Deer Rut Phases: A Simple Guide to the Rut Timeline

The whitetail rut is probably the most highly anticipated time of year for deer hunters and for good reason. During this portion of the season, bucks begin to almost seemingly abandon caution and start looking for the first estrus doe. What many hunters don’t understand however is that the rut is not confined to a single week, its a cycle of phases, spanning anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks.

This article will break down each phase of the whitetail rut, starting with the pre rut phase and ending with the post rut, while also detailing key tips that could increase your chances of success deer hunting each phase.

Understanding The Rut Timeline

Before diving into detail on each phase of the rut, its a good idea to establish a timeline for when each phase is likely to occur. The following is a table of the six main rut phases and when each of them occur here in Western Kentucky and a large portion of the Midwest.

One thing that’s important to note is that these date ranges could vary depending on where you are located and the deer herds in that particular location. For example, in many of the southern states, Alabama, Georgia, etc., the time of year that each phase occurs will be slightly later than what we’ve depicted in the table about.

One of the best ways to determine when the rut occurs in your area is to look at the time frame that the majority of the fawns are being born in your area and gaining a basic understanding of the gestation period for whitetails. For more information on this topic, check out our post, How Long Are Deer Pregnant? A Quick Guide to Whitetail Gestation.

Common Myths on Rut Timing

Most hunters have probably heard at one point in time that weather and moon phase have an an affect on the timing of the rut. While weather and moon phase can affect daily movement and deer behavior, scientific studies have shown that photoperiod, length of daylight hours, is the main trigger for rutting activity.

Pre‑Rut Phase (Mid To Late October)

The first phase of the whitetail breeding season is the pre rut. This early rut phase is when we start to see mature bucks become more active. At this point the velvet has come off the antlers and the summer bachelor groups have broken up, with bucks moving into their fall ranges.

This portion of the season is when rubs and scrapes become the most active, as bucks start working out the dominance hierarchy in a particular area. Many hunters consider mid October the “October Lull”. I honestly don’t put much thought into this. In my experience, what hunters consider the “October Lull” is nothing more than bucks moving into their fall ranges and food sources changing due to acorns beginning to drop and ag fields being harvested.

Its important to note, that while young bucks begin to start throwing caution to the wind during the pre rut, mature bucks, while moving more during daylight hours, are still extremely cautious.

Pre-Rut Hunting Tips

In our experience, the pre rut can be a phenomenal time to harvest a big buck with the right strategy and a little patience. Here are some of our best tips for capitalizing on the increased daylight movement of mature bucks during the pre rut.

Bed to Feed Patterns

During the pre rut, bucks are still following a pattern of moving between bedding and feeding areas. To capitalize on this, set up on travel corridors that lead from buck bedding to active food sources. A lot of times these travel corridors will have active rub and scrape lines.

Utilizing Cellular Trail Cams

Utilize trail cameras (preferably cellular cameras to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on an area) so that you know when a buck is moving though an area. This not only lets you know a good buck is there but also starts to provide valuable information on where you should setup to opimize the chances of seeing the buck during shooting hours.

Calling

During this phase of the rut, bucks are still sorting out the dominance hierarchy. Use this fact to your advantage. If you happen to see a shooter buck, out of range and moving the opposite direction, this can be a great time to attempt calling by using rattling antlers, a grunt call, or snort wheeze. When this tactic works, you better be ready to take the shot because things will happen fast.

Seeking Phase (Late October To Early November)

Next is the seeking phase. This is the phase where both mature deer and young bucks begin expanding their range lookin for the first hot doe. Bucks tend to increase daylight movement, frequently checking scrapes and doe bedding areas, trying to find a doe that is about to enter estrus.

Hunting Tips for the Seeking Phase

Doe Bedding Areas

From my personal experience in the deer woods during this portion of the hunting season, I have found morning hunts on the downwind side of doe bedding or on the trails leading into or out of these areas to be great stand locations. During this timeframe their is one thing on a bucks mind, find the first hot doe.

All Day Sits

If you have the opportunity or time, hunting all day in pinch points, funnels, saddles, or travel corridors between doe bedding areas can be a great way to capitalize on this phase of the rut. I mean after all, your not going to kill a big buck sitting on the couch.

Side Note: On days where I plan on hunting all day, I prefer to hunt the doe bedding or travel corridors between them until roughly 1 in the afternoon. After 1, I’ve found more success moving to a stand located on a food source that does are frequenting. Bucks know that later in the afternoon does will move to these food sources so they will frequent these areas as well.

Blind Calling

Blind calling during this phase can also be effective. A 30 second sequence on the rattling antlers followed by a couple of buck grunts can bring passing deer that you couldn’t see right into your setup.

Chasing Phase (Early November)

Following the seeking phase is the chasing phase. The chasing phase is a short pre-breeding period that occurs right before does enter estrus. Its at this point bucks will completely abandon their routines and focus solely on locating or staying with a receptive doe. Bucks can tell when a doe is close and will stay with them until they enter estrus, hence the name “chasing phase“.

Quick Tip: This portion of the whitetail rut often sees an increased amount of deer vehicle collisions due to the increased amount of deer movement. With this in mind, keep your eyes peeled traveling to and from your hunting location.

Chasing Phase Hunting Tips

Really the best thing a hunter can do during this phase of the rut is just spend as much time on stand as possible. Focus your morning hunts close to doe bedding areas or in funnels and pinch points connected these areas. The tips covered in the seeking phase section of this article are also great tips to use during this time of the rut.

Peak Rut / Lock Down Phase (Mid‑November)

Peak rut, also known as the breeding or tending phase, is when the majority of does are starting to come into estrus and peak breeding occurs. When a buck is with an estrus doe, they will often stay locked down in security cover for 24 to 48 hours and do the actual breeding. With the breeding activity in the phase being the highest and most mature bucks being locked down with a doe, hunters often experience significantly less action.

Peak of the Rut Hunting Strategies

While the action is significantly less during this phase, hunters who have the most patience and spend the most hours on stand are often rewarded. After a buck has breeds a receptive doe their is a short time frame where he is on the move looking for the next doe. Hunt the fringes of thick bedding areas or transitions areas bucks use to travel from one area to the next to capitalize on movement when bucks lose a doe.

Quick Tip: On public ground that receives a fair amount of hunting pressure, look at the areas that are often overlooked. A thicket near a parking lot or places that other hunters walk right past. Whitetails pick up on this activity and will quickly shift to areas without human intrusion.

Post‑Rut (Late November)

The post rut is where we start to see the majority of the rutting activity slow down for the “first rut”. Most does are bred and bucks are exhausted. A bucks focus will start to shift from breeding back to the normal bed to feed routine.

Post-Rut Hunting Tactics

During the post rut I’ve found the most success focusing on a bucks bed to feed patterns. Late season food sources are a great place to see daytime movement, especially when the weather takes a turn for the worst. Utilize trail cameras and glassing to determine what food sources the deer are using the most and once you find a shooter, make your move when you have the right conditions.

Second Rut (Early To Mid‑December)

So, what exactly is the second rut? The second rut is roughly 28 days after the first cycle. The does that did not get bred during their first cycle will come back into heat. Younger does that have not come into estrus yet may also start later in the year. While this time of the year can produce some rutting activity, its generally not as pronounced as the first rut.

Second Rut Hunting Tactics

To capitalize on an estrus doe during this phase, keep your eyes peeled for dormant scrapes to open back up. This is often a tail tail sign that the late rut is starting. Secluded food sources with bedding can make for good stand locations during this portion of the season.