How to Master the Whitetail Rut

For every chase-filled, buck-laden, rut-crazed day I’ve had while hunting in November, I’ve had probably two dozen that were as dull as televised golf. Truth is, as much as I love bowhunting whitetails in November, I must also admit that it can be one of the most frustrating periods of the deer season. Why? Because the rut, by its very nature, ebbs and flows. It can also be heavily impacted by external forces, with hunting pressure at the top of that list.

Over the years, I think I’ve become much more efficient and effective during November hunts because I’ve learned some hard lessons about what to do, what not to do and when to do either. Like most things, I think experience serves as the best teacher. Here’s what experience has taught me about mastering the month, which is the most exciting and the most unpredictable at the same time.

MIDDAYS: MAGICAL AND BORING

You’ve almost certainly heard how some of the biggest bucks are taken between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. during the rut as they charge willy-nilly across the landscape in search of hot does. This does happen. But it doesn’t happen very often. Understanding this is key to being in the woods when that midday magic actually does happen.

When I first started to develop into a serious bowhunter, I read everything I could get my hands on that focused on deer hunting. I don’t recall exactly where I first read about the practice of all-day outings during the rut, but I do know the notion made a lot of sense to me.

I couldn’t wait for November to arrive. When it did, I was all in. I’d spend every minute of daylight in the stand and would hunt from dark to dark as often as possible.

For the first couple of days, my anticipation was high. These days were full of promise ... and not much else, particularly the midday hours.

By the end of the first week, I was burned out, fed up and ready to pack it in. I’d simply expected far too much from the midday periods, and when I saw almost zero deer activity, I let it weigh on my mind. I simply didn’t know any better.

Now, I don’t pull all-day sits often, if at all. Deer hunting is supposed to be fun, and, in my experience, spending every minute of the day on the stand isn’t a ton of fun. At some point, it becomes a grind.

Does that mean the midday hours aren’t worth hunting? Absolutely not. In fact, I’ve seen some giant deer on their feet in the middle of the day when the rut is in full swing. The key is to understand that most midday hunts will feature minimal deer activity. If you think every day will be magic, you’re in for some serious disappointment, and that can lead to thinking you’re doing something wrong. When you lack confidence in what you’re doing, you’re less likely to put in the hours needed.

Midday hunts can be productive, but they are often a grind. I hedge my bets by pulling “almost” all-day sits. I’ll stay on stand until about 1 p.m. Then I’m out for a quick lunch, maybe a change of clothes, and back in the woods. All told, I’ll miss about 90 minutes of hunting time. But that break makes all the difference for me.

REACT TO ACTIVITY

Hunting funnels is an excellent strategy for the rut. If I could choose the ideal hunting location for November bowhunting, it would be a funnel. But funnels are far from the only place to perch when things are rutty, and, believe it or not, sometimes a funnel simply isn’t the best location.

The funny thing about the rut is that while there are time-tested tactics that work, the most defining factor of any situation is what the bucks want to do on that day, at that time, in that area. And that is almost always dictated not by terrain features but by the actions and activities of the does in the area.

Yes, often those will read the script, and the bucks will follow suit. They’ll move through areas using predictable patterns of movement that are often defined by terrain features like funnels. When that happens, you’ll look like a genius. But what do you do if you’re sitting in a prime funnel on a brisk November morning and see not one but two dandy bucks walk down the edge of a cut cornfield within about 20 minutes of each other?

That was the exact scenario I had two years ago when hunting near my home in southern Michigan. It was a classic rut day with light winds, seasonably cool temps and plenty of deer activity.

When I watched the two bucks follow the same path of travel along the edge of a cut cornfield, I considered whether I should make a move. It didn’t take long to convince myself that I should stay put. I was, after all, set up in the mother of all pinch points where a woven wire fence paired with a steep drop-off to create a defining terrain feature that steered deer past my location.

About 15 minutes later, my stubborn devotion to funnels and terrain features was smacked back to reality when a third buck marched down the edge of that cornfield. This one was a solid 150-inch deer that I had never seen before that moment. And I’d never see that deer again.

In hindsight, it was obvious. Those bucks were following the trail of a hot doe that had passed by at some point the previous night. Had I moved when I had the chance, I’d likely have had a shot opportunity at that big buck. Instead, I refused to acknowledge the situation as it was and instead hunted a situation that I believed should have been.

Yes, funnels are outstanding locations to be during the rut (and really any time of the season). However, a terrain feature simply does not trump observed activity. React accordingly.

IS IT TIME TO CALL?

Living in Michigan, I have dealt with my fair share of bucks that have earned advanced degrees in hunter avoidance. For the most part, calling is a no-go here, regardless of whether the rut is upon us or not. But in states where bucks have the opportunity to see four or five birthdays, and the herd makeup encourages broken tines and bloody flanks, calling (especially rattling) can be straight lethal during certain phases of the rut. The key, of course, is to understand these two facts.

First: calling is most effective when bucks are actively searching for a hot does. Second: there are bucks actively searching for hot does during every stage of the rut, starting a week or so before the first does come into heat to a week or two after the last doe is bred.

Now, here’s the rub. Before the majority of does come into heat, the majority of bucks are actively searching for a hot doe. And that is the very best time to hit the antlers together and work a grunt tube. As the rut progresses, more and more bucks become tied up with does, leaving fewer bucks prowling for a mate. Calling is still very effective ... when you can do so within earshot of one of those bucks. If there are no prowling bucks in the area, well, the rut can seemingly be the very worst time to call a buck in.

So what should you do? Well, this is what I do: I treat every day like it’s a day filled with bucks that are on the prowl. I call several times a day, all day throughout the duration of the rut, and this is doubly true when I see a lone buck while I’m in the field. A lone buck, in my mind, is a lonely buck. A lonely buck will come to rattling and grunting a high percentage of the time during the rut, no matter what phase the rut is currently in.

But, even if I don’t see a buck, I’m still going to call. Again, there aren’t as many bucks on the roam during certain parts of November. But all it takes is one.

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• This article was featured in the November 2024 issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe.

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