As any hunter knows, you’re not the same person at the end of the season that you were on opening day. Countless miles in muddy boots, sleepless nights, and the wonder of what could have been, or the thrill of success changes you. The highs and lows of hunting are why we love it, and it doesn’t get much better than pursuing the greatest big game species on the planet – the white-tailed deer. But we hunters aren’t the only ones who change throughout the season. Whitetails, especially bucks, can be dramatically different animals when all is said and done.
A Buck’s Quandary
For many hunters, the breeding season, also called the “rut,” is the highlight of the season. Bucks charging through the woods, scraping the ground, rubbing trees, and chasing does with reckless abandon is like no other phenomenon in nature. It’s wild! But once the dust settles and the last does are bred, the real story begins for the bucks. A buck that started the season as a spectacle of strength and stamina has emerged battered, exhausted, and often on the brink of existence.
The rut typically occurs between October and January, with the most intensive period lasting just three to four weeks. The exact timing of the peak of the rut can vary significantly by region. For example, in Pennsylvania, the peak of the rut is mid-November, while in North Mississippi, it occurs during the last week of December through the first week of January.
A doe’s receptiveness to breeding is influenced by photoperiod, which refers to the amount of daylight in a 24-hour cycle. Changes in photoperiod trigger hormonal responses in does that lead to egg development, release, and the production of pheromones and behaviors that attract bucks, referred to as “estrus.” Estrus lasts approximately 24 to 48 hours per cycle, and the accumulation of females entering estrus initiates the rut. Bucks respond with increased testosterone, which heightens aggression and results in fights over does that can cause broken antlers, wounds, infections, and in extreme cases even death. They prioritize breeding over eating, roaming farther, fighting more, and feeding less, while using up fat reserves to support their efforts.
Regional differences greatly influence rut timing and length. In the North, short, intense ruts lead to quicker recovery if forage is available, but severe winters can complicate things. Undernourished bucks face snow-covered forage, adding to the stress. Southern herds, with milder climates, might fare better, but variable breeding dates mean recovery times differ widely, and food can be limited.
Unbalanced sex ratios can also extend the rut. If there are too many does compared to bucks, breeding can last longer because does will cycle back into estrus until they are successfully bred. This lengthens the period during which bucks are chasing and can delay recovery. Research shows that bucks may increase their average daily distance traveled from 2.7 miles during pre-rut to over 4 miles during peak rut and can lose over 30% of their body weight during that time. To put that into perspective, imagine starting hunting season at 200 pounds and tipping the scales at just 140 pounds when you climb down the tree for the last time. This isn’t just cosmetic; it’s life-threatening, as it leaves bucks vulnerable to starvation, disease, and predators.
So, how do bucks recover? Once the rut winds down, buck movement drops significantly because they aren’t chasing does anymore. Instead, they are bedding more and seeking high-quality food. Unfortunately, food options are likely limited because agricultural crops have been harvested, acorns may be scarce, and forbs are in a state of dormancy. Woody browse, the twigs, stems, and buds of woody plants, often comprises the majority of the diet during this period, making up over half a deer’s winter diet. Green vegetation, such as greenbrier, if available, is highly sought after. A buck’s focus post rut is to recover so that nutritional resources can be used for antler growth and building reserves to support next year’s rut.
What Can Gamekeepers Do?
So how can we help? One of the most important things we can do as hunters and land stewards is to manage deer numbers. We often focus on creating more food, while ignoring the increasing number of mouths that need to eat. Consistently harvesting deer, especially does, to keep the population at or below carrying capacity, the maximum number of animals the habitat can support without being degraded, ensures that resources remain abundant enough to support healthy herds, which aids in fawn recruitment and antler development. Further, strategic harvest to maintain proper buck-to-doe ratios is important. A sex ratio of 1:1 to 1:2 bucks to does improves breeding success during the first estrus, thereby preventing the breeding season from being too prolonged, which delays recovery.
Properly managing the habitat is another way to support post-rut recovery. Using habitat management tools such as prescribed burning, disking, and herbicide to modify the landscape can help encourage the growth of beneficial food and cover. For example, in a closed-canopy forest, sunlight cannot reach the forest floor, which prevents quality plants like forbs from growing. Felling trees and applying herbicides and prescribed burning can help manage the midstory, allowing more sunlight to reach the ground and increasing beneficial forage for deer. In field situations, using prescribed burning, herbicides, and fall disking can promote forb growth while controlling undesirable grass species.
Food plots are a great way to support post-rut recovery by providing vital nutrients during times of nutritional stress. Cool-season food plots of cereal grains and clovers offer high-quality food from fall through summer. Warm-season food plots planted in late spring or early summer help address nutritional stress periods, such as late summer, and help deer pack on fat reserves for winter. Having foods like brassicas, corn or sorghum left into winter can help to jump start their post rut recovery.
Rut recovery is vital. The quicker bucks bounce back after the rut, the sooner they can use nutrients for growth. It is our duty to manage the herds and habitat responsibly. Whether you’re in the stand or planning for next season, remember: a buck’s ability to recover after the rut may determine if he’s around next year.
