MSBowhunter_Winter2017.pdf

hen I was younger all of my friends and I wanted to be the one that killed the big

‘un on Thanksgiving. Deer camp was always full of people and we were eager to

claim bragging rights. Rut during the Thanksgiving holidays was usually a hit or

miss. However, it wasn’t unusual for good deer to be taken during the holidays. Lots of people

were off work and with more hunters, more eyes on the ground and more ground covered, odds

were someone would get a good one!

It’s officially here, the Mississippi Delta rut! I personally witnessed for the first time this year

in Bolivar county, a small 8 point chasing several does across food plots on November 19. Some

friends of mine said they saw a few chasing earlier that week. Hunters across the levee on the

Mississippi riverside reported the same. The bucks weren’t full blown, tongue hanging out, and

out of breath, but they were interested. Typically, rut is December 3rd through December 10th,

but it is possible the recent cold front we’ve had may push rut up a few days this year.

There there is what we call the second rut. I’ve seen deer chasing Christmas Eve well into the

new year. I was lucky enough to drop a buck who was just plain love struck stupid! He crashed

through the woods sounding like someone driving a Ranger through a cane break, mouth open,

drooling and looking for his doe. Man I love it! Heck, I used to get in rut myself when I was in

high school and college!

Years ago on December 5th, my wife and I rattled up a nice 8 point after being in the stand

just 10 minutes. I ranged him, pinned him and stuck him. I will never forget our conversation

that day. She said hunting isn’t that hard because all you do sit in the woods! HA!! (She comes

from a golfing family).

While I love hunting the rut, some bowhunters say they aren’t as fond of it as I. It can be

difficult, especially if a buck is already with a doe. Unless you can pull him by calling it’s basically

fingers crossed she comes by you. Decoys work about 50% of the time. And while I’ve had good

bucks respond to decoys don’t be fooled thinking it is a sure thing as in all the hunting shows.

Remember, they work throughout the year to get one hunt for your viewing pleasure. No

matter your preference, rut is coming! Get out there and have some fun! May all of you have a

blessed and safe hunting season. Happy Holidays!

STATEWIDE WHITETAIL RUT DATES

MISSISSIPPI DELTA

BY JASON MEYER

Winter 2017 MISSISSIPPI BOWHUNTER

Timing and Strategy for South Mississippi Region

he southeast zone is quite different from the rest of the state in regard to terrain,

agriculture, temperatures and rut cycles. These lower counties experience later rut

cycles than other parts of the state with the coastal counties being the latest. Using

the breeding cycle calendar from the MDWFP website, peak breeding dates range more than

a month long from January 4 - February 6. (https://www.mdwfp.com/wildlife-hunting/deer-

program/deer-breeding-date-map/) The differences aren’t dictated by latitude differenced

(north to south) as most of us have been led to believe, but rather are more impacted by

longitude differences (west to east). Most

western counties in the southeastern zone

(Marion, Lamar, Pearl River and Hancock

counties) rut dates range from January 4 –

January 16. The more central counties (Jones,

Forrest, Stone and Harrison counties) are two

weeks later ranging from January 16- February

6. The eastern most counties (Greene, George

and Jackson, along with parts of Stone and

Perry counties) have the latest dates which

range from January 24 – February 6. As a

matter of perspective, consider the time frame

begins a month after northwestern counties

have finished.

Rut hunting tactics differ between hunters.

Typical methods of hunting scrapes, funnels

or travel corridors and calling can all be

successful. But the most successful tactic is to

hunt where the does are since the bucks are

focused on finding estrous does. The most

dependable method for most bow hunters is to

hunt a food source. Since the rut in southern

counties is so late in the year, most food

sources have played out which makes green

fields the primary food source for bucks and

does alike. Whether hunting from a treestand or well-hidden ground blind, food sources can be

the ticket to getting that buck during the late southern Mississippi rut!

STATEWIDE WHITETAIL RUT DATES

SOUTH MISSISSIPPI

BY JEFF WAITS

Mississippi White-tailed Deer

Simulated Mean Conception Dates

https://www.mdwfp.com/wildlife-hunting/deer-program/deer-breeding-date-map/)

MISSISSIPPI BOWHUNTER Winter 2017

n east central Mississippi (Eastern highway 82 corridor) the whitetail rut is sporadic

like most of the state but if you have to nail down a time to be in the woods its from

December 20th through January 1 year-in year-out. The bucks start pre-rut activity around

thanksgiving making scrapes and rubs. This activity last through middle December at which

time the first does usually cycle into estrous. When these first few does cycle, you will start

to see more mature bucks on trail camera for a real short time period, only a few days during

early to middle December.

This is an indication at

least a doe or two in your

area is in heat. I’d say

this is one of the most

vulnerable times of the rut

for a mature buck to do

something stupid like walk

out into the wide open in

daylight. Large percentage

of your does will start to

come enter their estrus

cycle around the 20th of

December through January

1st. In most of our region

we have plenty of does and

bucks get hard to see except when a doe lures him into a food plot or when he’s searching for the

next available one to breed. According to research, a large number of twin fawns are sired by

different fathers. This tells us something about the whitetail breeding process. A buck breeds

a doe, then a bigger tougher buck comes along and takes her from him and breeds her again

while she’s in estrous. The other buck is then back on the hunt. This period without a doe is

when bucks are most at risk during this period. Then after peak breading period, January 1 on,

is when bucks know the end is in sight and they are frantic to find those last few receptive does.

This is the time to harvest the most mature buck in your area. The nature of a mature buck

one of wise travel routes and times, reserved in behavior, very unlike their young counterparts.

When they find a doe, they take her to a sanctuary and control the process. That all applies

except when they panic anticipating the end of breeding for another year. Watch your trail

cameras, you can learn lots about the status of your local rut. Pre-rut, you will see lots of does,

once breeding starts, young bucks and few does and the occasional mature buck. Post rut, the

does will be back and you may start to notice strangers, deer you don’t know. Consider these

dates and thoughts and you will be more successful this year in east central Mississippi.

STATEWIDE WHITETAIL RUT DATES

EAST CENTRAL MS

BY BRIAN MONTGOMERY

Winter 2017 MISSISSIPPI BOWHUNTER