Understanding the Phases of the Whitetail Deer Rut in Wisconsin
For hunters in Wisconsin, the whitetail deer rut is the most exciting time of the year. It’s that magical time when bucks are most active, offering a prime opportunity for hunting success. Understanding the different phases of the rut can significantly enhance your Wisconsin deer hunting experience by enabling you to anticipate deer behavior and plan your strategies accordingly.
The Pre-Rut
Timing: The pre-rut usually occurs in early October and lasts through to the end of the month. During this time, bucks begin to transition from their summer patterns into more intensive behavior.
Pre-Rut Behavior: Bucks start sparring to establish dominance hierarchies, and they become more visible, even catching daylight activity as they mark territories with rubs and scrapes. These activities are critical indicators for hunters to note, as they predict where bucks are likely to concentrate their efforts as the season progresses.
Pre-Rut Hunting Tips
- Scouting: Focus on identifying rubs and scrapes. Knowing where these signs are concentrated can help you position yourself strategically. Creating you own mock scrapes can position the deer where you need them to be. Hemp Ropes, natural vines can be the perfect tool for a perfect mock scrape.
- Calls: Begin using grunt calls sparingly to mimic the sound of younger bucks.
- Scent Use: Consider using pre-rut scents such as Wags Intruder Buck, this is to early to use estrust.
The Seeking Phase
Timing: The seeking phase typically starts around the last week of October and extends into the first week of November.
Seeking Behavior: Bucks become more active, seeking out does and increasing their movement patterns significantly. This is when you will catch them off guard during daylight hours. They often travel alone and cover large areas in search of the first does coming into estrus. Your pre-rut scouting will pay off during this phase!
Hunting Tips
- Travel Corridors: Set up stands along known travel corridors between feeding and bedding areas. Pay close attention to the wind as bucks will use their nose to find the doe’s.
- Increased Calling: Use grunt, ratting and bleat calls to simulate the sounds of deer in the area. The louder the better when it comes to rattling.
- All-Day Hunts: Bucks move throughout the day during this phase, so consider staying in the stand longer.
The Chasing Phase
Timing: The chasing phase occurs in early to mid-November. This is the period of highest activity and the most exciting time to be in the field.
Chasing Behavior: Bucks are now intensely pursuing does, often with little regard for safety. This behavior can lead to some of the most thrilling and unpredictable encounters.
Hunting Tips
- Decoys: Consider using decoys to draw bucks into shooting range.
- Aggressive Calling: Rattling and loud grunts can be effective as bucks are less cautious.
- Stay Mobile: If you’re not seeing action, don’t be afraid to move locations.
The Peak Rut
Timing: The peak rut usually falls around mid-November. It’s when the majority of does are in estrus.
Behavior: Bucks and does are paired off, and the woods can seem quieter as bucks are more interested in breeding than roaming.
Hunting Tips
- Focus on Thickets: Bucks might be holed up with does in thick cover.
- Be Patient: If you know a buck is in the area, waiting him out might be the best strategy.
- Scent Control: Bucks are less cautious, but scent control is still crucial to avoid spooking them.
The Post-Rut
Timing: The post-rut takes place from late November into early December.
Post Rut Behavior: Bucks may continue to seek out remaining does that have not been bred, but activity levels start to decline as they begin to recuperate from the exhausting rut. Although the activity level usually drops, you will sometimes see spikes often referred to as the second rut.
Hunting Tips
- Late-Season Food Sources: Focus on food sources; bucks need to replenish their energy reserves.
- Monitor Weather: Colder temperatures can trigger additional movement, making deer more predictable.
The whitetail deer rut in Wisconsin is a dynamic period with distinct phases, each offering unique challenges and opportunities for hunters. By understanding these phases and adapting your strategies, you can increase your chances of success. Remember to respect the animals and the environment, ensuring sustainable hunting practices for future generations.
