Syracuse.com - Deer have their guard down this time of year because of the rut

[HuntingNY-News]

What phase is it in with opening day for firearms hunting in the Southern Zone beginning Saturday? It's complicated. It varies area to area, and even day to day in some cases, an expert said.

White-tailed deer begin the rut in a chasing phase and then go into the lockdown phase, when most of the breeding is done. NIcholas Lisi/The Post-Standard

It’s a question that many deer hunters are asking before taking to the woods and fields for Saturday’s opening day of firearms season in the Southern Zone. What’s the story with the rut?

The reality is that most of the year, white-tailed deer are extremely capable of detecting danger and steering clear. Their eyesight, hearing and sense of smell are extremely acute.

But this time of year they have a weakness. Their natural urge to breed and defend territory during “the rut” causes them to let their guard down. Hunters can benefit or find it more difficult, depending on what phase of the breeding process the deer are in.

John Rybinski, of Pompey, is a veteran deer hunter and a member of the New York Conservation Council Big Game Committee, in addition to being actively involved in the Quality Deer Management Association. He said deer in this area generally start breeding toward the end of October and usually finish toward January.

“One might assume the best time to kill a deer is at the peak of the rut,” he said, noting the status of it varies from area to area, even day to day. Other factors include deer density, doe-buck ratios, air temperature and the age of the bucks in the herd.

The rut has several phases, Rybinski said, beginning with the “chasing phase,” during which the deer really move around in search of does. This usually takes place during the first couple of weeks in November.

“In the height of the breeding season, which generally occurs during the middle to the end of November, we call this the ‘lockdown’ phase,” he said. “This is when most of the breeding is done, and hunters see less activity because the deer generally seclude themselves during this process.”

Rybinski said that during the final phase the rut wanes. It’s possible to still see some chasing, but daylight and heavy feeding activity are what hunters are looking for. The bucks need calories to rebuild their bodies and survive the winter.

Bowhunters have been out hunting and observing deer since their season opened Oct. 1.

“From what I’ve seen in 7F and 7M, bucks have been on their feet and chasing. I’ve seen four bucks out checking scrapes and running does,” said Jason Venditti, of Syracuse.” The last two weeks it has really picked up. I would assume there will still be pretty good movement on Saturday morning, at least until everyone starts shooting.”

Bowhunter Greg Diamond, of Liverpool, said rut activity in the Finger Lakes seemed to peak early last week and was definitely suppressed the previous week by Superstorm Sandy.

"By last weekend there was no activity, which tells me the breeding phase had most likely started and the bucks had does in lockdown. The warm weather didn’t help, either,” he said.

Marco RoccoHood D’Aniello, of Syracuse, said Tuesday he called in a spike buck.

“Past three days have been slow,” he said. “Good luck guys.”

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog