You might be a deer hunter if your vacation requests read “mid-November” or you actually look forward to being “stuck in a rut.” November is the month that most deer hunters anticipate all year because it’s generally when most rut activity occurs. Big bucks trade their routines and wary nature in a quest for does. Bucks tend to move farther distances during daylight hours, which leads to increased shot opportunities. But when it comes to capitalizing on rut behavior, it’s important to be able to change tactics with the timing.
While the “rut” refers to the breeding season, bowhunters often break it down into several phases, starting with deer habits shifting as breeding season begins and ending after the majority of breeding is complete. During each phase, deer exhibit different behaviors. Understanding these changes can lead to success.
During the pre-rut, bowhunters can have a lot of luck locating bucks based on sign like rubs and scrapes as bucks begin to make their presence known. During the seeking phase, as bucks travel in search of does, bowhunters are more likely to catch deer movement during daylight hours. Next comes the chasing phase, which is often bowhunters’ favorite. It’s also when hunters often have the most success. Bucks have their noses in the air or to the ground and are often oblivious to the world.
The final phase is called “tending” or “lockdown.” This is when bucks are actively breeding does. It can be complicated to hunt because bucks and does are frequently hiding in cover and moving only minimally. This final phase of the rut is tricky but not impossible if you know the right approach.
Deer always need food, especially when it’s cold and/or they’re using extra energy to breed. However, you’ll need to find the right food sources. If feeding grounds have seen a lot of hunter activity, deer tend to avoid these areas, especially during shooting hours. Late into hunting season, deer may focus on food sources that are more remote in nature, like wood browse and hard mast. Late-season food plots, where legal, can provide excellent opportunities.
By the end of the rut, deer will be spending a lot of time in their bedrooms for a few reasons. Not only is it peak breeding time, but most will have encountered hunters by now. In many states, hunters will have been able to target deer with bows and rifles. This means deer will be on edge and hanging out in bedding areas.
These bedding areas are typically thick cover where deer feel safe and hidden. But deer won’t always bed in the same areas. During stormy weather, deer will search for thermal bedding areas. These are areas with thick cover, like brush or creek bottoms. In this type of cover, they can escape harsh conditions and stay warm. On cold but clear days, deer might bed in terrain referred to as a solar bedding area. An example would be a south-facing hillside that will receive a lot of sunlight, which will maximize warmth.
Before barging into the bedroom, think about whether you can enter discreetly. If the wind is wrong or it’s too noisy, instead of trying to sneak in undetected and blowing your cover, wait just outside the bedding area and try to catch a buck on its way in or out.
Even during lockdown, deer will travel between bedding and feeding areas. Identify these travel routes and set up for a shot opportunity. If you can locate where the does are bedding, a buck won’t be far behind. Try to find a funnel, a natural pinch point. This will create a narrow corridor and allow you to set up where you will likely get a deer within bow range. If you think deer will be traveling from bedding to feeding, be sure your wind isn’t blowing straight into their bedroom.
If you’re not having much luck finding a buck, try to get one to come to you. Calling or using decoys can work during the final phase of the rut. Bucks are still looking for does, and if you can trick him, you may play the winning hand.
Even if you don’t get the timing just right, bowhunting the rut is exciting. Always remember the basics of playing the wind, staying quiet and keeping your eyes open. Adjusting your tactics based on weather, hunting pressure and what you’re seeing can lead to success.
