I need someone to explain the rut to me.

[Black Ice]

I seem to miss the hard rut every year on our place. At first I don’t think we had a hard rut because of too many does but I fixed that problem.

Right now I have bucks still bachelor’d up but one or two will trot a doe off the corn then come back. I’m guessing that’s the Pre Rut.

My plan is to come back December the 14th which I have hunted the last 3 years but never seem to catch a hard rut.


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[gpena]

When a boy deer likes a girl deer....


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[Black Ice]

When a boy deer likes a girl deer....


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I keep trying to tell my wife it’s that easy.


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[doghouse]

When a boy deer likes a girl deer....


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Wrong. It's when a girl deer likes a boy deer!

[brokeno]

What county are you hunting in

[RobinHood]

We’re in Duval county and same thing. Miss it every year. December 15th was always that magical day, but not these past few years.


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[Snowflake Killa]

Deer population helps on seeing a hard rut . If you have low deer densities that makes it tough. Cold front at the right time always helps.

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[JayB]

East Texas, around Cass County, deer had a rut already. They usually hit again real good about early December.

.....and God Bless America.

[Jcjohnson]

.

[Patton]

IMO- One of the main issues when discussing the rut is different people have different definitions of the rut. On one extreme, one guy might see two young 2.5yr olds tickling antlers and say 'the rut is on'. On the other end of the spectrum, one hunter might not say the deer are rutting until he sees a buck mounting/locked down with a doe. Those two hunters can be on the same property and their opinion on timing for the rut is a month a part, yet there is tons of 'rutting activity' in between. Having said that...

I think you mentioned a key factor in your OP regarding the # of does. If the bucks don't have to look very hard for a willing mate, you won't see them chasing as much. They also won't be as willing to fight and challenge another buck for a doe if it's likely there is another hot doe the next ridge over. While each buck has a different personality, they don't want all to fight if they don't necessarily have to. The 'chase phase' is what I consider the rut when I'm talking hunting- when mature bucks are actively seeking does to breed. On the properties I hunt, I think the major chase phase happens over 4-5 days.

I think the Drury's break the rut out into 13 phases- seems a little over-analytical to me but the point is the rut is not just 1 event but a combination and culmination of multiple events. Bachelor groups breaking up and bucks beginning to make rubs/scrapes, bucks starting to tickle horns and then scent check does, fighting and trying to kill other bucks and sparring any tree/bush that gets in their way, relentlessly chasing does, finding the right doe and 'locking down' with her, etc. The property and the buck:doe ratio dictates how much or how little rutting activity is seen. As does the weather, like if it's 80* in the day and 45* at night, different topic though.

What area do you hunt? I know much of LA. has much later rut than most of Texas. The Marksville area doesn't rut until late January. Jefferson county is going to be an early season rut and Brooks County is going to be mid-late December; although I have never hunted either, just going off what little BS I know.

[eastxhunter]

Meh its made up

[Wolfpack0311]

Look at the south texas rut thread

[BigL]

I find that 2nd new moon after fall equinox for N of I-10 and 3rd new moon after fall equinox for S of I-10 is usually a good starting place for planning purposes. Go a week either side of it and you'll find it. For example Dec 7th is next new moon . Sometime between Dec 1-15 you'll find it. For those if us N. of I-10 we'll get a 2nd opportunity for bucks chasing the ugly does during those 2 weeks It's not closing time yet but getting close.

[woodsman]

Widespread data (county/parish wide) is critical. One observer in 1 specific location year after year will get mixed results that could mislead them to believe that the rut has changed.

Each local herd ruts fairly consistently every year, but a few key factors influence how observable it is, as Patton stated.

Outside of trying to overcome the statistical odds of intercepting rutting deer from your observation point, I personally believe temperature is the biggest factor, all others being constant each year (i.e., population). Warm temps force rutting activity into darker (read=cooler) hours.

[BrandonA]

The peak of the Rut is going to be within days of each other every year. Pay attention when start seeing fawns drop . As mentioned more does you. Have the less active rut you will see. Warmer the weather the less likely you will see them out chasing during the day. Most likely you have to many does.