What is the Rut???
 

I keep hearing people say that they are hunting the rut or pre-rut. What is this?

RE: What is the Rut???
 

basically, you want the flat out basic answer? ok, well it's when the bucks run around trying to get lucky with the ladys:D

RE: What is the Rut???
 

thats as far as we need to go;):D

RE: What is the Rut???
 

It's heaven my friend!;):D:)

RE: What is the Rut???
 

Like us men in the backseat with a peep at the drive-in movies

RE: What is the Rut???
 

It is as good as it gets for us deer hunters!!!

RE: What is the Rut???
 

Well I'm sure you looking for more information than the above answers....the rut? Well unlike the above answers and although we are primarily hunting bucks, the rut has all but nothing to do with the bucks other than, they need to be there....like us men.;)

The rut is defined as the period of time when the does in a given area come into estrous for breeding purposes or you could say the rut is the whitetails breeding season. Peak rut would be defined when the majority of does in the given area are in estrous (heat) for the first time and pre-rut is the period of time leading up to peak rut. Does in an area come into estrous at different periods depending on when they were born, in other words, age. And obviously, post rut is the period of time after peak rut when most of the does have been bred however their might be a few still in estrous or coming into estrous. If a doe is not bred during this time frame, she will again come into estrous approx 28 days later and possibly a third time...therefore there can be a second or third rut stage.

Estrous? When a doe is "in season", "heat" and is accepting bucks for breeding.

Too many people see bucks chasing, sparing, etc and assume it's the rut however one has to remember that the bucks are ready to go, all but year around and the "rut" is only taking place when the does are ready. The does control the rut, the rut is all about the does and nothing about the bucks.

Many define it tho because at this time of the year as light fades the bucks also go through transformations preparing for the does "rut". Bucks antlers harden, velvet falls off, buck begin to rub trees to strengthen their necks, and start creating scrapes. The bachelor group of bucks who tolerated each other might now begin to fight for dominance and pecking order....it's all part of "rut" rituals but remember, if the does don't come into estrous, it's all for nothing so again, the bucks only have to be there and the "rut" is all about the does.

Bucks might run around trying to get lucky with the ladies but if the does are not in estrous, it's not the rut.



Hope that elaborates it a little more than....it's heaven. ;)

RE: What is the Rut???
 

It's heaven [8D]

RE: What is the Rut???
 

IF YOUR GOING TO HUNT FOR THE BIG BUCKS, DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS, YOU'LL SEE BIG BUCKS DO WHAT THEY NORMALLY DON'T DO.BASICALLY THEIR OUT LOOKING FOR THE DOES, BREEDING TIME, AND THEIR GOING AT IT 110 %. GOOD LUCK AND ENJOY.

RE: What is the Rut???
 

[quote]ORIGINAL: Rob/PA Bowyer

thank you for your help that was a good answer and is alot better than what I was getting. Thanks again.

RE: What is the Rut???
 

Robs answer says it all quadracer.

Comment on rut in general though from my perspective:

IMHO "THE RUT" is really feast or famine. To many worry about "rut" and missing some of the best part leading up to rut or even post for that manner. For me the best time is the late pre - rut or what some define as the "chase phase". This timeframe has bucks cycling vs just tending to a single doe. It also is the time they are most apt to come into your various calling techniques, the smell is in the air - slightly, anticipation is high but the ladys just aren't ready yet. This is the time we see bucks doing more stupid stuff then "peak rut". On a smaller scale the post rut creates similar results although it is scaled back somewhat b/c the majority of does have either been breed or out till #2 round.Another bonus to these stages is here the bucksare hitting the feed bag.

Now in all honesty my opinion has become this way as of late. I do a ton of scouting, spending many summer evening scoping from distance hillside watching for potential bucks. In the past I haven't worried much about them in the early season, why elk & or mooseto hunt, honey do list prior to ole man winter and lets not forget the "rut" - HEAVEN as many have said. What i have found in the past few years hunting an area that hasalot ofdeer andsome very nice bucks. While these big boys will hang in mass come mid oct they litterally vanish. So basically become unpatternable, prior I could find my bucks with little effort but with the rituals of rut starting they start moving off to determine their own grounds. You know not one of the big boys stayed where he was for the rut, it was always the up and comers that hang around. Last fall I spend many hours from mid oct - dec waiting and searching for 1 of 3 bucks and only had a few glimpses all in the early going. Now whatI did find was bucks I had never seen all of sudden showed up, some where bigger then thecommon up comers some were equal or smaller. We all know they span out for the rut but I didn't realize the extend until last year for this particular area. Go figure been hunting it for 6-7 years(only heavy the past few though)and haven't clued in to why none of my tags were on those big boys. I came to the realization not taking advantage (if possible) of the big buck on summer or bachelor group patterns is a huge mistake on trophy class animals. I will not be raking leavesearly next fallthat can wait if it must till april or may b/c I am going hunting! If unsuccessful I am going to start widen my search to find this roamers, as last fall the big boy moved across a highway over 5 miles north as the crow flies. Never even thought about searching that way but know I will. Point is I got sidetracked thinking the rut would be a great equalizer and never panned out.

I still love the rut it brings an air of unknowing and special excitementbut to over look other times to hedge all on the rut you either win big or go home empty.I am talking about "big bucks" in this regard.

Just my 2 cents worth.

RE: What is the Rut???
 

The rut is.... when I take all my vacation. Oct. 20th through Nov. 30th.

RE: What is the Rut???
 

Some areas of the country, mainly the south, will have a peak time of the rut, but due to the over population of deer and other factors bucks will, and do, breed at almost any time of the year. I have seen small spotted fawns at all times of the year and the only way that can happen is if the does are breeding year round. Young does can breed at six or seven months of age. Different parts of the country will also have a different peak rut time. Where we hunt in South Bama they are starting the peak rut around the third week of January and in the northern states I understand September may be their peak rut period.

RE: What is the Rut???
 

During the rut you want to find the does. If you find the does that is where the bucks are going to be. They will not be sparring in the fields etc. They are constantly on the move attempting to find does in estrous. If a does is not bred during her inital estrotus cycle then 28 days later she comes into "heat" once again. This is a secondary rut.

I do not know if this was previously mentioned there are various phases to the rut.

Pre Rut- Bucks are sparring, rubbing trees and making scrapes and checking them almost daily to see if there is a doe ready to be bred.

Rut - They are breeding. They are solely concentrating on finding a doe in season and then another and another etc. This continues through a secondary rut

Post Rut- They are trying to find that last special doe. Then their horomone levels drop off they go back to concentrating on eating so that they can survive the winter.

As hunters the reason we enjoy hunting the rut is due to the fact that bucks are almost more concerned with breeding rather than getting ate. They are out roaming about more frequently and throughout the entire day not just before sunrise or sunset as they do throughout the rest of the year.

I hope that this has been a little more help to you.

RE: What is the Rut???
 

Ditto what Rob said. It's all about the doe. Her estrus cycle runs approximately every 28 days once she starts. Some may start as early as september and go as late as Feb depending on wheather or not she gets bred.
Pre-rut is basically when the bucks are getting ready or may be chasing a few does but the does may not be ready. Several things can trigger or delay the rut such as moon phase, weather etc.
The peak of the rut is when the does are "in" and are able to be bred. This is when you see bucks acting like fools.
However, not all does are on the exact same cycle (similar to human females) so it's difficult to say exactly when a given doe in a given area will be "in".
For this reason, it's imortant to remember that "hunting the rut" may be missing the point. I know guys that say they only hunt the rut but these are generally guys that live in the suburbs or city and dont spend a lot of time in the woods. Good luck.

RE: What is the Rut???
 

i agree with timbercruiser, in our area the peak rut is usually late, our season ends jan 31, and around the 15 of feb, the buck will be running wild, i've seen them chasing does beside the roads and across farm fields.heres it mar 26, and while turkey hunting i've seen fresh scrapes and rubs. i think the weather plays a part also.

RE: What is the Rut???
 

It is that time of year when the bucks are moving during daylight hours. Many bucks will never move during light at other times of the year, and hence cannot be hunted unless you do drives or otherwiseforce them tomove. The mating urge makes them walk around in search of does, many times in daylight hours or at the edge of darkness in the mornings or evenings. That is why it is important to be in the woods when this occurs, because it is your best chance to take a nice buck.