The peak of whitetail breeding is the time hunters should be in the woods
Browse conditions have been good for the most part during the 2024 growing season, and there appears to be a good mast crop for the upcoming deer season. Hopefully cold weather will have the bucks moving, feeding and chasing does.
What happened in 2023?
I always like to look at reproductive tracts during the season to see if my prediction was accurate (hard for an old deer biologist to stop doing that).
The reproductive tracts I looked at in Area 2 in Bossier Parish indicated the peak rut may have actually been later, taking place during the second breeding period, Nov. 13-26. I calculated three dates from does on a club and the dates were Nov. 15, 17 and 24. A small sample but it is right on target with the prediction.
I was not able to look at any reproductive tracts from Area 4, which includes East Feliciana where I live, but killed a 3 ½-year-old 8-point buck on Nov. 13 during the predicted pre-rut. Later, I killed a 4 ½-year-old 8-point buck on Dec. 5, during the first predicted rut period of Nov. 27- Dec. 11. This buck was chasing a doe along with two other bucks.
In Area 6, I calculated breeding dates of Jan. 3 and Jan. 4 from two does in Pointe Coupee Parish. This matches the first rut prediction of Dec. 26-Jan. 10. While it is a small sample size, the dates match well with the 2023-24 rut prediction, which gives me confidence for my 2024-25 prediction.
The pre-rut
This phase of the rut is the time that bucks are feeding heavy and bulking up for the upcoming breeding season. It is always a good time to use cameras and set up on feeding trails, mast trees or feeders. Hunters need to be aware that a good mast crop will keep the deer in the oak drains and ridges.
In all areas of the state the gun season is open for some part of this pre-rut feeding period. Bowhunters of course get the edge on the riflemen, and the bowhunter that does his homework will see success.
First breeding period
The first breeding period is usually the peak period where the majority of the does will be bred. This period begins with scraping activity. Bucks opened up their traditional scrapes during the pre-rut period, but that is not the time to hunt scrapes. Scrapes made during the pre-rut will not be checked by the bucks on a regular basis like they are during this first peak period of scraping.
Again, trail cameras set up on these scrapes should indicate regular day-to day visits by bucks; several bucks may use the same scrape. When the doe that is nearing estrus urinates in the scrape, the buck that comes upon this will begin following the doe and eventually the doe will stand still for breeding. It is during the chasing period that many hunters will connect with a buck. Most hunters never witness the actual breeding act.
All deer areas will be open during the first period of breeding activity for some primitive gun and regular gun hunting. In the late breeding areas of the state, Areas 1, 5 and 6, the gun hunting opens long before the rut kicks in and heavy hunting pressure prior to the breeding period may have the does on alert mode. Bucks will be concerned only with the doe and will not be as wary.
Second breeding period
Does that did not breed during the first breeding period will cycle again and breed. This can still be an exciting time for hunters, especially on areas where there is a good population of adult bucks. On several occasions I have seen as many as five racked bucks chasing a single doe.
This will also be the time that some of the 6-month-old does will be old enough to have an estrus cycle and will breed. These deer will give birth to their first fawn at the age of a year and a half. This is generally an indication of a sound deer herd if these young does are doing this.
All adult does, 2 ½ years or older, should be bred and producing fawns. A low percentage of younger adults, 2-3 years old, producing fawns can indicate problems with the deer herd, either poor habitat or too many deer.
All deer areas in the state, except for the late breeding section of Areas 1, 5 and 6, will have gun hunting during the second breeding period. The lands in the late breeding areas enrolled in the Tier 1 DMAP program can have an extended season and be able to hunt for two weeks in February.
Post-rut hunting
Once the rut is over the deer will go back to feeding. Quality food plots in the late season may be just the ticket for some late-season venison. Hunting from ground blinds away from the permanent stand may fool some that have become stand-wise.
Well there it is, another season prediction. Hunt hard, hunt safe and share your success with those in need.
