By: Corey New
For most hunters around the country, January is a month when waterfowl seems to be on everyone’s minds and deer hunting has been kicked to the wayside. The truth is, just as the hardcore waterfowler can travel to follow the migration, the diehard deer hunter can travel to follow the rut, especially in the Southeast.
The dates for peak rut can be vastly different just short distances from place to place in the coastal Southeast. There are a number of theories as to why this is. They range from where the deer were imported from to when food is available, to wet vs. dry times of year. Some think it is a combination of all of these that dictate peak rut. Scientific studies aside, how cool would it be to hunt the rut from late July all the way through February without having to travel far from your home state in the South?
If you want to see a rutting buck in July… Yes I said July. Shoot on down to the headwaters of the Everglades in south Florida. The deer here do not have big bodies, but they can still produce some impressive racks. This is where this subject first piqued my interest. Years ago I was turkey hunting in the swamps of south Florida in early March. My deer in middle Georgia were just starting to drop their antlers, and these deer in south Florida were running around with almost fully developed antlers in velvet. That is because they rut in July. Now you can’t hunt them in July; the season doesn’t open until August. But, if you can stand the mosquitoes and heat, this would be the start of your rutting action for your deer season. Florida has the most diverse rut map in the United States. Somewhere in Florida, there is rut activity happening from late July all the way to mid-February.
You’ll have to stick around in south Florida through the month of September to stay on the rutting bucks, but come October, that’s when the choices start. You could travel to the Atlantic coastlines of Georgia or South Carolina to get back into the action. Or, you could try a cast and blast experience on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana as the bucks are rutting, and October is one of the best months to catch huge schools of redfish in the shallows.
During the month of November, you can travel anywhere in the country and experience rutting action, however, December and January can be a little trickier. You’ll have to stick to certain areas of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Mississippi and Alabama would be a good choice, as the first rut in Mississippi happens in early December, and the first rut in the majority of Alabama happens in early January.
This takes you all the way to the month of February. If you’re not tired of sitting in a deer stand by then, head on back down to trusty old Florida and you will still be able to find a rutting deer somewhere. If you miss the rut in your woods, there are still chances for you to put a few miles on your truck and find that rutting buck somewhere in the Southeast.
Corey New is a member of Combat in the Wild, a group of hunters dedicated to catching awesome hunts on video. Subscribe to the Combat in the Wild YouTube channel to enjoy weekly shows. Like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
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