What is the best way to hunt deer during the rut?
Hot Tactics:
- Keep rechecking scrapes and hunt in the vicinity of any with new activity.
- Lay an estrus-doe trail into your stand; a buck on a last hookup mission might cut it and come in.
- If you hunt private ground where the pressure has been relatively light all month, try rattling in the mornings.
Why am I not seeing any deer during the rut?
It’s understandable not seeing much deer activity during the rut. Bucks don’t need to move much during the peak of the rut. This is when the highest percentage of does are receptive and bucks don’t have to travel far to pair up with a doe. Once with a receptive doe bucks often tend that doe for 24-36 hours.
How do you get a buck to come during the rut?
Deer start to hit mast crops during this period, so look out for areas with lots of acorns. Rut signs are a good indication that a buck has settled in nearby. Setting up between food sources and bedding areas gives the best results. During this period, evening sits are the most productive.
Should you shoot does during the rut?
Having thoroughly examined the pros and cons, as well as my own specific circumstances, I’ve always answered with a definitive yes. If the doe population needs to be reduced, the best time to do it is whenever you possibly can, as long as it gets done. For that reason, I’m a frequent late season doe hunter.
How far will Bucks travel during the rut?
Radio telemetry documents remarkable dispersal of Missouri buck during three weeks in November. Researchers have discovered the longest distance ever recorded by an adult male white-tailed deer—close to 200 miles (300 kilometers) in just over three weeks.
How do you attract bucks during the rut?
An estrous-based scent smells like a doe that’s ready to breed. Bucks cover lots of ground searching for that odor, so use it to your advantage. Dominant-buck scents smell like a mature buck, which can make other bucks aggressively seek a fight. Mock scrapes can also work during the rut by attracting curious bucks.
How long will a buck stay in one area?
Some big bucks have very large territories, while others confine their travel to relatively small areas. The good news is, The 7-Day Rule works for all bucks, whether they’re nomads just passing through or local homebodies.