A Guide to Hunting Whitetail Bucks in Rut!

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A Guide to Hunting Whitetail Bucks in Rut!

November 17, 2010 by Jacob McIntosh

If you’re a deer hunter, you know there is no better time of the year to be in the woods than during the rut! It’s that magical time of the year that fills deer hunters’ dreams, that vacation time is scheduled around and when family and good friends join together in shacks, cabins and family farms to share in the camaraderie, tradition and excitement that is deer hunting! There are a number of factors that determine the rut and can influence its three main phases. Year after year however, one aspect remains the same — it is the most action packed, explosive time to be in the woods! Not to mention the days encompassing the rut can be a hunter’s best chance at connecting with a big, weary but wise whitetail!

The Three Main Phases of the Deer Rut

The Seeking Phase – During this period, bucks follow their nose in an intense pursuit of estrous does. The bucks are on their feet and may travel far from their core areas, covering large expanses of land. In their travels, they spend night and day making scrapes and rubs as they look for hot does. They are now in peek physical condition, vying for coveted breeding rights.
The Chase Phase – Sometimes confused with the seeking phase, only now does are nearly entering estrous. Bucks are aggressively pursuing nearly every doe they encounter, in an attempt to be the first to breed. They chase does all over the woods and continue to send messages to other deer in the form of scrapes and rubs. This period is extremely intense! Bucks fight more during this phase of the rut than any other time of year and all day deer activity is common.
The Breeding Phase – Exactly what the name implies. Once deer enter the breeding phase of the rut, a doe that reaches estrous will allow a buck to follow her. The doe may not immediately stand for the buck, but will not run as often or as far. During this time a mature buck WILL NOT let a hot doe out of his sight. The buck moves where the doe moves, and when the does moves. Eventually the doe will stand and breeding takes place.

Risk vs. Reward

Each stage of the rut blends with the others but uniquely differs in it’s own way. Each phase presents deer hunters with certain advantages and disadvantages. This goes for the deer as well. During the rut, a number of deer behavioral traits can be exploited, bettering your odds for tagging that big buck! Even a big, mature whitetail is most vulnerable during the rut – while he often throws caution to wind and literally risks everything for the reward of breeding.

As crazy as things get, a rutting buck is biologically programmed to do what it does. To say that the rut is exhausting on a buck would be a drastic understatement! This period of time is intensely stressful on the animals and often takes its toll. A number of things can claim a deer’s life throughout the course of time: hunter mortality, natural predation, vehicle mortality increases during the time surrounding the rut, injuries sustained while rutting can also become life threatening and it’s also known that deer can suffer from heart attacks. It has also been documented that bucks can also die from a condition known as exertional myopathy. Essentially, a buck pushes it’s body far beyond its limits and doesn’t stop. They will run so hard for so long, night and day, non stop for the duration of the rut often, with very little rest. They not only chase does, but also chase and fight off other potential suitors. Basically, the buck’s body is pushed so far beyond it’s limits, it begins to break down. Muscle tissue begins to release large amounts of lactic acid as well as other chemicals and enzymes are released in the body that in large amounts are toxic. The tissue breakdown ultimately leads to organ failure and death. Exertional myopathy may not be considered a common occurrence, but it is very possible that it happens a lot more than many hunters would consider.

The rut is an all out, wild roller coaster of activity and the bucks that pursue does during this supercharged time put everything on the line, all in an effort to ensure future generations of whitetail!

Conclusion…

Deer are amazing creatures, there are many intricate and astonishing facets to the animals and their lives. The whitetail rut and the aspects surrounding it is just one spectacular example of that. The rut is far too complex to detail in just one short article. We could discuss and examine the white tail rituals and aspect of the rut for years. In fact, researchers have dedicated countless hours and their entire careers to better understanding this amazing phenomenon and the animal that lives and dies by it. In a nutshell, the rut is the deer’s breeding season. To me, as well as many other deer hunters throughout the country it is so much more. It’s a time like no other, a time that captures the pinnacle of deer hunting. It’s what fills our dreams, and in part what keeps us coming back. It’s excitingly explosive and nerve-racking, it’s heartbreaking and frustrating. It’s what we love…it’s the rut!