Six Tips for Hunting the Rut
By Joe Byers
As we neared our hunting lease, the Great Plains sunrise was so magnificent that I asked my buddy to stop the truck so that I could capture the image. One step out of the door, a buck suddenly emerged from the road-side ditch 50 yards away. The whitetail’s antlers were massive, with long wide beams and tall tines. The buck was so impressive, I froze like the proverbial deer in the headlights, mesmerized by the sight.
Deer season had been underway for two months in this area, and this buck had been hunted many times. Yet it survived, and to its good fortune was 100 yards south of our hunting area. I say this not to whine (well, maybe a little) but to emphasize the irrepressible urge among whitetails to mate. Big bucks will do things they would never do the other 355 days of the year. They become much more vulnerable during the “rut” “and you can dramatically increase your chances with these tips.
Tip One - Boots on the Ground
How you get to your stand is important. Never buy gas on the way to a hunt.
One of the biggest mistakes you can make this fall is to buy gas while wearing your hunting boots. You probably won’t spill petrol on them, but the area around the gas pumps is saturated with the smell of gasoline. Every step taken adds the scent to your boots. Not only will your boots stink, but you will track that smell all the way to your stand. The bottom of your boots will act like scent wicks while you are on stand.
I’m a huge fan of Irish Setter Rut-Master rubber boots, because they go on and come off easily and provide total ankle support when afield. Mine were so comfortable, I used a pair on a Wyoming elk hunt when the weather became extremely inclement. Rubber retains less scent than leather boots, and you can tuck your pant legs into them to resist gathering burrs. Tucking your pants in also reduces placing your human scent on tall grasses and small shrubs. Store the boots and your hunting clothes in a plastic container and change before you go into the field.
Tip Two - Stand Tall
Ladder stands are ideal for making a quiet entry to your hunting area.
If you haven’t selected your stand sites for the rut, now is the time. If you know of an area of high doe traffic or feeding activity, a ladder stand is a good option. Not only are they roomier and more comfortable than hang-on stands, but you can climb silently into them. I opt for double stands (millenniumstands.com), and I love the extra room for gear and the comfort that a double seat provides.
Ground blinds can be used in similar situations. You should allow plenty of time for deer to become accustomed to the spot and brush in the dome to make sure its silhouette is completely camouflaged. You’ll want a comfortable folding chair that you can easily shoot from. Having good back support and the ability to stand and sit quickly are important.
Finally, when you suddenly discover a master scrape, one visited by multiple bucks, you’ll want a stand like an Ol’Man climber. Be sure to hang it downwind of the site, and approach the stand carefully. Remember, the best day to hunt a stand is the first time.
Tip Three - Think Horizontally
For rifle hunters, consider trying a crossbow to gain additional hunting days.
If you are a center-fire hunter, you may never have had the opportunity to hunt during the rut. Many states avoid the rut for rifle hunters to assure that the herd is mostly bred for the following year. If you research this factor, you will find that those states often have more record book entries than a state like Nebraska, where their center-fire season opens during primary breeding season.
A quick learning curve is the best thing about crossbow hunting. You can buy one and in a couple of weeks become proficient enough to bag a rutting buck at close range. Yes, they have similarities to firearms, but you should limit your range to 30 yards as a first timer. Recurve-style crossbows like the Excalibur Micro 340 TD are easy to use, durable, and very powerful. Team up with an archery buddy, and you’ll soon learn about rub-lines, scrapes, mock scrapes, rattling horns, and a host of other tricks that make hunting the rut huge fun.
Tip Four - Think Thick/Think Open
The rut is an excellent time to gather the gang together and introduce new hunters to the sport.
Where you hunt during the rut matters and impacts the type of gear you use. Generally, does will bed and congregate in thicker cover, a place where bucks will search them out. This is good news for bow hunters, since they need closer shots than firearm hunters.
If you are packing granddad’s 30-30 loaded with the Hornady LEVERevolution ammo, you’ll want shooting lanes of around 100 yards, so hiding where visibility is limited to 50 yards may not be appealing. Transition areas are ideal stand placements for rifle hunters, because they can watch multiple areas due to increased visibility.
General mobility is important in wide open spaces such as the Midwest and Great Plains. Big bucks often push does onto the open prairie where they won’t be bothered by other bucks, and the more ground you can cover, the better your chances. Spend as much time as possible behind a good pair of binoculars. Spot that buck first, and then go after it.
Tip Five - Make Bucks Hunt You
A grunt call can be your best buddy during the rut.
How many buck sounds can you make? If the answer is less than a dozen, you need the iHunt app from Ruger. This amazing application contains 600 calls. In some states it’s legal to use the app as an actual caller. In others, it can school you how to make a wide variety of deer sounds, along with about every predator calling sound you can imagine.
Bucks are most vulnerable to calling prior to the rut peak when they will hook up with an estrous doe and not leave her side until nature takes its course. You’ll want a grunt tube that makes a variety of calls from doe to grunt-snort-wheeze and a can caller or two. You don’t have to beat your knuckles with real antlers to rattle anymore, and a host of rattling bags and antler simulations are available.
Tip Six - Control Scent
Scent elimination is just as important in the rut as other times of the year.
Controlling human scent is just as important in the rut as at other times of the year. A big buck in its rut crazed state may run through a hint of human, but the doe it’s chasing won’t. Eliminating human scent completely may be impossible, but I learned a long time ago from Scot Schultz, President of Robinson Outdoors, that scent elimination is a system. “If you take a shower, put on the best in carbon absorbing clothes, and eat a bacon-and-egg breakfast wearing them, it isn’t going to work.” Carbon clothing works, but you must use it as a system.
Ozonics is a technology that’s not carbon dependent and uses ozone to destroy human scent. These compact ozone generators can be hung in tree stands or ground blinds and are designed to work whichever way the wind blows. Purportedly, you can hunt a stand with a bad wind direction and still do well.
Finally, to increase your odds for success, use a combination of the above recommendations. Like a baseball or football team, winning consistently requires doing many things right. The rut is the best time of year to take a trophy, and the most critical element is participation. If you take time to prepare and stay patient, your chances for success are excellent.
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