Whitetail deer hunting: All you need to know about the Rut

1. Keywords: whitetail deer hunting, the rut Whitetail deer hunting: All you need to know about the Rut Time is only ticking away as hunters get prepared to make the most out of the whitetail deer hunting season. The deer rut is the most sought out event throughout the year and knowing a few important pointers can really give you that edge while hunting. However, contrary to what many people might believe, the rut isn’t exactly a period lasting for a couple of weeks or months that hunters need to make the most out of. In fact, it pretty much lasts throughout the year. This is because the rut timing differs from area to area, as well as one year from the next. Many have set their rut season dates to last from the end of September to November; how convenient? Of course there are months where the rut reaches at its peak and is ‘the best’ time to hunt; however, there are always opportunities for hunters to fulfill their desire at other times of the year. Rut stages Technically speaking, bucks become suitable for reproduction as soon as they lose their antler velvet. But because the does do not become ready at the time, there are a couple of stages that you should be eyeing to maximize your whitetail deer hunting opportunities. The pre-rut phase The bucks begin to shed their antler velvet as temperatures drop and start entering ‘batchelor fights’ with their competitors. They don’t exactly attempt to kill one another, but they do shove and push one another. The does at this time are not ready for mating and so bucks generally tend to live in groups. The chasing phase This is the time when bucks begin to leave their buck groups and start living in solitude in search for does for mating. Does at this time start producing pheromones as the estrus cycle starts to reach its peak, which is generally assumed to cause bucks to produce male hormones in larger quantities. The rut phase As the estrus cycle reaches its peak, the does are ready to for mating. Now when the bucks come close to them, they will not run away, but instead will be willing to mate. After the mating, the bucks will continue to stay with the doe until the end of her estrus cycle before going off to find another doe. It is common for bucks to breed with several does in a short span of time.

2. Keywords: whitetail deer hunting, the rut It must be noted, however, that the peak of the estrus cycle lasts only for 24 hours and so it can be difficult to get your buck at the right time. Post-rut phase The post-rut phase is similar in many ways to the rut phase, except that it is less in intensity. So it is easy to find bucks looking for does in the bedding areas to find any remaining ‘does in heat’. This is a good opportunity for hunters to plan their attack and catch the buck off-guard. The question is though: What causes the rut to begin in the first place? The easy answer is because of a drop in temperature, since this is what causes bucks to lose their antler velvets. However, there are other opinions on this matter; one being that it is partly due to the phases of the moon 3 strategies for hunting the whitetail rut Hardcore whitetail deer hunters will agree that a lot of the hunting effort revolves around the whitetail rut. With the hunting season only a couple of weeks away, there sure has to be a number of strategies that hunters can use to maximize their efforts, right? Yes, indeed. The rut is exactly what every passionate hunter waits for throughout the year and no whitetail deer hunting mistake is going to be painful than during this time. So, if you are a beginner or have had tough luck taking down your big buck, here are a few pointers you should pay close attention to maximize your chances. Keep an eye out for does One of the easiest things you can do to make sure you find your big buck is to stay close to does. After all, what better way could there be to find the perfect whitetail deer hunting opportunity during the rut than to camp outside where does spend a lot of their time with bucks! To do this, you will have to look for the right food source and then make your way into the woods. You will then have to special attention to overgrown pastures, benches, and tall grasses. Then look for a number of oval depressions of varying sizes and mark these areas on your map. Then look for things connecting to these areas which can give you sufficient cover and aim such as gullies and creek beds. Mature bucks will look for does from one bedding area to the next. You will have to check if the buck is roaming around purely for eating purposes or mating. If they are frantically pacing around, you can be sure it is the right one. Take part in the chase Once you spot the buck and doe together, you may have to join the chase. To pull this off successfully, you will have to plan for an ambush by taking cover near a thick bedding area or travel lane. Using a good cover scent or deer scent to mask your human odor can always help.

3. Keywords: whitetail deer hunting, the rut If you are hunting using a gun, you could try to be more aggressive by cutting in front of them and shoot. Do remember that the buck or doe will most likely not notice you due to their excitement. If you happen to miss your shot, you could position yourself for the buck’s return trip and catch it off-guard. Hunt in the wind Many experienced hunters will tell you this – always make sure to hunt in the high winds. Why? Because this is exactly the time to find as many moving bucks as possible. The winds provide a cool, change of weather after the summer season and for mature bucks this is the perfect time to move about and taste the thrill of the new weather. Bucks also happen to look for does for mating via their scents. So although, hunting during highly windy weather may not exactly be a walk in the park, it can certainly boost your chances of hunting mature bucks in the rut. Whitetail deer hunting season is approaching soon and what better way to make use of this time than to get everything you need to get starting on your hunting spree. If your new to bow hunting, there are several things you have to consider before buying your first compound bow. The mark of a true archer is partly determined by his knowledge of his gear and equipment. So if you want to sharpen your bow hunting skills, you better learn the basic about your equipment by paying attention to the following pointers. Choosing the right Bow 1) Righthanded vs. Lefthanded First thing first; choose which hand you wish to hold your bow - right or left. Bows are obviously not like baseball bats, which you can hold on either hand. If you have never hold a bow before, it can be only too easy to mistake a left-handed bow for a right-handed one. To ease the confusion, a left-handed bow is held with the right hand and shot with the left hand and the the right-handed bow is held on the left hand and shot with the left one. However, some archers choose their bow type based on their eye-sharpness. 2) Draw length You should never forget that your bow's draw length; that is, the value of your armspan divided by 2.5. To arrive at the right draw length number, make sure that the length of your arms is measured in inches and not centimeters. Also, have someone to measure your armspan and not stretch your arms while measuring; rather, stand straight and hold your palms facing forward and your arms placed naturally. Make sure the other person takes the measurement from your middle finger to avoid getting a lower value. After obtaining the measurement, divide by 2.5 to get the draw length.

4. Keywords: whitetail deer hunting, the rut 3) Left-off setting Unlike conventional bows, compound bows have something known as let-off setting. This refers to the compound bow's draw weight, which decreases at drawstroke's end. Compounds bows come with both high and low let-off setting. With a low let-off setting, you will have greater holding weight at full draw and give you less time to shoot and aim as opposed to a high let-off setting. If you do not know which is more suitable for you, then as a beginner, you should opt for a high let-off setting. However, low let-off setting has its own advantages and you may want to consider after you have had a good practice with the bow. 4) Types of arrows There are different kinds of fletched arrows that you have to consider for your bow hunting escapades. For a start, you need to choose between feather vanes or plastic vanes. Plastic vanes are usually more robust vanes and a top-pick for younger archers. For more experienced archers, however, feather vanes are not only lighter in weight, but also allow your arrows to travel faster. The reduced weight of your bows also helps you give a better balance whilst moving around and can be a plus when chasing for bucks. The deer hunting season may be only a couple of weeks away, but there is still some ample time for you to work on your bow hunting skills so that you can make the most out of the approaching season. Deer hunting should not at all be underestimated as it can be very challenging, and only those with the proper skills and training can face up to the test. In order for you to become a successful bow hunter, you will have to take out the necessary time and train yourself under different weather conditions, form, and equipment. Here are a few tips to get you ready for the hunting season. Practice under extreme weather conditions The mark of a true bow-hunter is not realized until he or she is able to remain proficient under different weather conditions. In actual training, it can only get too easy since you are essentially practicing under controlled wind and sunlight conditions. However, that may not be the case when you are out there during a whitetail deer-hunting session as you are more than likely to come across varying sunlight and wind conditions that can impair your vision and aim. It is also worth practicing in heavy rain and snow. Of course it will be uncomfortable and exhausting, but it will be the training that will set you apart from others. More importantly, make sure to practice your shots at different distances and via different angles. More importantly, it is highly essential that you practice taking ethical shots. This means that you are in a capacity to shoot and the animal will die a quick death.

5. Keywords: whitetail deer hunting, the rut Know your strengths and weaknesses It is not unnatural for a proficient hunter to have some degree of limitations. Perhaps, you are able to aim particularly well despite the heavy winds but not so well during heavy rain or bright sunlight. This is important for improving yourself in areas where you need the most help. Always remember that in actual whitetail deer-hunting, you will be exposed to a variety of conditions. For instance, you may find that the actual distance between you and the deer is shorter for which you need to make a different estimate for aiming slightly higher due to wind. Also, you need to consider for the fact that you form will suffer the longer you are exposed to harsh conditions. Fatigue, leg cramps and injuries are all possible outcomes, and the more you practice, the better you can become. Use the appropriate equipment A good bow-hunter is one with his or her equipment. While this may sound too obvious, its importance is such that it must be reiterated even so. It implies that one knows exactly how to use his or her equipment, how it functions, and its limitations under different conditions. For instance, if you are aiming for a long-distance shot, you may consider changing your arrow vanes to increase your shot success rate. If you use vanes that lie within 3 inches in length, then it can make it more resistant to the varying wind conditions. Whitetail deer hunting season is approaching soon and what better way to make use of this time than to get everything you need to get starting on your hunting spree. If your new to bow hunting, there are several things you have to consider before buying your first compound bow. The mark of a true archer is partly determined by his knowledge of his gear and equipment. So if you want to sharpen your bow hunting skills, you better learn the basic about your equipment by paying attention to the following pointers. 1) Righthanded vs. Lefthanded First thing first; choose which hand you wish to hold your bow - right or left. Bows are obviously not like baseball bats, which you can hold on either hand. If you have never hold a bow before, it can be only too easy to mistake a left-handed bow for a right-handed one. To ease the confusion, a left-handed bow is held with the right hand and shot with the left hand and the the right-handed bow is held on the left hand and shot with the left one. However, some archers choose their bow type based on their eye-sharpness. 2) Draw length You should never forget that your bow's draw length; that is, the value of your armspan divided by 2.5. To arrive at the right draw length number, make sure that the length of your arms is measured in inches

6. Keywords: whitetail deer hunting, the rut and not centimeters. Also, have someone to measure your armspan and not stretch your arms while measuring; rather, stand straight and hold your palms facing forward and your arms placed naturally. Make sure the other person takes the measurement from your middle finger to avoid getting a lower value. After obtaining the measurement, divide by 2.5 to get the draw length. 3) Left-off setting Unlike conventional bows, compound bows have something known as let-off setting. This refers to the compound bow's draw weight, which decreases at drawstroke's end. Compounds bows come with both high and low let-off setting. With a low let-off setting, you will have greater holding weight at full draw and give you less time to shoot and aim as opposed to a high let-off setting. If you do not know which is more suitable for you, then as a beginner, you should opt for a high let-off setting. However, low let-off setting has its own advantages and you may want to consider after you have had a good practice with the bow. 4) Types of arrows There are different kinds of fletched arrows that you have to consider for your bow hunting escapades. For a start, you need to choose between feather vanes or plastic vanes. Plastic vanes are usually more robust vanes and a top-pick for younger archers. For more experienced archers, however, feather vanes are not only lighter in weight, but also allow your arrows to travel faster. The reduced weight of your bows also helps you give a better balance whilst moving around and can be a plus when chasing for bucks. We hope this helps you on the “How to” tactics and secretes and Tips that we have lined out in this article. If you need additional help your always welcome to contact us at https://www.Bucknutdeerscents.com