The Trickles of the Rut and Food

With late autumn’s plummeting temperatures and waning rut activity, most hunters think that the magical time to hunt is in the rearview mirror. But, some of the best bucks slip up during late November through mid-December. For deer hunters, focusing on does and food sources is the best bet, as those are two necessities for worn-down, post-rut bucks. They must feed, but does aren’t off their minds just yet; they’ll continue to breed whenever opportunities strike.

Let’s dive just a little bit deeper into the weeds on this topic. We’ll talk about scouting strategies, stand locations and hunting tactics. Follow along. 

The Magic Window

Many hunters have dates like Veterans Day circled on their calendars as the peak of the rutting action and the best time to hunt. When that window comes and goes, it’s easy to get discouraged and misconceive that the best rut-hunting opportunities have passed. However, the best is yet to come in many instances.

During November’s final days, some bucks are exhausted and virtually done rutting, but many bucks are still mining for the last receptive does, unbred does coming into a second estrous cycle, or yearling does entering their first estrous cycle. If a doe isn’t bred during her first estrous cycle, (usually during the main phase of the rut) she’ll come into estrous again 28 days later; there’s sure to be bucks scouring the countryside for these receptive does.

Often these are the big, mature bucks that are in it for the long haul. Later in the season, you’ll rarely see the frenetic chasing and fierce buck fights, but some flickers of rut can still be observed. Limit your calling at this time of year, as most of the deer are already on edge from pressure and being harassed for 30 days by bucks.

You might experience lethargic deer movement at this point during the rut, but there will undoubtedly be some level of rut activity in the deer woods. This can happen well into December, and hunting this second rut shouldn’t be overlooked, as many hunters harvest big whitetails during this timeframe.

Oftentimes, the best way to target bucks chasing these receptive does is hunting near doe bedding areas where you can exit at dusk without spooking deer. If you can hunt food sources where does are congregating with bucks for a need-to-feed pattern, or travel corridors from thick bedding areas to feeding areas, these are great places to find that buck that’s still grinding away and looking for that last remaining ready-to-breed doe. Next, we’ll discuss some scouting tips to help you find these opportunities.

Scout More Than You Hunt

Having cellular trail cams such as Covert’s WC20-V or Code Black Select in specific locations can be an effective tactic at this time of year. With the cold temps, don’t forget to supplement the camera’s batteries with a Covert Solar Panel or 6.4 V Life PO4 Battery. In fact, well-placed trail cameras can be your most valuable resource for scouting and monitoring buck movements during the late season without imposing pressure. Also, consider observing fields from afar to cast a broader low-impact scouting net.

So, where should you focus your trail cameras? Food sources can change drastically throughout the fall, so become familiar with all types, especially native browse and mast that your hunting area naturally produces year after year. Food sources in October and November can still be hot tickets, but bedding areas, travel routes and staging areas are usually where you’ll begin to see mature-buck movement.

Your cameras might show some daylight buck activities, but expect mostly nocturnal data, which is just the personality of a mature buck at this stage of the season. However, those mature bucks that are still in the hunt for does can slip up. The more you can learn about whitetails and their behavior shifts and different food preferences, the easier it will be to identify a great opportunity to zone in on a big buck with a great hunting plan.

Document trail camera captures and scouting encounters on a map of individual bucks you are interested in, and soon you will begin to see the way they use the area. Do that, and you’ll be in the game this late season.

It’s Not Over Until It’s Over

Once bucks have settled into their post-rut routines, they move considerably less and with increased caution, making it a much more daunting task to hunt them and even lay eyes on them. For these late-season deer, you have three primary strategic options: hunt them in and around their feeding area, intercept them between their feeding and bedding areas, or head for the heart of their bedding cover well before daylight and attempt to intercept them there.

During the late season, one aspect that can trigger more daylight activity is brutally cold weather. It causes animals to bed closer to food sources and feed more often. It’s difficult to sit through subzero conditions, but this is often what it takes to lick the seal on your season.

Final Points

If you have the proper ingredients and hunt wisely by not pushing the envelope on iffy wind directions, late November and early December can offer some of the season’s most productive deer hunting. Be sure not to get sloppy with your scent-control program; it’s more important now than ever. Keep your clothes in your Scent Crusher Halo Series The Locker or Locker Lite and shower in Hair & Body Wash. Don’t forget to hit your clothes with Field Spray Concentrate Pouch before heading afield.

One other point is that if your hunting property doesn’t have a food source, consider feeding (check the regulations to make sure this is legal). A timed feeder such as the Mossy Oak Gamekeeper Capsule Feeder 100lb (check regulations of automatic feeders before using them) can encourage deer to adopt a daylight pattern.

It’s easy to become discouraged once the primary rut dates come and go, but some of the season’s largest bucks can be had from Thanksgiving through mid-December. Stay strong until the end to carve out your share of late-season success.