Rut Phase Hunting Tactics

As an outfitter, guide, and game researcher I'm always trying to figure out how the activities of game animals change throughout the hunting season; if and how different ages and sexes of animals act; and the best hunting techniques to use during the different activity periods of the animals. In the case of white-tailed deer I wanted to know the best techniques to use on both dominant and subdominant bucks during the different phases of the rut.

As a result of my 7 year studies on white-tailed deer I recognized eight different rut phases with their associated activities: 1. Pre-rut/Rubbing, 2. Fall Home Range Shift/Dispersal, 3. Scraping/Early Breeding, 4. Primary Breeding, 5. Post Primary Breeding, 6. Rest, 7. Pre-late Breeding, 8. Late Breeding, followed by the Post Rut.

During my studies I found that it was difficult to distinguish when these phases start and end, because their activities overlap, and because dominant and subdominant bucks are on different time schedules. I also learned that some often-talked-about hunting tactics should be used only on older/dominant bucks, because they may scare off younger/subdominant bucks.

Rut Phases (The dates given are approximate for northern states)

Pre-Rut/Rubbing Phase (Rubbing/Scraping) Sept. 1 - 25

During the pre-rut, when bucks are beginning to rub to shed velvet, most of their activity will be in or near their core areas containing bedding sites and late summer food sources of mast, berries, grasses, clovers and agricultural crops. Scraping often begins at this time, especially if nighttime temperatures fall below 45 degrees. Dominant bucks create most of these early scrapes. My studies show that bucks travel primarily at dawn and dusk during this phase, but they may rub and scrape during the day in the cover of their core areas an in other secure/protected areas. This is when doe grunts, estrus scents, food/curiosity scents, doe decoys and loud, long rattling sessions can be can be effective. The best places to setup are between buck core areas and evening food sources, or between morning food sources and daytime core areas.

Fall Home Range Shift/Dispersal Phase (Rubbing/Scraping) Sept. 15 - Oct. 15

With rising testosterone levels bucks become more aggressive and no longer travel in groups. Bucks in some areas may shift from a summer core area to fall core area, and begin to use larger home ranges as they search for preferred food sources to put on fat for the winter. They may travel through several doe home ranges in preparation for breeding. Scraping may diminish at this time. My studies show that bucks begin to leave core areas later in the evening and go back to core areas earlier in the morning than normal during this phase. This is when doe grunts, estrus scents, food/curiosity scents, doe decoys and loud, long rattling sessions can be effective. The best places to setup are between buck core areas and evening food sources, or between morning food sources and daytime core areas.

Scraping/Early Breeding Phase (Rubbing/Scraping/Searching/Chasing/Breeding) Oct. 15 - Nov. 5

Two to three weeks before the primary breeding phase bucks begin to travel their rub routes, making rubs and scrapes. Dominant bucks make most of the scrapes at this time. While most scent marking activity occurs at night, bucks do travel their rub routes in cover during the day making rubs and scrapes. Rub routes generally lead from buck core areas in the evening, through doe use areas, to night time food sources, then back through doe use areas to buck core areas in the morning. Scrape activity usually peaks at the end of this phase.

My studies show that bucks may travel to food sources in the early evening and stay there until late in the morning. I often see bucks along their rub routes an hour or more before sunset during this phase. Some does may come into estrus and be bred at this time, even at northern latitudes. Because bucks are exerting dominance at this time, they are extremely aggressive and will fight over estrus does. Does that are not ready to breed at this time often run from bucks, hence the term "chasing phase." This is when tending grunts, doe grunts, estrus scents, buck-in-rut scents, food/curiosity scents, decoys with/without antlers, and loud, short rattling sessions can be effective.

Primary Breeding Phase (Rubbing/Scraping/Searching/Chasing/Breeding) Nov. 1 - 25

Once the does come into estrous the bucks will travel during all hours of the day in search of them. The bucks may stop traveling their rub routes, and follow doe trails instead. Rubbing and scraping by dominants usually diminishes at this time because the bucks are searching for and breeding does. However, subdominant bucks may create fresh rubs and scrapes because the dominant bucks are more interested in does than making rubs and scrapes or exerting dominance over the subdominants. Daytime buck activity will be high as long as does remain in estrus. There is often above normal daytime deer activity during the two to three weeks when the does are in estrus. This is when tending grunts, doe grunts, estrus scents, buck-in-rut scents, decoys with/without antlers, and loud, short rattling sessions can be effective.

Post Primary Breeding Phase (Rubbing/Scraping/Searching/ Breeding) Nov. 15 - 25

After most of the does have been bred some dominant and subdominant bucks will continue to search for receptive does for a week or more, and they may begin rubbing and scraping again. The bucks, especially younger bucks, may travel rub routes and visit doe use areas and food sources during this phase. My studies show that bucks may move at any time of the day during this rut phase. This is when doe grunts, estrus scents, doe decoys, and quiet, long rattling sessions can be effective.

Rest Phase Nov. 20 - Dec. 5 (Rubbing/Scraping/Breeding)

During the two to three weeks after the post primary breeding phase the bucks that took part in breeding may stay in their core areas, where they feed on mast, any remaining green grass, leaves or clover, and agricultural crops or browse. Most buck activity will occur at night or in secure wooded areas during the late evening and early morning hours. I seldom see dominant bucks outside their core areas during this phase. Rubs and scrapes occurring outside buck core areas at this time may be made by subdominants. This is when doe grunts, estrus scents, food/curiosity scents, doe decoys, and quiet, long rattling sessions can be effective.

Pre-Late Breeding Phase (Rubbing/Scraping/Searching/Chasing/Breeding) Dec. 1 - 15

Two to three weeks after peak breeding occurs some dominant and subdominant bucks may begin traveling rub routes again, usually on their way to and from food sources. They may rub and scrape while they travel with or search for estrus does during the day. When temperatures are colder than normal daytime activity may occur from two to three hours before sunset to an hour after sunset; and from an hour before sunrise to three to four hours after sunrise. This is when doe grunts, estrus scents, food/curiosity scents, decoys without antlers, and quiet, long rattling sessions can be effective.

Late Breeding Phase (Rubbing/Scraping/Searching/Breeding) Dec. 10 - Dec. 25

Approximately a month after the primary breeding phase unbred older does come into a second estrous; and some older, and 1.5 year old does come into their first estrous. Dominant and subdominant bucks often travel their rub routes, making rubs and scrapes, and visit doe use and feeding areas in their search for receptive does. Daytime activity may occur from two to three hours before sunset to an hour after, and from an hour before sunrise to three to four hours after, especially when the weather is colder than normal and there is cloud cover. I often see dominant and subdominant bucks with the does as they travel to and from food sources during this phase. This is when doe grunts, estrus scents, food/curiosity scents, doe decoys, and quiet, long rattling sessions can be effective.

Post Rut Dec. 20 - Jan. 15

After the rut ends, and when food sources are limited, cold night time and morning temperatures may cause both bucks and does to travel during the afternoon and early evening hours. They may also feed late in the morning when there is prolonged severe weather. My studies show that when the temperature or wind-chill was below 10 degrees, and when there was limited food, three times more deer were sighted in the afternoon and evening than at any other time during the fall. This is when doe grunts, estrus scents, food/curiosity scents, doe decoys, and quiet, long rattling sessions can be effective.

In many areas, especially in the middle and southern latitudes of the whitetail deer range of North America, and in areas where the older buck to doe ratio is low, breeding of unbred, younger or unhealthy does may continue well after January.

Which Tactics to Use on Different Age/Social Classes of Bucks

The testosterone levels, physical fitness and interests of the bucks change during the different rut phases; these changes often depend on the age and social class of the buck. Younger, subdominant bucks generally don't have high testosterone levels until late in the rut, often not until during or just after peak breeding. If you are willing to take any buck (young or old, small or large racked) you should not use buck grunts, tending grunts, buck-in-rut, or decoys with large antlers, or loud, long rattling sessions, because they indicate the presence of an older/dominant bucks and may scare off younger bucks. You should only use these techniques if you are primarily looking for older/dominant/large racked bucks.

Contrary to what several outdoor writers and deer researchers would have you believe there is no scientific evidence to support the theories that the phase of the moon influences peak breeding of white-tailed deer. White-tailed deer in different areas breed at different times, depending on photoperiod (light hours per day), and the local meteorological conditions. And the deer in those areas breed at approximately the same time each year.

Generally speaking, deer in the north breed earlier, and have shorter breeding seasons, than deer in the south, because spring arrives earlier and summer lasts longer in the south, which allows for a longer growing season for forage, and for the fawns. The breeding season (from when the first doe to the last doe gets bred) lasts 60 or more days in most areas. Therefore, expect some breeding to occur 2-4 weeks before peak breeding, and some to occur up to 1 or more months after peak breeding.

The MN study on peak breeding dates of whitetail does was done before the "moon phase" theories came out. It was NOT done to disprove the theories, and, to my knowledge, it is the largest single study ever done on the conception dates of deer. The graph plots weekly breeding dates for 2.5 year old or older does, 1.5 year old does, and .5 year old doe fawns. The data shows that the first doe was bred the week of October 1, with the last doe bred the week of Jan 28. It shows that peak breeding occurred on Nov. 12. There is also a rise in .5 year old doe fawn breeding from November 19-January 7.

Moon Phase / Peak Breeding Theories

During the time of this study the second full moon after the fall equinox occurred from as early as Oct 25 to as late as Nov. 22; it occurred most frequently during the last week of October and the second week of November. If the moon theories are correct (peak breeding occurs 5-7 days after the full moon, or 5-7 days before the new moon), then peak breeding should have occurred during the week of November 5; and the peak should have lasted for three weeks. But, it didn't! It lasted for one week. This graph shows no correlation between peak breeding and any lunar phase. It is conclusive evidence that the moon theories don't hold up.

Moon Phase Statements

I recently read two statements that I believe need to be cleared up. The first statement is that the "buck" harvest statistics from Illinois support the 5-7 days before the new moon/peak breeding theory. This is wrong! Buck harvest statistics prove only that bucks were active or vulnerable at that time. There is no evidence to support the idea that "stupid" buck behavior coincides with peak breeding. If anything, high buck success rates support the idea that deer (including bucks) are most active during daylight hours during the full and last quarter phases of the moon. I might also point out that buck harvest statistics from 1 state do not necessarily apply to the other 44 states where whitetails are found.

The other statement was something to the effect that a good indication of when breeding is over is when scraping stops. My seven-year scrape study (and the studies of other researchers) shows that a dramatic reduction in scraping in November often coincides with peak breeding. In other words, a drop in scraping activity often signals that peak breeding is in progress. I won't argue the idea that a complete cessation of scraping is a good indicator that most of the breeding is over, but a complete cessation in breeding doesn't usually occur until December in many areas.

I will pose these questions to all of the "young bucks" out there, to those of us who wish we were still young, and to those of us who can still remember what it was like to be a "young buck." If you were a deer, and all of your breeding was restricted to 45-90 days each fall, wouldn't you act a little stupid, run around looking for females a lot, and do all the breeding you could? Would you continue to scrape when the does were willing to breed, or would you stop scraping and tend to the business at hand?

Author: T.R. Michels

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