The whitetail breeding period, commonly called the rut, is one of the best times of the year to bag a big whitetail since bucks search for receptive does during daylight hours. Generally the rut occurs in the Northern tier of states from early November until just before Thanksgiving. Weather is often attributed to causing the rut to “kick in” or “heat up,” yet whitetail deer breeding occurs at about the same time each year. Biologists know this by examining road kill does in the spring and examining the fetus (s) they carried, backdating to the day of conception like television forensic scientists. So, if this is the case, why do deer seem to exhibit non-breeding behavior at times of unseasonably warm 
weather, heavy rain, or other unusual circumstances? Lunar activity also has a reputation for altering the rut, the theory being that bucks and does that chase and breed all night will rest during the first hours of daylight and become active in early afternoon. Although this behavior isn’t covered in this short video, one indication that the rut is ongoing is the make-up of the deer you see while hunting. If you encounter does with fawns, breeding hasn’t begun because does chase their fawns away or a buck does it for them. When you begin to see adult does alone, you know that things are happening. Also, if you hunt in wide open spaces such as the Midwest or Great Plains, a standing mature does is a reason to get excited. Odds are, a buck is bedded closeby, so get out that spotting scope and find it. Charles Alsheimer is one of America’s best known deer behavior experts as well as an incredible photographer. Alsheimer has exclusive access to a large property where he has total access and instead of turning the magic tract into a hunting club, uses it as a means of closely studying whitetail deer and reporting on their activities. Along with great information, you can oogle at the video photography found in this Facebook post as you see big bucks and breeding does carry out his predictions.
