posted by BIG GAME HUNTER on Jan 12
Hunting the Rut – Special Report
Hunting the Rut
A Special Report For Our Friends and Interested Hunters
Brought to you by:
Charlie Hicks
Hunter, Outdoorsman, Author
Copyright 2008 Charlie Hicks HSA Marketing All rights reserved
Copyright 2008 Charlie Hicks HSA Marketing All Rights Reserved No part of this document may be copied, sold or used without prior written permission of Charlie Hicks Hunting the Rut – Special Report
www.DeerSecretsExposed.com
Copyright 2008 Charlie Hicks HSA Marketing All Rights Reserved No part of this document may be copied, sold or used without prior written permission of Charlie Hicks Hunting the Rut – Special Report.
Hunting the RUT
Perhaps no other event in whitetail hunting causes such a stir as the RUT. And perhaps this is the single most misunderstood event in whitetail hunting.
The RUT is the time of year, usually late fall/early winter in North America, when the deer breed. This is the only time deer will breed. Does will come into heat at this time and start their estrus cycle. The doe will be ‘hot’ or receptive to breed for about 30 hours. If she doesn’t breed during that time she will come into heat again about 28 days later. This schedule can repeat 3 or 4 times in many does until they breed.
Some refer to the RUT not as just the breeding time but rather a series of events that are triggered by shorter days. Either way you look at it, the RUT has a definite pre-RUT, RUT and Post-RUT periods. We’ll examine a more in-depth calendar of events in just a little bit.
The actual start date of this breeding season depends on various factors including the species of deer, the geographical location of the deer herd for that area and local genetics.
The actual date for a given area is generally the same – so you can check with your local wildlife and conservation officer to pinpoint it for your area.
It is during this breeding season when the bucks will come out of their solitary lifestyle and become much more active around the local does. They will seek out does and will act very different during this time, frequently throwing much caution to the wind while in hot pursuit.
Because of this, the rut is a great time to seek out mature bucks.
The actual length of the rut will vary depending on geographical area. In a general sense, the farther South you are, the longer the rut.
Copyright 2008 Charlie Hicks HSA Marketing All Rights Reserved No part of this document may be copied, sold or used without prior written permission of Charlie Hicks Hunting the Rut – Special Report
The Pre-Rut Period:
Bucks will actually start changing in the pre-rut period where they will start marking their territory with rubs and scrapes. They will rub the velvet off their antlers and their testosterone level will increase. They will start sparring with other bucks and will start to show their dominance among bucks in the area by clashing and battling each other.
There is a pecking order that develops as the more mature bucks will run off the younger ones. However, the extent to which bucks will go after and get as many does as possible is due to the actual population of does in an area. Where does are plentiful, the less the bucks will fight for them.
Other bucks will respond to calls from bucks in the area to test their dominance in their territory. Younger bucks may be more playful with each other compared to the mature bucks fending off others in their area.
Rub Lines:
When in the field it is common to see areas of rubbed-off bark on trees, saplings, etc. It is usually accepted that the larger the sapling or tree trunk that is rubbed, the larger the buck. It is not unusual to find a tree literally shredded of its bark and completely torn up. Watching a buck “attacking” a tree like this is very entertaining. In the process of marking an area he is also rubbing off the velvet and polishing his antlers and strengthening his neck muscles.
Bucks will typically re-visit these rub lines while making their rounds and will be using their senses to detect the presence of other bucks and does in the area.
Copyright 2008 Charlie Hicks HSA Marketing All Rights Reserved No part of this document may be copied, sold or used without prior written permission of Charlie Hicks Hunting the Rut – Special Report
Scrapes:
Scrapes are much different than rubs. Scrapes are areas in the ground where the buck will scrape off the surface and go down to dirt, scraping away grass, leaves, etc. with its antlers and hooves. In most cases, the buck will make this scrape under an overhanging branch. The buck will then rub his forehead on the overhanging branch, leaving a scent from one of its glands. Finally, the buck will stand in the middle of the scrape and urinate on the ground, usually letting the urine run down the inside of its leg to pick up more scent from one of the glands in the leg.
This scrape is used as a communication method as well. As does come across the scrape, they, too will urinate on the scrape. The buck will re-visit these scrapes and check out any new scents left by other does.
Copyright 2008 Charlie Hicks HSA Marketing All Rights Reserved No part of this document may be copied, sold or used without prior written permission of Charlie Hicks Hunting the Rut – Special Report
During this time of rubs and scrapes, the bucks can be found out in the open daylight.
TIP: Watch for fresh rubs and scrapes in your hunting area. You can position a blind close to this area to observe and harvest a trophy. Also, scrape areas will be used over and over each year. This can be a huge benefit to the hunter once you locate these areas.
At the peak of the rut the bucks are extremely active in their pursuit of does. They may be active 24 hours a day and most likely will not eat. This is very much out of the norm for the bucks and their guard is down. Bucks may leave their normal territory in search of does.
On one hand, this is a great time to hunt for bucks. They won’t be as elusive; they’ll be active day and night and might present opportunities that won’t happen any other times of the year. However, this also means that the bucks may be very random in their travels, any bucks observed pre-season may not even be in the area and any scouting that had been done earlier may not count for much.
Copyright 2008 Charlie Hicks HSA Marketing All Rights Reserved No part of this document may be copied, sold or used without prior written permission of Charlie Hicks Hunting the Rut – Special Report
Post Rut:
Once the does are out of heat and things start to settle back to a more normal time, the bucks will retreat back to their elusive hides. They will eat a lot during this time to regain the weight lost during the rut and prepare for the winter. After many studies during this time, it is found that most bucks will not eat during the daylight hours in the post-rut period. So what you have is a difficult time of finding the bucks in their bedding areas, coming out near dark to eat and not presenting any significant opportunity for harvest in the post-rut time. Many hunters will not even bother to go into the field at this time.
One exception to this post-rut time is significant weather fronts moving through. If there is a weather system brewing the deer will start eating earlier and preparing for the oncoming storm. This is an excellent time to be out in the field and take a nice buck that has broken the normal eating/bedding schedule.
Copyright 2008 Charlie Hicks HSA Marketing All Rights Reserved No part of this document may be copied, sold or used without prior written permission of Charlie Hicks Hunting the Rut – Special Report
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