Northeast Rut Report, Week 2: Inching Closer to The Rut

The woods are filled with magic this time of year. Northeast leaves are changing, painting the landscape in hues of gold, crimson, and amber, while the acorns are steadily raining down from the oaks, turning the forest floor into a seasonal buffet. Early-season deer activity is at its peak. Every morning and evening brings fresh rubs and scrapes, with new ones dotting woodlots as bucks carve their territories with thick grooves in unsuspecting saplings and trees. October is in full swing, and the signs of the season are unmistakable. But where’s the rut? It’s still a bit off in the distance with plenty of phases between now and then.

Bucks are still in their bachelor groups for the most part, tolerating each other but only just. I’ve witnessed a few sparring matches here and there—nothing too serious yet, enough to remind each other who’s boss or just to bully subordinate deer. Testosterone is rising, but it’s still a long way off from the peak we’ll see in a few weeks when breeding will be at its apex. For now, they’re more focused on their daily routine: feeding, sparring, and occasionally checking out the local does. I did, personally, see one semi-mature buck stiff-legged marching toward a group of does to check them out, but from what I’ve seen and heard, this was the only rut-like behavior reported this week.

Temperatures this week have been on the cooler side, with the mercury hanging lower than usual for this time of year, an exception here and there. It’s starting to feel a bit like déjà vu, though. I seem to be writing the same report I’ve filed the past few Octobers, only to have the temps skyrocket in November and squash that precious rut-time daylight activity. Here’s hoping this year will be different, and these cool conditions will stick around for the long haul.

Don’t Miss: Top Tactics for Ground Hunting Whitetails

Reports continue to roll in from hunters across the region. Social media pages are filled with early-season success stories, from solid bucks taken near food sources to plump does harvested in the evenings. Many hunters are still focused on food, and it’s paying off. With crops like soybeans coming off, deer are transitioning to the next available food source, be it acorns or other agricultural fields. As more cover crops and grains go into the ground, deer are sticking close to those fields, making patterning them a bit easier for savvy hunters who have yet to peel deeper into the timber. For now, food is your friend.

This week is one of my favorites during the entire hunting season. There’s a sense of transition in the air, and I’ve arrowed more than my fair share of trophy bucks and hefty does during the second week of October. The deer are predictable, still operating on their early-season patterns, and the mild weather makes it perfect for comfortable sits. The rut is still a few weeks away, but we’re inching closer with every passing day. For now, it’s all about capitalizing on this transitional phase.

Rubs and scrapes are popping up with more regularity, and the bucks’ testosterone is building, but we’re still in that sweet spot where food is king. The bucks are cruising, but they’re not yet consumed by the breeding frenzy that will soon take over. If you’re out there hunting, now is the time to key in on prime feeding areas. Continue to look for oak flats that are loaded with acorns or agricultural fields that are still holding crops or have just been harvested. Deer are creatures of habit right now, and it’s your job to be in the right place at the right time.

As the rut draws nearer, we’ll be keeping a close eye on the weather, hoping for those cool conditions that will get bucks moving during daylight hours. Let’s hope this year shapes up to be one for the books. Until then, enjoy this transition period, and keep your arrows sharp. It’s only going to get better from here.