The next few weeks should be the sweet spot for most whitetail hunters with more seasonable temperatures and an increase in daylight deer movement. (Shutterstock)
November 07, 2024
By Game & Fish Staff
This is Week 3 of the 2024 Game & Fish Regional Rut Update, a series of exclusive weekly rut reports from the field by whitetail contributors Doug Howlett (East), Brandon Butler (Midwest) and Josh Honeycutt (South). This week's report includes:
In the East, Howlett says more seasonal temperatures are ramping up the action with bucks on the prowl for estrous does during daylight hours. In the South, Honeycutt reports a mixed bag of encouraging signs with bucks chasing in some parts of the region while other areas lag behind in the rut. The next few weeks should see the most activity and movement. In the Midwest , Butler says bucks are on the move and visiting scrapes often and that this is the best time to be afield.EAST REPORT Conditions Primed for Banner Weekend The days ahead promise to produce the most and best rutting activity of the season. By Doug Howlett
Speaking with some hunters and looking at the many posts and opinions tossed about on social media among the deer-hunting public, there still seems to be a fair amount of confusion between the “pre-rut” and the “peak of the rut.” I’m sure someone is going to try to correct me on what I’m about to say, but many of us talk about “the rut” as the time when the most breeding activity takes place.
Breaking it down, there are indeed distinct mini phases within “the rut.” Some hunters break it into five phases, some break it into seven and some even break it up into three phases with other mini phases within the main phases. There are probably legitimate arguments to be made for each breakdown, but I prefer to keep it simple. There are enough things in life we have to deal with that are overly complicated; hunting doesn’t have to be one of them.
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For the sake of our discussion this week, I’m going to stick to the three main phases of the rut: the pre-rut, the peak of the rut and the post-rut.
The pre-rut is not the period before deer begin any rut activity at all; that’s simply the early season. The pre-rut is the time when things begin to really break open. The first does are about to, or have begun to, come into estrus. Bucks start roaming in search of those first does. They have begun sparring and chasing. Scrapes and rubs bloom across the landscape, and bucks begin to expand their ranges. If you run trail cameras, you’ll suddenly notice bucks beginning to move during daylight hours and you’ll see bucks that you’ve never seen before pop up on your cams. In the North region (as in much of the whitetail range, give or take a few days to a week at the most), activity begins to pick up the last week of October and rolls into the second week of November.
Following the pre-rut comes an increase of rutting activity. Cool weather willing, more bucks are seen during this period and can be on the move at all hours as they chase more does coming into estrus early. Bucks at this time are also less wary, but this is not the peak of the rut.
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The peak of the rut is when the majority of does are in estrus, with bucks locked down with them until they are bred. A buck and doe together may move little for up to 48 hours. The activity that has broken open in the woods over the previous couple of weeks seems to slow to a crawl, if not shut down altogether. But this and post-rut discussions are to be had in the coming weeks.
The coming week marks the time throughout the region when pre-rut activity should really kick in. Some activity has been tempered by a couple of warm stretches, but temps should become more seasonal this coming week, which should help. If you have banked some vacation days, this week is when you might want to take at least a few of them.
Michael Wheeler in New Hampshire and Vermont says the chill of last weekend kicked bucks into high gear.
“Bucks just started searching hard the last two days,” he reported on Monday. “I’ve been seeing multiple mature bucks cruising in daylight these last few days as well. I had a doe pee in a scrape at 1 p.m. on one of my cameras, and before the day was up, three mature bucks all stopped to check it. I think this coming weekend is going to be on fire with the incoming temperature drop.”
At the opposite end of the region, in Virginia , Chris Barham and Chris Griffin are equally stoked.
“Bucks are starting to chase and look hard,” Barham says. “The does have started to wean older fawns, and the awesome time to be in the deer woods is finally upon us.”
The cooler weather that visited last weekend had Griffin just as excited.
“The difference between hunting yesterday and today was amazing,” he wrote in a message to me on Saturday. “Bucks were moving early morning. I heard snorts and grunts.”
Griffin owns a goat that serves as his coal-mine canary for the rut. “My buck goat nearly lost his mind when a young buck got too close to his pasture,” he says. “It’s a sure sign the game is on.”
Griffin says a friend in Chesapeake, Va., saw two bucks near Highway 17 fighting right off the side of the road. A few miles farther, he saw two spikes walking down the side of the road. Another mile farther, he saw an 8-pointer on the move with its head down like he was trailing the scent of a doe. Griffin’s buddy told him he’s never seen bucks like he is seeing this year.
I personally watched a nice Virginia 8-pointer tend a scrape before scent-checking his way along a plot and then stand up on his two back legs and lift his head so his nose was about 6 or 7 feet in the air.
In Rhode Island , hunter Matt Langlais posted a photo on the Rhode Island Deer Hunting Club Facebook page of a huge 10-point he killed that had come in chasing two does. New York hunter Brian Murphy enjoyed a similar experience (see "Tagged Out" below) just as the action began to heat up in the Empire State, making the most of the “early” pre-rut.
I’ve always said if I only had five days to hunt anywhere in the East region, it would be Nov. 8-12, with the 9th to the 11th being the sweet spot of activity in my experience. With the cooling weather and some light rain on tap for those dates, this year should be no different.
TAGGED OUT New York hunter Brian Murphy succeeded in his first season hunting with a compound bow by harvesting this 150-class buck. (Photo courtesy of Brian Murphy) First Bow Buck A new archery hunter arrows a massive western New York whitetail.
Hunter : Brian MurphyDate : Oct. 21, 2024Location : Chautauqua County, N.Y.Method : Compound bowStats : 150 inches (estimated)When it comes to deer hunting, there’s good and there’s lucky, and New York firefighter Brian Murphy is just fine being in the second group. The hunter thought he’d give bowhunting a try this year and went through the requisite pre-season practice. Little did he expect that the first deer he shot an arrow at would be a 9-point behemoth with main beams the diameter of a baby’s legs. He killed the buck on a late-October evening hunt in Chautauqua County using a cover scent and a plain doe scent from local company Killbuck Scents.
The buck dashed off after being hit. Murphy waited a bit before tracking, and once he did, he eventually lost the blood trail. The next day, he returned to the scene along with a local guy who owns a tracking dog. Murphy says he would’ve never found his buck had it not been for the dog.
“He ran 900 yards,” Murphy says.
The rack has a 150-inch-class frame, though its mass should net it more inches once measured.
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READ OUR REPORT
SOUTH REPORT Encouraging Signs Spread Across Region Rubs and scrapes are showing up everywhere as bucks begin chasing does. By Josh Honeycutt
The latest intel from around the region reveals that rut activity in some areas is nearing its peak, while it isn’t even close in others.
Brian Grossman with the National Deer Association is in west-central Georgia and says the deer are still hitting acorns hard.
“We had a great white-oak acorn crop this year,” he says. "We’re just two to three weeks out from peak breeding, so rubs and scrapes are popping up everywhere. While I haven’t seen it myself yet, I’m hearing quite a few reports of bucks chasing. Things are getting right and should only improve over the next two weeks.”
Long-time hunting TV show host Phillip Vanderpool lives in Arkansas and says it’s been tough sledding in his part of the country, but he remains optimistic.
“The bucks have been reactive and daylighting, but the conditions here have been hot and dry,” he says. “I’ve actually had to haul water to some of my places because it seems like the deer have been going for water before hitting food sources.”
Vanderpool’s trail cameras have revealed some decent daylight movement. It’s mostly been 1 1/2- to 3 1/2-year-old deer, but he thinks the recent rain might change things.
“If you can make some scrapes in different areas, I suggest focusing on that,” says Vanderpool. “Just remember that you can’t use deer urine or secretions of any kind in Arkansas because of the chronic wasting disease.”
Jay Jackson, a former TV hunting show cameraman, also reports from Arkansas.
“I’d say chasing is starting mainly with smaller deer, but I’m getting several bigger ones on their feet working scrapes,” Jackson says. “With a front coming in, things are bound to really turn on this next week.”
Down in Texas , Georgia-Kate McFerrin of TV’s "Legends of the Fall" shares a promising report. “Things are heating up in South Texas. I’d say the rut is still a few weeks away, but bucks have busted up from their bachelor groups and are starting to work things out.”
In southern Mississippi , hunters should still focus on early season patterns, recommends Art Mott of Whitetail Properties, as the lingering heat is affecting deer activity.
“It’s pretty hot here still, so I haven’t started hunting yet,” he says. “Just got to plant food plots last week, and there’s not much movement on the feeders, except at nighttime.”
Larry Stewart, also with Whitetail Properties, believes that things should be farther along in the Mississippi’s northern counties, but the rut in the southern part of the Magnolia State probably won’t start until the week after Christmas.
“And then it should go on through the first week in January,” he says.
Lastly, Scott Hick with Whitetail Properties in North Carolina reports that bucks are starting to bump does around, but high temperatures there are also keeping things a bit slow.
“It’ll be 80 degrees through the weekend,” he says. “Traditionally, my farms in Warren County get going the last week in October, but I think we are behind schedule because of the heat.”
TAGGED OUT Chad Glass poses with the 13-pointer he took with his crossbow after setting up in an area with big rubs. (Photo courtesy of Chad Glass) Lifetime Dream Realized A Tennessee hunter seals the deal on his first hunt of the year.
Hunter : Chad GlassDate : Oct. 17, 2024Location : Cheatham County, TennesseeMethod : CrossbowStats : 13 points; 135 inchesLast season, Chad Glass scouted some public land in north-central Tennessee and found a lot of big rubs. He only saw does while hunting the area but knew bucks had to be around. This year, he tried the spot again and ended up taking down a dandy.
On Oct. 17, he spotted a doe around 8:30 a.m. Minutes later, he detected additional movement. He thought it was the doe at first, but it turned out to be an imposing buck.
“My heart started beating at 100 miles per hour,” says Glass. “I got my crossbow and waited to see the deer better. Then I saw part of the rack and started shaking so badly that I thought I was going to fall out of my tree. When he finally popped out, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I put him in my crosshairs and pulled the trigger.”
Unsure of the hit, Glass got down after a half hour to look for blood. For 20 minutes, he couldn’t find any but he didn’t give up. Instead, he decided to broaden his search a bit and scan the woods. Soon after, he found the 13-pointer and fell to his knees to thank God.
“I’ll remember that morning forever,” he says. “I’ve been dreaming of killing a big buck all my life. But I was jaded and worn out, just burned out from all the years of seeing no bucks. My wife talked me into finally going, and it was my first hunt of this year. So don’t give up, even if it takes years. When it finally happens, you can’t beat that feeling.”
TAGGED OUT Texas hunter Christopher Smith took advantage of a day with the perfect weather and wind to arrow this Lone Star buck. (Photo courtesy of Christopher Smith) Emotional Dedication Cam surveillance leads to an unforgettable hunt.
Hunter : Christopher SmithDate : Oct. 22, 2024Location : TexasMethod : Compound BowStats : 133 3/8 inches“I saw the buck show up on my trail cam Saturday afternoon, then again on Monday,” says Texas hunter Christopher Smith. “So, I went out on Tuesday afternoon, and the weather and wind were perfect. A few does and a few bucks were around me. Then, about 125 yards away, I saw a deer move in the cedars. He made his way out, and I knew it was him. He came in slowly, working the tree line.”
The closer the buck got, the more other deer parted ways. Smith could tell this was the boss. He took a deep breath to settle his nerves and waited for a good shot, which finally came at 28 yards.
“It was the biggest buck of my life and the best hunt,” Smith says. “I dedicated this deer to a few loved ones I lost this year that taught me a lot about the outdoors.”
TAGGED OUT After seeing this buck in 2022, South Carolina hunter Leslie Lawson got another chance this season. The buck measured 125 inches. (Photo courtesy of Leslie Lawson) Persistence Pays A happy ending to a three-year-long pursuit.
Hunter : Leslie LawsonDate : Oct. 31, 2024Location : Colleton County, South CarolinaMethod : RifleStats : 125 inchesLeslie Lawson first laid eyes on this buck in 2022 when he was already a big 8-pointer. Leslie Lawson didn’t get a shot at the deer that year, nor in 2023. For various reasons, she couldn’t seem to catch up to him.
This year, Lawson started getting nighttime photos of the buck. As the rut neared, the deer moved to a different area. But on Oct. 30, he returned home.
“I noticed that he came back with a broken antler,” she says. “He was always fighting and chasing other bucks out of my field. I went where I’d seen him [on camera] and hunted in the evening with no luck. But I tried again the next morning because I knew I could get lucky if he slipped out during daylight.
“He came out just as the sun was rising,” Lawson continues. “I barely had enough light for the crosshairs, but I could not let him get away again. I put him down and went to look for him. He’d only run 15 to 20 yards when I found him. I cried and called my fiancé, but I could hardly talk. I’d killed several nice bucks before but never had to hunt them as hard as this one.”
VIDEO Common Sense About Deer Scent During the Rut What makes the use of deer scent so important during the rut? The number-one reason is whitetails live by their noses. Whitetails deer have approximately 300 million scent receptors in their noses (humans have about 10 million), and their ability to detect even the faintest scent drives everything they do, from breeding to predator evasion.
WATCH THE VIDEO
MIDWEST REPORT Scrape Central Bucks across the Midwest are moving around a lot and visiting scrapes often. By Brandon Bulter
Warmer temperatures and rain across much of the Midwest region hasn’t slow down the whitetail rut. We had a new moon on Nov. 1, and it seems to have driven the bucks wild. Reports from around the region indicate this deer season is shaping up to be a good one.
Penning this weekly report has me scouring social media pages dedicated to deer hunting in each of the Midwestern states. I’ve viewed thousands of deer pictures in the last few weeks, and it’s simply incredible to see how healthy the region-wide deer herd is. The number of mature bucks killed now compared to 20 years ago is astounding. Deer hunters have changed the game by letting smaller bucks walk.
This is certainly the case in Indiana , which became a one-buck state in 2002. At the time, Indiana wasn’t in the top 10 states for annual Boone and Crockett entries. Now it ranks third behind Wisconsin and Ohio in Game & Fish magazine's "Top Whitetail States" article.
Brant Boram just arrowed a monster buck in Clinton County. He says the rut action has been evident, and scrapes played a part in his successful hunt.
“As I walked down the fencerow to the back of the woods, I passed by scrape after scrape,” Boram says. “When I got into the tree line and saw the clear trails with a scrape about every 50 yards and every sapling ripped to shreds, I was giddy.”
Right now, you want to be hunting around scrapes. Bucks are going to continue checking scrapes until they hit a hot scent. If you can find a scape at the intersection of two or more trails, give that high-traffic area some attention.
Game & Fish contributor Scott Mackenthun is an all-around outdoorsman from Minnesota . He says he was in northern Minnesota grouse hunting the Chippewa National Forest last weekend and saw a lot of scrapes and rubs, indicating bucks are on the move. He says the temperatures are starting to drop, and he expects the gun season to be really good this year. His family has already had some action, too.
“My daughter took her first buck during the October youth season,” Mackenthun says. “Then, we tagged along on an archery hunt two weekends ago so she could try to get a doe, and wouldn’t you know it, the second-biggest deer I have ever seen comes in and freshens a scrape right in front of us. Since Minnesota is a one-buck state, all we could do was watch.”
In southeast Nebraska , professional walleye angler Brian Bashore is trying to use water to his advantage as a hunter. He chimed in with a great tip to consider when trying to select a stand site.
“It’s been hot, so I’m trying to hunt close to water,” he says. “Everyone is thinking scrapes and bedding areas, but these bucks are on their feet, and they’re running. Think about it: When you’re running, what do you need? Water. I like being by water sources where I think a buck on the move will stop by for a drink.”
We are in the thick of it now. Bowhunters are enjoying the spoils, but gun seasons are approaching fast. If you’re a bowhunter, now is the time to use those sick days you’ve been saving. I believe it’s a proven fact that a deer hunter’s mental health improves the deeper they are in the woods. Sounds like a justifiable reason to call in sick to me.
TAGGED OUT Indiana bowhunter Brant Boram is all smiles after arrowing this monster buck that measures 163 1/4 inches. (Photo courtesy of Brant Boram) Hoosier Heavyweight Falls Indiana bowhunter nabs stud buck two hours into his first sit on a new property.
Hunter : Brant BoramDate : Nov. 2, 2024Location : Clinton County, Ind.Method : Compound BowStats : 163 1/4 inches“I only received permission for this property in Clinton County in September of this year,” says Indiana’s Brant Boram. “I’ve hunted mostly in Hamilton County and a few other spots in southern Indiana from the time I was 12. But my brother-in-law would show off Clinton County pictures and make us want to cry over how big the deer are up there.”
The property where Boram bagged this buck has a cornfield with a wood line that drops off steeply to a creek with an acre or so of bedding grass.
“I walked in with my saddle mid-afternoon because I wanted to see what I was getting myself into,” Boram says. “I became more excited the farther I went. There were scrapes and rubs everywhere. I settled in, expecting to see deer right away. But at 5 p.m., I still hadn’t seen a thing.”
He might not have seen many deer on this hunt, but Boram saw one he’ll never forget.
“As soon as I laid eyes on him, I knew he was a giant,” he says. “He was about 120 yards out and coming down a finger off the ridge top. I was afraid he’d turn, but he kept getting closer and closer to me. At 40 yards out, he lay down in the grass.”
After Boram recorded a two-minute video of the giant lying just 40 yards away, casually scratching his back with one of his antler tines, the buck stood up. At 30 yards, Boram let his arrow fly. The buck ran back the way he came, stopped, wobbled and went down in the tall grass.
Boram gave the deer an hour before getting down from his stand. His arrow had good blood on it, so Boram decided to slowly walk up to the buck. He was expired.
“I cried with excitement when I called my dad, and the best part is I got to tell one of my best friends that he gets my place in deer camp this year because I’m tagged out,” Boram says.
Quite an experience and buck for only spending two hours on a property. You never know what will happen when the rut is on.
