Southeast Rut Report: Rut is Rolling in a Few States, Over in Others

This week produced colder weather and solid daylight movement. Unfortunately, that will give way to a warm front this weekend, which will bring above-average temperatures for the next week or so.

Louisiana

Realtree United Country land pro Slade Priest had a great week in the Pelican State. Hunting near Ethel, Louisiana, he killed two mature bucks in two days. Both were tending does and one was on a full-out chase. Interestingly, a big portion of the eastern half of the state is seeing similar action. If you hunt in this part, it's likely go time.

Mississippi

If historical rut data compiled by the Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Department holds true, the northwestern third of the state should be seeing solid rut action. It's still pre-rut throughout the southern two-thirds of the state. Scout for rubs and scrapes, and focus on bed-to-feed patterns near established rut sign.

Alabama

Several friends and resources in Alabama report decent rut activity in parts of Colbert, Franklin, Lawrence, Winston, Cullman, Morgan, DeKalb, Cherokee, Calhoun, Cleburne, Randolph, Chambers and Lee counties. The remainders of these counties — and the rest of the state — won't see breeding activity until January. Until then, focus on pre-rut, bed-to-feed patterns.

Florida

While the state as a whole is pretty quiet right now, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, decent rut action is still happening in the Panhandle's central counties. However, the rut is much less punctual throughout much of Florida, and on-and-off rut activity is likely, especially in central-Peninsula counties. You just have to be there when it happens.

Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and the Carolinas

As for the rest of the region, we're pretty well into the late season now. Reports of rut activity are still cropping up in select southwestern Tennessee counties (Shelby, Fayette, and Hardeman), southwestern Georgia counties (Decatur and Seminole), and parts of western North Carolina.

Elsewhere, it's all late-season tactics. Focus on bed-to-feed patterns. Afternoon action has been decent the past few days. Focus on green food sources such as brassicas and wheat during the upcoming warmup. That's where the deer will be. Unfortunately, daylight activity is likely to decline, so shift your efforts closer to bedding areas.

Don't Miss: 5 Tips for Killing a Rutting Buck in the South

Check out more stories, videos and educational how-to's on deer hunting.

Follow us on Facebook.