Rut Questions

[Buckley99]

I’ve heard theories on these questions but I figured I’d ask for more theories...

1. What sets the time of the rut each year? I’ve heard some areas have a range of time for when the rut typically starts and I’ve heard others say it’s starts on a specific day each year. So, what is it?

2. What factors can cause the rut to start early or be delayed?

[txtimetravler]

#1- Mother Nature
#2- nothing

https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/planning/rut_whitetailed_deer/

[txtimetravler]

https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/planning/rut_whitetailed_deer/

[Razrbk89]

75 degrees here tomorrow in north AR and this is the peak chasing time.... Harvest is over and it’s still 65 degrees walking to the stand. I’ll csll it like it is, warming.

[flywise]

It's supposed to be a moon phase thing and I suppose it is because I have yet to see any signs of it yet this year. Always a few immature bucks running does early which is what I saw yesterday but the mature bucks were eating my hand corn yesterday with does coming and going and not one had any interest in them whatsoever

BLANCO COUNTY just east of hwy 281

[basschump]

Every buck in my area just south of Dripping is in full blown rut. Have seen several new older bucks this week all chasing hard. I’m probably 30 minutes from flywise.

Based on last year. We see the most activity at the end of oct then random does through December.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[flywise]

Every buck in my area just south of Dripping is in full blown rut. Have seen several new older bucks this week all chasing hard. I’m probably 30 minutes from flywise.

Based on last year. We see the most activity at the end of oct then random does through December.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Crazy we are so close and I've got nothin. I did see a mature 9 last weekend that seemed to be cruzin for does but no mature bucks chasing. I took yesterday off of work because I thought the action was probably starting but after many hours in the tree ...nothin

[tminc]

agreed, sat in a porch sunday afternoon and watched my target buck chase does and every young buck that came within 100 yds of his harem. Burnet county,just north of flywise

[sweetinlow660]

The rut starts as soon as the bucks horns are out of velvet and runs until his horns fall off. Or occasionally a little before and after those to events if a doe happens to be ready to be bred at that time. The idea that the rut is a 7-14 day event that happens twice each fall is one of the biggest misconceptions in whitetail hunting. IMHO

[basschump]

Crazy we are so close and I've got nothin. I did see a mature 9 last weekend that seemed to be cruzin for does but no mature bucks chasing. I took yesterday off of work because I thought the action was probably starting but after many hours in the tree ...nothin

Pretty wild we are that close and things are that different.
I’m kicking myself for not having a good camera. There have been some nice bucks out in the wide open chasing this week.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tex_Cattleman]

Interesting on the Drippin' report and Burnet Co report. I live in Dripping on acreage and have only seen bucks cruising. No chasing.

This morning I'm in my blind in Burnet Co (Spicewood). I've had four different bucks eating corn with ZERO sign of rut.

Crazy.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[Capt.Bryan]

I think there is more to what different people call the rut in their area. When I see deer cruising deer are in pre rut.
When I see deer on lock down with a doe they are rutting.

I actually see more chasing when the secondary rut kicks in, there are less receptive does and more bucks are fighting and chasing that one hot doe.

I think deer density and buck to doe ratio plays a big roll in what we see from county to county and even individual properties within the counties. Some bucks have so many does that they can pretty much go from one to another and others have so few does that we see 2 or more bucks running after the same doe. I believe that is why some people never see any bucks chasing while others are saying it's on.

[duckmanep]

The rut starts as soon as the bucks horns are out of velvet and runs until his horns fall off. Or occasionally a little before and after those to events if a doe happens to be ready to be bred at that time. The idea that the rut is a 7-14 day event that happens twice each fall is one of the biggest misconceptions in whitetail hunting. IMHO

what is your definition of "rut"?

[Patton]

I think there is more to what different people call the rut in their area. When I see deer cruising deer are in pre rut.
When I see deer on lock down with a doe they are rutting.

I actually see more chasing when the secondary rut kicks in, there are less receptive does and more bucks are fighting and chasing that one hot doe.

I think deer density and buck to doe ratio plays a big roll in what we see from county to county and even individual properties within the counties. Some bucks have so many does that they can pretty much go from one to another and others have so few does that we see 2 or more bucks running after the same doe. I believe that is why some people never see any bucks chasing while others are saying it's on.

I think there is a lot of truth to that.

[Deerguy]

The true rut occurs at basically the same time each year in a given area. It is ultimately controlled by photoperiod, or day length, with little other influence. Don't forget that breeding cannot occur as long as bucks are in velvet, which is controlled by testosterone levels, which in turn is controlled by photoperiod.

What most people call the 'rut' is actually increased buck activity, which is influence by many factors (weather factors, food availability, etc.). Actual breeding occurs irrespective of visual buck activity. In good years, when cold weather actually coincides with breeding activity, folks see lots of deer movement. In bad years when it's abnormally hot, the breeding occurs whether you see a lot of buck activity or not.

Sex ratios are one of the few things that can actually influence both breeding times (rut) as well as buck activity. The tighter the sex ratio, the more bucks have to search for receptive does (if you only get to breed once or twice a year, you kind of don't want to miss out on a opportunity). One of the biggest hunting misconceptions is avoiding adequate doe harvest and wanting to keep a bunch of does around because it 'will attract more bucks'. But, the lop-sided sex ratio actually depresses buck activity since they don't have to actively search for does (since there are more than enough, they don't have to look far to find one).

Also, the tighter the sex ratio, the greater percentage of does that are bred on their first estrous, which tightens the breeding season. This, in turn, is a good thing as you want your fawns on the ground in the spring when environmental conditions are optimal, as opposed to a summer drought.