the peak of the rut.
As the peak rut arrives, bucks become more active, usually from late October through late November. As the rut closes in, bucks begin trying to establish dominance in their area in order to breed with as many does as possible. Bucks abandon their normal patterns and become much easier to hunt as they engage in three activities: seeking, chasing, and tending.
Deer rutting behavior
Sparring: Full-blown antler fights break out between bucks of similar status.
Seeking: Bucks are actively scent-checking scrapes and cruising from one area to another searching for hot does.
Chasing: Bucks will chase does for hours or even days leading up to the time females are receptive.
Tending: Bucks tend during a stage also known as “lockdown.” It’s the period where bucks bed down and feed with receptive does. This stage can last for 24-48 hours.
Hunting Tactics
Bucks go where the does are, so locate the does! Set up stands near bedding spots and on trails in between food sources.
Use vocalizations. Deer calls can be made with grunt tubes or can calls—which imitate a doe in heat.
Rattle antlers to simulate fighting bucks.
Keep trail cameras rolling as you hunt the rut, especially near scrapes.
Use a cover scent/deer attractant to cover your own scent.
Knowing the ins and outs of the three phases of the rut will increase your odds of tagging a mature buck, but keying in on the peak of the rut is great insurance for success.
near scrapes.
Use a cover scent/deer attractant to cover your own scent.
Knowing the ins and outs of the three phases of the rut will increase your odds of tagging a mature buck, but keying in on the peak of the rut is great insurance for success.
