Debunking 4 Rut Myths

Don talks about 4 well-known #rut myths and why they are not true. With over 40 years of experience hunting #maturewhitetails, especially during the rut, Don shares his thoughts on what makes these 4 rut myths, true myths. The explanation of debunking 4 rut myths can help you to become a better #whitetaildeer hunter.
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[@jeffa5707]

The thing that I hated about this video is that Don is able to hunt every day in November and I can't. So jealous.

[@LukeGittings]

I just hunted 5 days straight and I can’t hardly move. How does one hunt every day in November? Physically?

[@yourmomma2995]

so do i, you have to decide whats important, when i was younger i used to quit my job every year on opening day of deer season, then have to find a new job as soon as it was over, so 12 or so years ago i started my business because work was getting in the way of my hunting and fishing time :)

[@ericatwell8611]

Lol same

[@roostmx]

Luke G i hunted 4 days of dark to dark sits. In a blind in a $5 academy chair. And a $5 stool. Used the stool for a foot prop and had a recliner out there and just sat and listened for days

[@ninjagodzilla6402]

@@yourmomma2995 you to hu? I thought i was the only person that did that lol.i literly quit my jib every year from tbe age of 16-my 20's.im now 43 & pissed off i cant quit or ill loose it all.keeps me in the woods longer though on my days off "sat-sun" ill hunt dayligjt til dark during this time of the year.but yea i feel ya.

[@jeffhager9398]

I believe bucks roam to different areas to find does, been hunting deer for 42 years myself

[@davidkoonce2742]

yessir

[@hallofflamesnake4773]

Same bro

[@hallofflamesnake4773]

I hunted 8 years and I find new bucks in the rout

[@lukejoseph1406]

Giant 180" buck shot near me on public, guy had trail cam pics of him all summer and early fall 8 miles away...

[@whitegoosejuvy]

I agree with everything he says except the range of rutting bucks. There is no 2nd rut 100%. If a rutting buck can smell 1 mile what makes him think that buck wouldn’t travel that far for a piece

[@Bob_Diesel]

Don't really know how I found you, but I love that you're a no BS kinda guy. Very rare to find these days with guys who run outdoor channels. Just an ole woodsman that calls it how he sees it. Would love more videos on hunting winds that are favorable to the buck, and how they behave in those winds. I think I'm really starting to wrap my head around it.

[@KyleCall3034]

Simple just move down to bucks entering and exit spot if he’s working the wind and from Halloween through November just hunt the buck because he ain’t worried about but one thing ! Pretty simple I’d say there Leroy

[@danielmcbride4828]

@@KyleCall3034 I don't care what anybody says the mature bucks really mature bucks always use the wind I don't care how rut crazy they are

[@KyleCall3034]

@@danielmcbride4828 hey nobody saying that’s not true but I’m not going to not hunt due to any wind and it’s never stopped me from killing that mature buck! He always messes up and I’m there so basically saying hunt just hunt don’t get to technical with it

[@jeffkreager7717]

I may not agree with everything you have stated but it's valuable to me as a hunter to be aware of all of the theories. Thank you for taking to time to share this information.

[@christmas4713]

Priceless video! And couldn’t agree more! Thank-you for sharing your knowledge.

[@jeffmiller8115]

Great info Don, I’m sixty and been hunting since I was 13, I’ve seen a lot, believed a lot, and I’ve found doubt in a lot of theories, 40 yrs of experience debunks theories! Anything can happen in the wild, can’t control nature, there will be freakish things happen but for the most part everything will fall as nature calls

[@kirk3977]

Absolutely Fantastic!!! Finally answering questions I had for years, From a truthful experienced hunter and deer farm!! I thank you!!!

[@stevecady421]

Thanks for the great info! I'm kind of a new hunter and I hear all kinds of theories and advice. They tend to contradict or vary each other. I listen to everything but go with the people having the greatest successes and experience. Very glad I found this video.

[@mbagwell2607]

I agree with most of this with the exception of finding new bucks on your properties during the rut. We have historically found "new" bucks that were never seen before. This is probably a function of the fact that our property is on the edge of his home range and that he is moving more within that home range in early November. We co-op manage about 1,500 acres in Upstate NY that is mostly farmland with small wood blocks and creek bottoms. If the bucks are bedding on our properties we generally find them. The "new" bucks we see are often on camera several hours after nightfall and the assumption is they travelled far that night. I will say that bucks we observe change their bedding areas happen late season based on food and the fact that they seem willing to bed in closer proximity to does that they are not willing to during peak breeding. We also assume that some of that movement is the result of hunting pressure from neighboring properties. Great content, fresh takes, good stuff Don. Nice to see someone not regurgitating others info but info gleaned from years of experience. Thanks man

[@chrise4994]

Bonus bucks

[@HuntZoneAmerica]

Thank you for taking the time to set the record straight. There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. Proverbs 20-15. As for myself I choose to listen and learn from your decades of experience. Thank you again.

[@denniscampbell8240]

Well from a man with that experience ,,I'll take your word for it over others who think they are pros ,,,,,thanks for the info

[@CW1116]

You seem to rely too heavily on one opinion w/o knowing either "pro". 42 yrs. of hunting is a lot of experience. I've been deer hunting for 61 years and I've too many people who have a small percentage of my experiences and think they are "pros". Not so. This dude just has a larger audience with his KZbin vid.

[@kevinasbery6119]

Great information. I’m relatively new to hunting and I need all the help I can get. Thank you. 🦌

[@timothyperiard7048]

Great video Don! I take the same week each year off from work (the week before NY firearm season) and have done this for over 30 years and the rut activity is always very active that week and given me many opportunities at harvesting bucks with a bow. I used to follow the moon phase but it was never accurate. I also keep a close eye on storm fronts as this appear to increase deer activity, especially cold fronts. Thanks for sharing this info.

[@nathanolson2430]

Great video. I agree that moon phase doesn’t impact the timing of the rut. To me it seems it can have an effect on our perception of the rut by influencing deer movement. Certain moon phases may cause deer patterns to change, most deer sightings happen around dawn and dusk. If their feeding patterns are effected by moon phase they may not be seen by hunters prior to dark heading to feed or early in the morning going back to bed down. I’ll bowhunt as often and sit as long as I can from the last week of October to the Wisconsin gun season opener which is the third weekend in November. From year to year the rut activity seems to change. Some years it’s very short and intense a I will only see 7-10 days of bucks seeking and chasing does. Other years it seems to last for an entire month and we will still have bucks chasing at the end of November during gun season. Last year it seemed to be non existent. Little to no sightings of chasing or solo bucks seeking receptive does. Of course other factors will impact deer activity such as hunting pressure and weather readily available food sources, possibly even moon phases. No matter what the rut in the area I hunt happens the same time every year. End of October starts the pre rut. Buck activity picks up. I see mostly bucks moving solo , searching for the first receptive does. I’ve had my best luck during this time frame still early morning and late evening. First week in November I’ll start to see young bucks chasing and bigger bucks now pairing up with does. Second week in November activity seems to taper off. I feel like a few does have already been bread but the majority are now coming into heat. Bucks don’t have to cover the same amount of ground to find a receptive doe. If they doe isn’t quite ready they will lock down together and wait. This happens through the end of November here in southern Wisconsin. Of course it will very depending on your location. I see newborn fawns every year around the same time. Mostly end of May- middle of June.

[@josephsobnosky1429]

Thank you for the straight forward information. I have been learning about deer since I first hunted them in 1975.

[@nathanking3778]

Everything sounds legit except for the new bucks moving in, in my opinion. We hunt a small piece of property and usually don’t get good bucks on the cameras until the rut comes around.

[@chrisfenimore8662]

Average range for whitetail deer is 4000 acres that covers many farms in most cases so it's not unusual to not see bucks you've been seeing or see more bucks wants the chasing kicks in

[@brokenarrow6491]

I agree. A guy killed a huge buck next door to our farm in rut and another guy from a farm a mile away has that same deer on a trail camera.

[@jollycooperator2876]

I believe they've tagged them and observed bucks moving huge distances during the rut.

[@ratrocket91]

It also depends on buck to doe ratios and how aggressive the local dominant buck is ass well.

[@basicinfo.9315]

​@@chrisfenimore8662 Must be in Texas.... Home ranges of whitetail bucks in excellent habitat with plenty of food available can be quite small. GPS studies in prime areas of Louisiana, Pennsylvania and Maryland have shown home ranges averaging from 269 to 559 acres; not even as much as a square mile (640 acres).

[@tacticalfarmer_310]

Very informative, thank you for making this video. I've been bow hunting for 30 yes and always thought there was a 2nd rut.

[@huntermark1160]

That makes sense to me! Thanks for the knowledge.

[@scottbrammer8275]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@andyw237]

Great info, thanks for sharing! the best of us know how the rut actually works in reality. looking forward to more content and advice.

[@markdelisle5957]

Good common sense information presented in a professional manner. I agree with you 100% even though I was the Hunter that only got weekends to hunt in the past I am now retired and spend as much time in the woods. Every year I learn more about whitetails and their habits from personal experience and enjoy every minute. Thank you.

[@kerrygies3682]

Just walked outside yoteys sounding everywhere think differently than I did 25 yes ago

[@joelclark2130]

Well spoken my friend I learned something, I did not know that a deer could not be bred until it came to a certain weight fawns.

[@kennylainhart7148]

Totally agree, I've always said when we roll back the clock, day light savings stimulate the the doe to come in to heat!!!! I was told years ago , from a deer breeder how they stimulate the does to come in to heat is putting them in a day light and temperature control barns to get the estrus pee.I started paying close attention to the time of year and while hunting watching the activity on the farms I was hunting. I Totally AGREE Day Lights Saving ,is the trigger!!!! Thanks 👍 Great Video!!!

[@petehayduk8051]

Great video!! Based on everything I know, it sounds like everything you expressed in this video is backed solidly by science! And your first hand experience. Loving your videos! Third one I've watched, I believe. Great, no bs, to the point, content!

[@randyperkins3583]

Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge.

[@johnmartin9090]

I SURE appreciate all your seasoned experience and advice. Hoping for a great first season on my new purchased land in Andalusia Alabama. Loads of does and a big group of beautiful young bucks on camera for future hunts years from now . I'm sure there are big boys near by as well.

[@wtpence4731]

Very good video ! I like your no BS style and agree with everything you said except the buck traveling thing. We plant quite a few acres of good food plots and they draw the does , especially late in the season .As you stated a buck can sent a hot doe a Long way off and I believe they do draw bucks that don't normally use our property. JMO. Keep up the good videos ! PS, This is my 60th year deer hunting, Thank GOD !

[@TheHuntinfool69]

As always, top notch information and thanks for giving it.

[@JayN4GO]

I’ve had a target buck killed 5 miles from his core area in November. It hurt but he went through a hell of a terrain obstacle to die for that doe. Now keep in mind I’ve always hunted 100 acre parcels. Never a large 5 mile parcel to observe this. But I’d say you are correct. Thanks for the no bs videos. I learn a lot from you.

[@vonster4117]

May have chased the same doe that far.

[@brandonrobertson6327]

Well, whether a 2nd rut or a prolong rut, is seen in my area of the country. I notice that chasing activity is the strongest usually the last 2weeks of November and sometimes into the 1st week of December. But then, the last week of December into the 1st week of January some years you see chasing activity start again. This to me explain why you see small fawns into June where you see larger fawns earlier in the year around April/May. But I do respect your observations and experiences on the subject.

[@tonyksnow3222]

Thanks for your wonderful experience.

[@nobody-fs8jj]

Listening to this video actually made sense in other areas of our own lives and provided a greater understanding! Appreciate you. I live in Iowa, and was explaining to my daughter what rut was and the timing of gestation a couple weeks ago. I had stated it was beginning around the tail end of October but mostly in November and explained when the babes would be born. Around here the bucks will drop their heads and run across the road following scent of the does without a care lol. I appreciate a second pair of eyes when driving in the height of the season 😉

[@davidboyle1902]

Finally a reasonable explanation for those very late fawns. Can say that I’ve seen a very small doe being literally tailed by a very large buck. Great presentation.

[@robmullen8100]

Thank you for explaining about the amount of light that triggers the rut .

[@timothyhowell7047]

Didn't ruffle my feathers but this great info for the Midwest. But in GA it doesn't work like that. And that comes from first hand experience hunting super thick planted pines for 30 years.

[@undeserved1781]

Don't have feathers, and have heard more deer info than quaker makes oats, doesn't work like that in northern half of Ms. either, 20 yrs. ago or so, saw a fully spotted fawn in late Nov, [no fallow deer] . Been deer hunting for 56 yrs. and a "few" have gone down by arrow, smoke pole, rifle, shot gun, crossbow. A deer is a deer they do deer stuff, everything wants to survive, later breeding happens. [here anyway maybe it's a southern thing]

[@vasquezisai5506]

Great video with lots of knowledge, but I can relate , Them South GA deer do be switching it up a lot don’t they lol 😂😂

[@timothyhowell7047]

@@vasquezisai5506 heck yeah they do. They might be rutting like crazy here and go one county over and it's like all the bucks are gay and could care less about a doe. We just kinda wing it and hope for the best

[@ArnieT1958]

Wow enjoyed!! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!!!

[@Timberwolf1Silenthunter]

Great video backed up by 40 years of experience. I gotta agree with you. I have also been bow hunting for the last 48 years and have been lucky to harvest a few hundred Whitetails due to some Suburban reduction programs. I love to hear all of the other guys with their theories, the Moon, the cold , the snow , But I always see the rut start the first week of November typically November 3 rd and on here in the NorthEast. So that thats my take and it seems to fall in line with your interpretation and you have much more first hand experience raising deer..

[@th9539]

Thanks for sharing your experience

[@jacobrunklewithjacobscount4248]

Thank you for all of this information. I agree with most of it with the exception of the "new" buck theory. I wanted to add pictures. We lease about 2000 acres total and had trail cam photos of a split brow 9 pt on our property last year and the buck was killed a few miles down the rd.

[@Hammerback972]

I have only 40 acres and for the past 5 years, 3 of the years a new buck came during rut. Maybe coincidence, may not be

[@philruckle3959]

Another good informative video Don. Keep them coming.

[@johnd7215]

This is all very interesting. This guys resume is impressive. Hard to argue with that amount of first hand experience.

[@toddleinbach288]

I will agree with 3 out of 4. Tracking collars don't lie. Bucks go out of there core area during the rut and return till next year, not all but several do. PS I have been in the woods during the rut for 40+ years as well.

[@MegaTroyhamilton]

Thank you for your work

[@garydillon7765]

I believe everything you said is true...for your area. In the coastal plain area in Texas (south of El Campo) where I hunt on an MLD lease, the state biologist has told us that based on newborn fawn sightings in the spring translate to the primary rut in our area being late September/early October. This agrees with what we se in the field as our season starts the closest weekend to the beginning of October.

[@dennypitman5272]

I’ve noticed the same things from almost identical experiences. Great video sir!!

[@magnum15917]

I appreciate your experience and wisdom regarding the rut, good information. Thank you.

[@whitetailevolution]

First hand experience is the best experience! Great video Don! Keep them coming!

[@tonyksnow3222]

Thanks for your experience to share with me.

[@BDR2024]

Your dead on about the rut! Everything you’ve described I’ve seen from Pa to Montana. Thank u for confirming what I’ve known and witnessed since the late 60’s when I started hunting

[@bubbigguns4952]

Yes sir I agree with you!! 100%! A mature buck may travel 1-3 miles or more every night, so yeah your little hunting spot is not his grounds! And ofcourse you're not seeing them, they KNOW YOU'RE THERE!!!!! 😆😁

[@1HandySavage]

I heard what you said. Im struggling this season. I liked your vid and I heard what you said about not seeing the buck doesnt mean they are not already there. Don't know how people missed that but that explains why they also are here is they aren't paying attention. Thanks for the tips

[@DavidGonzalez-ek3zh]

Awesome info as always. I do agree 100%. Thx

[@josephtreadlightly5686]

I have a large doe in my area that I've seen every month of the year for 2 years now. I watched her on May 23rd 2020 when she was very pregnant. I talked to another person in the middle of June & asked them if they had seen her recently since I hadn't. They said the week b4 Memorial day was their last sighting. She had twins I'm sure of b4 the end of May. If u do the math that's six months & roughly an additional 2 weeks the gestation period of a doe which coincides to the dates that Don gave. I have witnessed for 30 years or more that there is always a doe in heat up here in MN on November 10th. The amount of daylight is the only fact u can pin on that date. Usually the sundown time on November 10th is 4:50 CDT. This year it was November 9th. One other thing I have observed on many different places in my area is around that time that a mature doe will leave her fawns with a subordinate doe & search out a real suitor when she feels that she is about ready to be bred. They act differently & will be alone. I watched a doe last year do this on an evening u wouldn't expect to see a deer weather wise. However it was November 10th & all bets r off when it comes to weather or moon phases.

[@toddlosure4793]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience. Everything you said sounds reasonable. I wish I knew all this years ago.

[@billvenne1198]

56 and a first time hunter, thanks for the information!

[@billvenne1198]

Is this real?

[@meMiner]

Regarding #3, I'd suggest that you may see new bucks from pressured areas. ie they get pushed out and look for someplace safer. Great video

[@brandonsimon2804]

Nuh-uh you have to spend $59.99 on the pro package on an app to find out when the rut is!!!!🤣🤣 Great video!! I agree completely!!!

[@roostmx]

Noooo you gotta get the $119.99 elite version!!!

[@edwardlydon2627]

I’ve been telling the old timers I know for years that the rut has nothing to do with the moon phase. They don’t believe a word of it. Lol. Another good one that old Timers just won’t let go is that they think every clumped poop is from a buck and pellets are only from does. They say I’m crazy when I tell them it’s just not true!

[@runmac6413]

I hunt property in Louisiana along the Mississippi River where there is a late December rut. I bow to your experience certainly, just some things in this part of the country are a located a little differently on the calendar. Great video.

[@calvinh.8882]

Exactly. Different climates cause different ruts. Here in Florida, the deer rut starts in July down in the southern part of the state and runs through February in the northern parts of the state.

[@SSgtBigSwole]

100% accurate. I hunt in richland parish and can vouch there is a 2nd rut.

[@elklicklodgehuntclub1079]

Totally agree except I hunt a small area, 60 acres, run camera's all year, and know about every doe, buck & raccoon, and if them knew bucks we see during the Rut were there all along they had the greatest hiding place or just didn't move, Still loved hearing all your info, especially with experiance and background, Thanks.

[@DeansMayhem]

Great information, thanks for sharing it.

[@TeamJesusOutdoors]

Never heard the doe fawn theory. Love it! Always learning something new at Chasing Giants!

[@joshiceman1983]

Thank you for your wisdom

[@Murf1802]

Hey Don, again Thank you for your knowledge,, and this video. I'm a realist if that even means anything lol, but I believe in experience that lead to Facts ,plain and Simple , loved the information,and learned more then I knew 5 minutes ago !! Big Fan Don ,I believe God blessed me this weekend in finding your channel on uTube. Outstanding information your putting out!!

[@JustinMentionedIt]

16:14 is accurate for western Kentucky , every picture I have of a doe getting bred in January has been a yearling doe so far , over 10 years of pics

[@muskeyr2543]

I agree and trust your opinion, I’ve been hunting Deer for 35years...I’m sure you have more time with Deer than I ever have. Thanks for the info. Ont, Canada!

[@Joe-fc8ne]

Thanks, Don. I couldn't agree more. So many people see a buck (That is willing and able to breed pretty well all year long) bumping a doe around in early October and say It's On! No, it's not. Also, I am a moon believer, but what that moon does has nothing to do with the time of year that the does come in. It does have to do with the time of day the deer may move. That's where the moon factor comes into play. Other than that, give me Calendar, Weather, Moon, in that order of importance. If I have the first 2, I care not what the moon phase is.

[@kcavery7968]

Definitely agree on the moon/rut

[@jimmyharper6655]

Kudos for being willing to tackle some controversial subjects head-on and probably ticking some folks off in the process. I agree completely with your assessments of #1 and #2. Those topics should be accepted scientific fact at this point. I also agree in large part with what you're saying in regards to #4, but I think there are likely some differences here in regards to Northern vs. Southern deer, especially in Southern herds where buck:doe ratios are way out of kilter in favor of does. As far as #3 goes, we run trail cameras year-round on our properties, and we either have "new" bucks arrive during the rut or existing bucks suddenly become visible to our cameras, because we definitely see a few bucks on our properties during November that we see at no other time of the year.

[@bobbyowen3882]

I guess that would be determined by his definition of "in the area". He stated that a buck could smell a hot doe nearly a mile away, but no new bucks just because of the rut. Seems like a contradiction.

[@connersoety7630]

I see new bucks during the rut all the time. This is most likely because I hunt a small property but during the rut new bucks 100 percent show up on my property.

[@ANuts223]

Same here, even on my farm which is 200 acres, I see some bucks disappear for weeks at a time and some bucks who only show up for a few days and never come back until the next year. Mature bucks certainly expand their range during the rut for sure, I’ve seen it firsthand for many years. I respect Don and agree with 98% of what he says but I disagree with that point to an extent.

[@CormierTC]

Yeah I think a lot of factors play into that. Population densities, sex ratios, terrain and habitat, property size, etc. I think the point is not to rely on that idea that even if you don’t have any good bucks on your property, “anything can happen in the rut” and all the sudden a booner shows up. Could happen, but more than likely not

[@rodneygilbert5183]

I have the same on my land, it's only 65 acres but l don't have any mature buck here until late October early November. And they are gone for good the 1st of Dec. Normally around 22 of Nov l will have a day where 4 or 5 160in bucks come through, l know there from other farms that the does are all bread.

[@bubbigguns4952]

👎

[@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147]

just because you see bucks that you havent seen before does not mean they are "new" bucks. They were likely there all along but just became more visible during the rut

[@jasonwatts1740]

Don, I agree with most of what you said. No disrespect to your life/hunting experiences but, there are areas in this country where the rut is in October (SE GA for example) and in January (most of central and south Alabama). I've even read that the rut in S.FL is in the spring and early summer. Not everyone who watches your videos has the Midwest as their hunting address. BTW, I've been watching KZbin videos for years, but have never felt compelled to comment on a video - until this one. So, yes, you struck a nerve. Subscribed anyway.

[@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147]

Jason, I dont disagree with what you are saying but there is only 1 rut per year and in your area it is more prolonged than in mine

[@Jefestephens]

Same here in southern Arkansas.

[@andrewbutler1423]

Great video, thanks for sharing your information, nice to hear from someone who is the real deal instead of armchair hunters. Cheers 🍻

[@ddouin1]

Don, I tend to agree with your views on the 4 rut myths, but I do have a couple comments/clarifications based on what I’ve experienced. I spend most of my time hopping around the southern 2/3rds of Illinois hunting various chunks public/private ground. I’ve noticed that how much a buck travels during the rut is mostly dependent on terrain/structure of the land, availability of does, and individual personalities of bucks. The way I understand your property sits in East central IL, you’re basically on an island of cover, with a few fence rows and ditches. On this island, there are plenty of does, food, and cover, so you’re going to have a lot of homebodies. Then there are your bucks that tend to travel a lot more, and use those fence rows and ditches to travel checking does on various islands of cover. You’re probably better at capturing those roamers on camera than most people, so you’ll get their pictures year after year when they’re on the outskirts of their range. On different farms though, where cover is much more available all throughout that region, it’s much harder to capture those roamers on camera. You’re capturing deer on a treeline that’s 10 yards wide before it expands into a larger chunk of cover, but a lot of guys are trying to capture those roamers on 100 acres of thick honeysuckle choked timber without those small necked down pinchpoints. This is where “new” bucks come from. There’s just no way to cover all entry/exit routes into large, cover-rich farms, or even small farms in the midst of large tracts of cover. This is especially true in areas with vast expanses of river bottom timber with low-average numbers of does. Those types of areas are where bucks have to travel the most because they have to in order to find the does. Again, in my opinion, those 3 factors (terrain/structure, doe density, buck personality) affect how much and how often a mature buck travels during the rut.

[@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147]

THANK YOU! I think you just helped make my point that most of those bucks were there all along but just not seen/photographed. I am not saying that a "new" buck never wanders into an area but it doesnt happen near as often as many hunters think. I literally cannot remember the last buck ( 3 1/2 and older) I saw from a stand during the rut that I did not have a photo of. I also run cameras on a couple dozen properties and during the rut I rarely get a photo of a new buck. I get their photos in October so the were there before the rut started. There are more "new" bucks moving into areas in the late season than the rut and this is due to limited quality food sources.

[@Gillslayer92]

Man you hit this on the dot. My neighbor always says look the deer are in rut, every year because he starts seeing different bucks. Oddly we are with 500 yards of each others setup usually and we tend to have different deer consistently. I have a small 5 acres hard to hunt for sure. Neighbor has 10 next to alfalfa field.

[@jakemitchell1671]

Excellent info, can't argue with a man's experience. But I swear, I don't look forward to the rut any more than any other part of deer season. In fact, it's my least favorite time. During rut a buck's behavior becomes 100% unpredictable. Since I can't control when the does come into estrus, I cannot plan for anything. I love the early season when the deer are still in their summer patterns, and then my absolute favorite time is post rut, when the bucks come back together and the priority returns to FOOD. I can scout that; plan for it; anticipate. Rut? It's just too random. Get in the woods and hope you're in the right spot for the action. Of course I hunt public land where I have ZERO control over anything. If I had food plots and bait piles and could keep pressure low I'd probably feel otherwise.

[@waffle_fart]

I'm jealous too..I love to hunt the whole month..but I really glad you laid it out ..def answered several of my questions..thx.. buddy....good luck to you too

[@darrenmeyer8507]

My thoughts exactly! I run cameras and I do not see "new" bucks come in the area, just bucks that have been there become more active in daylight. I know this because I run cameras year around.

[@carmenallocco6497]

Thanks, finally somebody knows from experience not hearsay-what's going on. Makes sense , the mature does in nov and doe fawns by body weight . I keep hearing its weather and in the south its January. The activity in January I believe is the doe fawns in the south and nothing to do with the heat. Again thanks for the info.

[@Jaeamythomas]

Question, I hear so much about the November rut. In Alabama I have not seen the rut in November, ever. We are still waiting for it, showing signs of the next week or so of it happening. How much can the rut vary from different portions of the U.S? Maybe a video with what you have learned would be awesome! Great videos, thanks for sharing your knowledge

[@Yettiattack]

Maybe a few days. I hunt in washington an constantly have to tel people there is no rut in october. Everyone argues cause they see bucks chasing does or just daytime activity. Its strictly a seeking phase where they are checking the does in the area an who is going to be receptive. In washington blacktails start being receptive around the first week of November. Our season actually closes for modern firearm nov first to the 15th to allow for the breeding to happen. Ive ran over 20 cameras for the past 10 years to obtain enough knowledge in my area that i harvest successfully year after year. When do call what to call as blacktails are much more difficult an less social than other deer specie.

[@banjohappy]

Since the rut is based on photoperiod, and since Alabama is deep south, the shortening/lengthening of days there is less pronounced than up north. Thus the rut in Alabama could happen later in November or in December, when the shorter days are more comparable to up north. Regardless of where you are in the northern hemisphere, the shortest day of the year is always within a day of Dec. 21, but the closer you are to the equator, the less pronounced the shortening/lengthening is.

[@shannonlaforce8459]

Well Said Don! Have Learned A Lot From You And Terry.

[@male1ea.standardissue151]

Me to People

[@20byrd]

I literally just checked my trailcams and had a doe getting bred by a mature buck right in front of my cam on 10/28 🙄 (southern OH)

[@curtismanning5802]

I have hunted for 61 years and taken 174 deer and have never been able to determine the time deer start and stop rutting.

[@TheBuckPsych]

In my opinion light as a lot to do with it but temperature does too. regardless cold gets them up on their feet but temps i think trigger an instinct to get it done before winter

[@yvesf5355]

Great Video ,and always love to learn about Deers thank you

[@unleashoutdoors2051]

What’s the brand of jacket you’re wearing? Love the videos. Keep em comin.

[@JB-td3hm]

Vary good info.

[@stevegermain1222]

Great information thank you

[@jeffhostetler]

I learned a lot! Thanks.

[@harrisonbrown3902]

This stuff is correct except for the new buck thing, I hunt on a river and run around 12 cell cameras and I always have tons of new bucks show up that were not there in late summer early fall period end of story. What he is saying about timing is absolutely correct I have noted what days I see the most ruttinf action and every year on those days regardless of the weather I will see very similar action. I used to think that weather had to do with it (if it was a warm fall the rut would be later, verses a cooler fall would be earlier) but I have since learned that is dead wrong, and this day length trigger explains that. Awesome video sir!

[@jamesd9439]

I've used the term " second rut " myself. Not that I thought for a minute that the rut actually stops, and then starts up again, but more of an extension of the rut, with a lull here and there.

[@ES-lh1tj]

You're spot on Don at least in regard to my farm in Southern Indiana. I've got two weeks in November of deer chasing and running all over the place and then it stops dead. I've marked it on calendars for 24 years now. Always the same timespan - two weeks. I know every buck on my property and every now and then a newcomer walks in during the rut. But not often. Love your channel. That guy from Whitetail habitat solutions makes up more crap about deer it makes your head spin. Keep it real.

[@DickieTunes80]

Great video, I’ve seen a wild 160” class buck breed a doe fawn on January 17th in an open prairie he ran her around in circles for ever before she gave in. However The part of new bucks showing up I disagree, we’ve seen first hand where a mature buck who resided on our 700 acres was killed over 3 miles away during the rut. It’s actually happened a few times that we’ve seen first hand.

[@ethank431]

Absolutely agree with you. I’ve seen the same thing on our property year after year. We will have multiple shooters we watch all year abs they will get killed miles away and we will kill one that we’ve never seen and come to find out it’s from miles away.

[@67lyricman]

Your last two points are where you and I differ. Not only have I hunted for 40 years, but I manage private recreational properties with the financial resources to conduct aggressive deer surveys. There are too many variables throughout this country that can affect the movement of bucks to say new bucks do not show up during the rut. Not only has science proved bucks are capable of traveling many linear miles out of their homestead, during the rut, but I personally have documented late rut arrivals of bucks that crossed the Arkansas River due to pressure, river conditions, rutting activity and winter food sources. This particular point you make is the direct opposite of my experiences. I do appreciate your insight, and enjoyed your video.

[@67lyricman]

Secondly, while your daylight trigger of the does estrus is true, Nov. 8th is not the exact day of the rut nationwide. It may very well be in your location. I've lived and deer hunted in Arkansas, Kentucky, Iowa, and Texas. Photoperiodism changes drastically from Northern USA to the South. It is drastically different in many States from north to south. So the timing of the rut is earlier in the North than the South.

[@basicinfo.9315]

Home ranges of whitetail bucks in excellent habitat with plenty of food available can be quite small. GPS studies in prime areas of Louisiana, Pennsylvania and Maryland have shown home ranges averaging from 269 to 559 acres; not even as much as a square mile (640 acres).

[@wvhoundsman]

Thanks for the Facts

[@JA-xv8qk]

Sounds good. The bucks im seeing only come in to feed at night or 5 in morning.

[@christopherbiever5388]

I love watching this segment! I stopped watching hunting shows a long time ago. Everything you say makes sense! Thank you so much! ive never taken a buck more than 150 on my land but I will. I have seen huge bucks on my land but never had them on camera.

[@kapperoutdoors]

wow, excellent information and experience. While I am not nearly as advanced as you are, I have experienced many similar things over the years being able to live in a very remote home in whitetail habitat! Thank you and keep up the great work great to see your videos!

[@kcavery7968]

I only have 10 acres, I just shot a 8 pointer that's never been on any camera's, I believe it definitely happens depending on how much land you are on.

[@midwest8six607]

Do you have a video on the Lull and your opinion on it? Would LOVE to hear your opinion on the subject.

[@jamesmcclure9307]

Thanks I find that very useful