Deer Hunting The Post Rut Stage
The deer rutting period has ended and all the breeding has occurred. The bucks will rest and return back to more normal routines. This period is referred to as the post rut stage.
The bucks will again be using a bedding to feeding schedule to regain much needed food and rest. For the most part, the bucks will be focused on regaining strength and energy from the exhausting rutting period.
The bucks will be feeding heavily and in most cases often. This period offers a good opportunity for the hunter. Setting up stands in and around available food sources can provide a hunter with a good chance at a late season buck. This will require the hunter to be aware of current deer food sources in order to be effective.
The morning and evening deer hunting approach comes back into play. If the area to be hunted offers quality cover nearby, bucks may even head out to feeding areas throughout the day.
Deer hunting near the bedding areas can be another way of taking a buck. The bucks will be more sensitive to any pressure put on the bedding areas so make sure to use proper scent control and not get too close. Hunting near deer bedding areas is often very productive during the post rut period.
Another idea to consider is still hunting from the ground. By using good still hunting tactics, a hunter can slowly and methodically cover more ground that is suspected of holding the deer. This also allows the hunter to stay current with any fresh deer activity.
Since the season is coming to a close soon after the post rut stage, a good deer drive may also offer hunters late season action. Just remember to be careful and use safety precautions.
The post rut stage can provide hunters with an opportunity to harvest a late season buck. Just because the rutting period is over doesn’t mean the deer hunting is finished. There have been plenty of nice bucks taken during this time of the year.
Deer Hunting The Second Rut Stage
After the first breeding period, there will be some does that were not bred. These does will come into estrus again about a month later. This period is known as the second rut stage. This time can again offer increased deer hunting chances for the determined hunter.
The second rut stage does not usually provide as much heavy activity as the first. However, there will be some, and the bucks will again be searching for and finding these estrus does. The hunter needs to be alert and aware of these changing conditions.
The bucks have had some time to regain strength and energy. They have been resting and feeding heavily for several weeks. The bucks will again be on foot searching for the late season estrus does. The sightings will begin to increase for a second time.
This secondary rut stage can be hunted, often as effectively, as the first stages of the rutting period. There will be fewer does in estrus, but any remaining bucks that were not previously harvested will be active. Good observation skills will keep the hunter aware of increased activity.
When it comes to deer hunting, the hunter should locate current doe feeding, traveling, and bedding areas and set up accordingly. The bucks will be traveling and monitoring these areas in search of the remaining estrus does. Pay attention to deer movement and be willing to adjust if need be.
The hunter needs to stay active as the second rut stage can be productive and offers another late season chance for success. Stay focused, hunt hard, and make the best of the remaining rutting period.
Deer Hunting The Lull Rut Stage
After the initial stages of the rut, and the majority of the estrus does are bred, deer activity begins to decrease. This is known as the lull rut stage.
Both the bucks and does are exhausted from all the running around and breeding activities. For several weeks, the bucks will be bedding and visiting food sources in an attempt to rejuvenate much needed rest and energy.
This is often a tough time for deer hunting. Daylight sightings of bucks will decrease. However, it is still possible to be successful.
The best bet for a hunter is to locate the remaining food sources in the area. Setting up near and hunting these feeding areas or along nearby travel trails leading to these locations. This of course requires the hunter to be familiar with the terrain and to know the deer food sources.
In many cases, hunting during the evening hours will be more productive. The bucks will be bedded down for most of the day and venture out just before or after dark. Morning hunting occasionally works but is usually less effective.
Although the lull rut stage is normally less productive than other times of the rutting period, there is always a chance at seeing bucks. It is best to continue using good hunting skills in order to remain in the hunt.
Deer Hunting The Rut Breeding Stage
Once the bucks have searched for, located, and chased after an estrus doe, then comes the time to breed. This is known as the breeding stage of the rut.
The bucks are now glued to the estrus doe and do not let them out of sight. Wherever the doe goes, so to goes the buck.
Buck and doe sightings are more frequent to hunters that stay in the woods all day. Although the bucks are still cautious, they do seem to let their guard down a bit if only slightly.
Does will generally seek out areas away from the other deer when it comes time to be bred. Secluded grassy or wheat fields, small patches of woods, or thickets that are away from other deer activity can offer good setup locations for deer hunting.
Rub and scrape line deer hunting is less effective during the breeding stage. A doe decoy used with estrus scents can still work if placed near food or bedding areas. The use of grunting and rattling can sometimes bring in bucks that are still seeking companionship.
The rut breeding stage, as well as the entire rutting period, is prime time to hunt all day and usually offers great success.
Deer Hunting The Rut Chase Stage
After the first does come into estrus, the bucks will begin following the does around waiting for the opportunity to breed. This period is known as the chase stage of the rut.
The bucks will stay close to the does chasing them from one place to another until the doe is ready to be bred. The bucks will become relentless during this time often becoming more visible during daylight hours.
When preparing for deer hunting, The hunter needs to locate bedding, feeding, and travel areas that are being used by the does. Tall grassy fields, small sapling thickets, and funnels that lead to these areas are excellent locations for a deer hunting setup.
The hunter can also use a doe decoy that is placed where it can be seen. Put the doe decoy in areas that are frequented by the does. Use doe in estrus deer scents placed in canisters around the decoy in a circle. This technique will often bring in bucks that are roaming the area.
The hunter can also use a set of deer rattling antlers. Use a series of short, soft sequences of up to a minute. Then pause for ten minutes or so to allow time for any buck in the area to respond. Add a grunt call to the mix before and after rattling. This can be an effective way to draw in a buck.
The rut chase stage is very exciting and allows the hunter to be aggressive during the rutting period.
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Deer Hunting The Rut Cruise Stage
As the rut nears, bucks will begin cruising the terrain in search of the first does to come into estrus. This time of the rut is known as the cruise stage.
The bucks will increase foot traffic during daytime hours. The bucks will often stay out longer during the morning and get on their feet earlier in the afternoon.
The rub lines and scrape lines will increase. The bucks will make the scrapes in areas that are frequented by the does. They will scent check these locations more often.
For the hunter, locating the rubs and active scrape lines while deer hunting will increase the odds for success. In most cases, these areas will be near doe food sources, bedding locations, and travel zones.
The use of decoys, grunt calls, and rattling antlers can also increase the chances of more buck sightings. The bucks will be more susceptible to responding to these types of setups.
Deer hunting during this early rut cruise stage of the rutting period can offer the hunter lots of excitement.
Expand Your Deer Hunting Area
There will be times throughout the deer hunting season that normal tactics dry up. This can be due to added pressure on the deer. This may be a change in deer behavior such as the beginning of the rut. It can also be related to changing food sources. When this occurs, it is time to expand the deer hunting area. Having a good knowledge of how the property is setup comes into play.
Pressured Deer
When the pressure increases, deer will often avoid normal travel areas and relocate. This does not mean that they will completely move out of the area. In most cases the deer will simply go deeper into the property. Look for places that are secluded and provide thick cover. Start by deer hunting the edges of these locations. After a few days, go deeper in small increments but be very careful not to over hunt or spook the deer.
Deer Food Sources
Another reason that the deer will change patterns is related to the available food sources. As the season progresses, there may be new field crops, nuts, fruits, browse, or other foods. The hunter must adjust accordingly and locate these foods. Deer hunting near active food sources will keep the hunter in the game.
The Rut
When the rutting season begins, any previous patterns of deer movement goes out the window. Deer hunting the rut requires the hunter to pay close attention to doe activity. Being able to find the does will improve success as where the does are, the bucks soon will be. It is time to be aggressive and be ready to move at the sign of any rutting activity.
Deer Hunting Farm Land
Farm land deer hunting offers much success to many hunters each year. This article will take a look at some of the techniques for hunting farm land.
Deer Food
The first obvious choice for food when deer hunting farm land is the available field crops. Beans, corn, and other crops are ideal for holding deer. These open fields allow the hunter to observe deer from a distance and setup accordingly. Pay close attention to the field corners, low points, and small isolated fields as deer will often use such areas more frequently.
Also look for any fruit orchards such as apple trees that may be available on the property. As the season progresses, these locations may become an effective place to put a tree stand or blind.
Water
A farm will have some form of water supply used for irrigation. This may be a nearby river or a man made pond. Pat attention to these areas as deer will take advantage of them. Look for deer crossings or an abundance of tracks or other sign near the edges. Especially if cover is provided, a water hole can sometimes be a honey hole for taking a deer.
Bedding And Cover
Many farms have small tracts of standing timber throughout the property. These areas generally provide good cover and bedding areas for the deer. Hunting the edges of these tracts can offer good deer sightings.
Another factor to consider is hedge rows and ditches. Many farms are structured where an irrigation ditch or hedge row flows throughout many sections of the land. Deer will use these areas to bed down and also for traveling from one location to another.
Tall grasses or wheat fields also provide good cover for deer. It is very easy for deer to disappear in such areas. Also don’t forget about the field crops for bedding. Deer will take advantage of standing corn and other crops for cover.
Many farms also have fences. Deer are often spotted and hunted as they bedded against a field fence. Deer will also use a fence as a directional means of travel. Often following along beside a fence before jumping over at a certain area.
The Rut
Hunting farm land during the rutting period can be exciting. Especially if there is small patches of trees or hedge rows for cover. Does in estrus will move into isolated areas to get away from the other deer. The bucks will be on the move searching for these does. A hunter can setup near these patches of cover and often be in a good location for buck sightings.
Deer Hunting Tips
As in most hunting situations, finding the fresh and active sign is the best approach to proper farm land setup. Use good scouting, observation, and scent control skills for success. Although tree stands or ground blinds can certainly be effective, don’t forget about still hunting or stalking techniques. Since a majority of the land will be open country, a sneak approach may be worth while.
Doe Decoys
During the rutting period, the use of a doe decoy can add excitement to a deer hunting setup. Use one of these techniques to draw the attention of a breeding buck.
Bedding Area
When the rut begins, bucks will search the doe bedding areas looking to find a receptive doe. These are good areas to place a doe decoy. Put the decoy downwind of the beds in an open area that is visible from a distance. Attach a scent wick, or some other form of canister, to the rear of the decoy. Use doe in heat deer lure in the wicks. Place stands downwind of the setup.
Travel Zone
Placing a doe decoy in a known travel zone can also be helpful. Both does and bucks will use these areas moving from one location to another. Put the decoy in plain sight. Use doe estrus scents to add to the setup. Stands or blinds should be placed downwind of the decoy. Look for travel zones that have fresh deer sign. Rubs, scrapes, or tracks that are fresh indicate current activity.
Secluded Areas
Secluded areas that offer good cover is another location to consider placing a doe decoy. Does will often get away from normal travel areas when they start coming in heat. They will seek out areas away from other deer. These areas may be a small patch of hardwoods, young pines, thickets, or cut over. Using a decoy in such locations can be effective.
Deer Food
A decoy placed near an active food source can also be beneficial to a hunter. The does will continue to feed during the rutting period. Bucks will monitor current food areas searching for the does. Look for food that is secluded away from other deer movement. Small food plots, isolated field crops, or acorns can be good locations.
Deer Hunting Tips
Make sure that the decoy is visible. If the bucks can’t see it, they obviously want respond. Keep the decoy free of any human or unnatural odors. Spray it down with scent illuminating products. Use rubber gloves when placing or otherwise handling the decoy. Put the decoy about twenty yards from the tree stand or blind. When using scents, place them in wicks or other scent holding products and not directly on the decoy or the ground. Always use caution when using a decoy for deer hunting. Dismantling and the use of hunter orange is recommended during transport.
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Sizing Up Deer Hunting Property
There are many different factors in sizing up the quality of individual deer hunting land. When deer season arrives, many hunters prefer to have as much land to hunt as possible. While quantity may be a good idea, land quality is more important. Here are a few tips for understanding the basics.
Large Tracts
The size of the property does not necessarily play an important role. Sure it is good to have hundreds or thousands of acres to hunt. Such size can offer a hunter many different opportunities. It may even influence confidence levels while thinking that more land means better chances at seeing deer.
Small Tracts
However, even small tracts of land have been known to out produce large ones. The key is where the land is positioned in relation to deer activity. I have taken and know of others that have taken nice bucks consistently on land as small as six acres. This land was a prime travel route between bedding and feeding areas.
Value To Deer
The best way to size up deer hunting land is to determine what value the land holds for the deer. This can be broken down into individual sections. Such as food, water, cover, travel, rutting period, hunting pressure, and hunting ability.
Cover
What type of cover does the land offer. Will it provide comfort and security for the deer. Is the land made up of hardwoods, thickets, swamps, tall grasses, or other type terrain that offers good places for deer to hide.These are all important factors concerning deer cover.
Food And Water
What types of food, if any, is available on the property. Will there be field crops, food plots, browse, acorns, or other mast type foods. Will there be a variety of deer food throughout the whole hunting season or will the land only provide food for deer in limited amounts.
Where will the deer seek watering needs. Are there creeks, rivers, or ponds on the land. Hydration is important sometimes even more so than the food. Deer need to rehydrate often.
Travel Routes
Another factor to consider is how the deer will use the property from a travel point of view. Large tracts of land will offer an abundance of travel routes. A small tract may only offer limited travel areas.
Rutting Period
The rutting period is a prime time to be deer hunting. Does the land offer good habitat for the rut. Are there secluded areas that does may use for breeding. What about deer signs such as rub lines or scrape lines.
Hunting Pressure
What type of hunting pressure will be in the area. Is the land large enough to provide numerous hunting locations when the pressure is high. Or is it only good for a limited basis. A small tract of land is often an excellent choice when surrounding areas are heavily pressured.
Hunting Ability
The final factor could be the most critical. Is the property set up to be hunted. Regardless of the previous factors, or how much deer sign, if the hunter can not safely, quietly, and effectively hunt the land, then it is of very little value.
