Today’s column has to do with the latest poll question: “If you could only deer hunt during one time period, which would you choose: during the rut or during the first week of the season?
The most obvious choice, judging by the results so far, is the rut. After all, during this time period, the deer are -- for lack of a better term -- crazy. As hormones of whitetail bucks rage, usually around mid to mid-late November, the urge to breed and protect their territory increases, causing them to make a number of mental mistakes. Leaving their home territory, making themselves vulnerable in open, unprotected spaces, and becoming increasingly more visible during daylight hours are just a few errors the normally illusive whitetail buck will make.
On top of that, some of the most exciting hunting strategies can be utilized with great effectiveness during the rut: rattling, grunting, mock scrapes and urine scents. Adding to the excitement, it’s not uncommon to see multiple bucks you’ve never seen before — even if you’ve scouted the area for months — as bucks travel miles in pursuit of does in estrous.
With all of that being said, my favorite time to hunt is still the first week of the season … well, in most cases anyway. Considering all of the benefits above, you think I’m crazy, right?
Allow me to rationalize.
So much of a successful deer hunt depends on scouting. If you’ve scouted an area, you know where the deer are going to be. You know how they are traveling, where they are bedding, and probably even their favorite food source. You’ve even got stands in perfect positions. While nothing in deer hunting is guaranteed, the point is, if you’ve done your homework, the chances of harvesting a good buck are definitely in your favor.
But, because the rut throws the normal patterns of whitetails out the window, you can kiss all of your hard summer/early season scouting goodbye. The deer trails and funnels. The water and food sources. The bedding areas. Poof … Gone. Meaningless. Worthless. That’s not to say you won’t see deer using these sources, after all, they do sleep and eat (a little) during the rut, it’s just pointing out the consistency is not going to be there.
Sure, the first week of the season may not hold the chaos of the rut, but there is a lot to be said for finding deer in their comfort zone. When October 1 rolls around, it’s been months since deer have been threatened and trampled upon by the masses, and their still predictable to the patterns you scouted them at over the summer.
And, just as the rut brings new bucks into your hunting area, it can also cause your “home bucks” to leave. I don’t know how many times I’ve scouted a buck all summer, spotted and chased him throughout October and early November, only to lose him forever once the rut starts.
However, considering the rut is upon us in Arkansas, I’ll get off my soapbox and help you identify the stages of the, as well as offer a few tips on how to hunt each stage.
Simply saying “during the rut” is your favorite time to hunt is oversimplifying things a bit. As most of you know, the rut holds 3 different stages: Pre, Peak and Post. Each phase offers you the chance to take a big buck you normally wouldn’t have a chance to harvest, but there are a few strategies you can use during each phase to increase your chances.
Pre Rut – Finding fresh rubs and scrapes? Seeing bucks acting a little more interested in does than usual? You’re probably seeing the beginning of the pre-rut, as bucks have separated from each other and beginning to pursue the first does coming into estrous.
Tactics: One of the most useful hunting tactics during the pre-rut is using doe blat calls (not fawn “bleats"). Why? Because as mentioned above, deer are beginning to seek out does in estrous. Doe estrous urine should also be applied around your stand by way of mock scrapes, for the same reason.
The pre-rut is also a perfect time to rattle. Because bucks are seeking out the few does that are in early estrous, they will come to investigate if they think other bucks are trying to steal their does. It’s not a bad thing to make a lot of noise while rattling, including breaking brush and scraping the ground.
Grunting can also have great results toward the end of the pre rut. Grunt softer and less aggressively during the beginning of the pre-rut, becoming more aggressive toward the final stages right before you think deer are going into the peak.
Peak Rut – The chase is on, but did you know that the peak can actually be the slowest time of the entire rut? Bucks have already found their hot doe to breed, so they may hang around in deep cover and not move much. This, of course, doesn’t mean it isn’t a good time to be in the stand. Because all bucks don’t rut at the same time, and all does don’t go into estrous at the same time, there is always a chance you’ll catch a group of does who have not yet been bred, or a buck who has yet to breed (or even one who has bred, but is looking for round 2.)
Tactics: About the only thing you can do during the peak of the rut is try to position yourself in an open feeding area, preferably where there is a high concentration of does. I basically pick whichever stand I can see the farthest, trying to catch a buck chasing a doe, hopefully crossing within shooting range.
And, though you should always try to stay on the stand all day, this is a great time to really push yourself to stay as many hours as possible, as you’ll see deer at all hours of the day.
Rattling seems to work best during the pre-rut, but others swear by rattling during the peak. Either way, it’s not a bad thing to try it. Try rattling for 30-45 seconds, a couple of rounds in succession. Repeat every half-hour or so. Rattling might be just what a big buck in close proximity needs to come running in with his chest puffed out. While rattling, try short quick grunts while rattling for best results.
Grunting - When grunting alone, make longer, more aggressive grunts than what made during the pre-rut. Try 3 grunts every 20 to 30 minutes
Post Rut - If things are definitely calming down in the woods, the post rut is on. Although the climax of the rut is over, that doesn’t mean deer are finished rutting. There are still does that were not bred, and will come into heat again, and bucks are still aggressive. However, they will start spending more time hanging around food sources, and even creep back into their home range. Does will come back together, as bucks are not chasing them all over the countryside.
Tactics: If you happen to have a doe that is going into estrous late, you still have a chance at some more good bucks. It’s almost impossible to know, so my strategy is simply to find the does, and hope there is one who has yet to be bred.
And don’t forget about food sources. It’s been a long rut for big bucks, and it’s time to begin replenishing their depleted bodies. Start keeping an eye on food sources, especially if there are a lot of does using it.
Continue to rattle, but not quite as aggressively as earlier in the rut. Bucks are still interested in fighting but not to the same degree as during the pre-rut. Fights are now shorter and not as intense.
Grunting - Many hunters report great success during post rut. It’s not surprising, considering some does are just now coming into estrous, and any remaining bucks in your area will be more than happy to battle it out for the remaining does. Try the same grunting pattern implemented during the peak rut.
Are the deer rutting in your area? Check out the new Arkansas Outdoors Online
Rut Report Map for region by region Arkansas rut reports.
