I'll be down next week to gun hunt in NC Kansas. How is the rut in relation to gun season? Already over? Peak, etc? Thanks and good luck!!

Clattin

The peak of the rut was about a week ago. It is slowing down now. Come rifle season next week, things should be pretty slow, as far as the rut goes. But it's like that every year. It's one thing that KDWP does that I completely agree with. A lot of bucks every year are saved since the rifle hunters aren't able to hunt the rut. I'm going out hunting tomarrow, and will report back to you what I see. Good luck hunting next week.
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I second what kshunter said. Lloyd Fox (state big game biologist) does an excellent job of ensuring plenty of mature whitetail bucks will be around year in and year out by limiting each hunter to the harvest of a single buck and putting the firearms season during the post-rut period. In turn, most people that spend much time hunting try to pass up the yearling bucks. I would rather have the opportunity to shoot one mature buck rather than a handful of yearlings. Even though the rut is winding down, some does (usually the younger ones) will come into estrus during the firearms season. If buck are around these doe, they will be chasing them. The big boys are out there but you may just have to work a little harder to find them in December.