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- Yes, but they’re not hungry. Unless a food plot is frequented by female deer during the rut or there are fresh scrapes in an area near a food plot, rely on these areas only lightly during peak-rut. There are a couple of factors that bump food plots down the list of prime locations during the breeding season.
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Should you hunt during a deer rut?
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- Realtree
- Pre-Rut. Time Period: October 10-22. Some people refer to the period from opening day until mid-October as the pre-rut. I don't. Opening day until around October 10 is the early season.
- Seeking Phase. Time Period: October 23 to November 1. This phase is when bucks begin to act a little rutty. It generally occurs during the last seven to 10 days in October, and can last into early November, depending on specific locations.
- Chasing Phase. Time Period: November 2-10. Now the bucks are feeling their oats. This is the phase that we all love. It's what we deer hunters identify as the rut, even though actual breeding likely won't occur for a few more days.
- Tending Phase. Time Period: November 11-20. This is what some people refer to as the lock-down phase. It's the period where the majority of does are being bred and bucks are hanging with them in thick cover.
- Hunting Memories
- Not Calling Aggressively
- Hunting Rubs Instead of Rub Lines
- Misusing Scents
- Ignoring Doe Groups
- Avoiding Funnels
- Not Hunting Water
- Leaving The Stand Midday
- Not Using A Decoy
- Ducking The Weather
Why It Happens:Daddy killed a whopper from the Monster Stand back during President Obama's first term, so you always hunt there, even though it hasn't produced in several years. But why should it? Over time food sources change, habitats are altered, hunting pressure increases. Sometimes deer just don't frequent an area anymore. What to Do:"You have...
Why It Happens: Deer hunters are trained to be in über-stealth mode at all times, and that's certainly a smart approach, but some take it too far by not ramping up their calling intensity during the rut. "Rattling, grunting and using doe bleats has always been really effective for us during the pre- and peak-rut periods," David Hale, half of the le...
Why It Happens:Big rubs have the tendency to get us all excited. However, they only tell you where bucks have been, not where they are. "Rub lines—not individual rubs, which are made randomly—show us preferred travel corridors bucks like to use regularly," Harold Knight once told me. "A cluster of rubs tells me I am close to his bedroom. Even thoug...
Why It Happens:Premium estrous scents are spendy, so some hunters opt for the cheap stuff, assuming deer pee is deer pee. As with most things, you get what you pay for. But even with the freshest, most pure urine, it must be used properly to be effective. "During the rut, I use doe estrous scents a lot. I also like buck tarsal gland scents," says B...
Why It Happens:Your trail cameras produce multiple pictures of a shooter buck in a particular bedding area and you become obsessed. But after hunting for several days from a stand hung nearby, he never appears. "That's because during the rut he's off cruising, looking for a hot doe," Hale says. "Hunting a buck's bedroom now is hit or miss.” What to...
Why It Happens:Deer hunters want to see deer, and most think they'll see more by hunting over a food source instead of back in the woods or hills. "I can't tell you how many times I've been bored stiff for days at a time sitting an isolated funnel," Brown says, "And then, boom! Here comes a bruiser cruising through. It's often a deer that doesn't u...
Why It Happens:As discussed above, hunters tend to focus on food sources, which is a good idea for most of the season. But during the rut, bucks are working extremely hard. They need water, and lots of it. In fact, given my druthers, I'll hunt an isolated water source over food every day during the rut. Make that double if the weather is warm. What...
Why It Happens:"Most people get bored and head back to the house for breakfast and a nap after 10:00 a.m. or so," Knight says. "But rutting bucks will cruise all day long. David and I have both shot some dandies between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m." What to Do:Hunting the rut is all about "meat in the seat"—spending as much time on stand as possible. D...
Why It Happens:Hunters are all about using dekes for doves, turkeys and waterfowl, but rarely do they use them for deer. Not smart. Lifesize deer decoys are bulky and a pain to pack in, but the first time you see a bristled-up buck try and knock your decoy over, you'll be hooked for life. What to Do:Buck decoys have worked best for me during the pr...
Why It Happens:Inclement weather sends many deer hunters heading for the couch. But a buck's breeding urge is so strong, he'll keep going regardless of the weather. In my experience—and there's research to back this up—nothing has as big of an influence on deer movement as a change in barometric pressure. That's why you see more daylight movement a...
- Bob Robb
- Find the Does. Your next move might not require a move at all if you have scouted well. During the breeding or lockdown phase, bucks relentlessly search for estrus females.
- Hunt the Downwind Sides. Keep in mind that during the breeding phase, bucks become highly efficient. Instead of boldly walking across a field, they might skirt the downwind edges or inside corners to scent-confirm any estrus females.
- Find a Love Nest. You do have another option and whether you make it your main play or a backup, consider looking for a buck love nest. Once bucks find a doe, do they want to parade it through a crowd of potential suitors, or spend more time alone?
- Find a Drifter. By scouting and setting up stands or blinds near highly visited food plots, agricultural fields or the routes in between, you stand a high chance of meeting up with a home territory buck.
Nov 6, 2023 · 100) Don’t overthink moon phases or barometric pressure or even weather. If you have a day to hunt during the heat of the rut, just go hunting. —A.R. The author and his dad after a successful deer hunt in Wisconsin—a state that had 670,000 hunters in 2020. Alex Robinson. 101) Keep deer hunting fun.
Jun 12, 2023 · Hunting in the Deer Rut. During the rut, bucks drop their guard and are more apt to show themselves during daylight. As their instinct to breed takes over, bucks will search miles and miles for does in heat. This makes them a more mobile animal overall. Big bucks, ones that you never saw beforehand, will come out of the woodwork too.
- How long does the deer rut usually last?In general, the rut will last about a month. Does have a 28-day estrous cycle. Higher doe numbers can yield a longer rut period. The farther south...
- How do you know deer are in the rut?A few examples of rutting behaviors to be on the lookout for are dark tarsal glands on bucks, bucks sparring and chasing does, and fawns seen alone...
- What time of day do deer move during the rut?All deer are mostly going to be active at dawn and dusk. However, during the rut, bucks will move throughout an entire day searching for does.
Oct 26, 2023 · Focus on the Right Cover During the Rut. We all like to see deer and rut activity. That means we often set up in open areas (like cut agricultural fields and big food plots) where we can watch lots of does, and hopefully have a buck run by. But rut activity often doesn’t happen out in the open.
Nov 8, 2020 · When terrain and wind conditions are right, try glassing and stalking during the rut. While it's doable with a bow, it's obviously easier with a gun. Bucks travel miles per day during the rut. Stay in your stand for the long haul. (Bill Konway Image) 7. How old is that deer? Glass a buck's hocks if you have time.
