The deer rut is the breeding season for white-tailed deer. This period is crucial for population continuation, involving behavioral and physiological changes in both male and female deer centered around reproduction. The rut transforms deer activity in the Missouri landscape.
Understanding the Rut
The rut is the deer breeding season, driven by hormonal shifts in bucks and does. As daylight hours shorten in the fall, a deer’s pineal gland increases melatonin production, stimulating reproductive hormones like testosterone in bucks and estrogen in does. This hormonal surge prepares deer for mating, prompting distinct behaviors. The rut’s purpose is to maximize reproductive success, ensuring fawns are born at an optimal time in spring when resources are abundant.
Key Rut Phases in Missouri
The deer rut in Missouri unfolds in distinct phases, each characterized by specific deer behaviors. Timelines are general and can vary slightly. The pre-rut typically begins around mid-October, with bucks initiating territorial marking through rubs and scrapes as their testosterone levels rise. During this period, bucks begin sparring to establish dominance, and their activity increases as they search for receptive does.
The peak rut in Missouri is around mid-November, often centering on November 10th. This is when the highest number of does enter estrus, leading to intense breeding activity. Bucks become highly focused on pursuing does, sometimes forgoing food and exhibiting less caution. This period is often followed by a “lockdown” phase, where bucks may tend to a receptive doe for 24 to 48 hours, causing a temporary decrease in visible activity. The post-rut follows in late November and early December, as most does have been bred. Bucks continue to search for any remaining receptive does, and a “second rut” can occur if some does were not bred during the peak and cycle again approximately 28 days later.
Environmental Factors Affecting Rut
While the primary trigger for the rut is photoperiod (decreasing daylight), other environmental factors can influence deer movement. Photoperiod provides a consistent annual cue for hormonal changes, making the rut’s timing similar each year. Weather conditions play a role in daily deer movement during the rut.
Cooler temperatures, particularly with cold fronts, can increase daylight deer activity. Deer move more when it is not excessively warm, as high temperatures can lead to more nocturnal behavior to conserve energy. Barometric pressure changes also affect movement, with deer often becoming more active as pressure rises or peaks. Light rain or overcast conditions may encourage movement, providing security and dampening sound, while heavy rain or strong winds tend to reduce activity. The moon phase does not directly influence the rut’s timing, though it may have a minor impact on daily activity patterns.
Identifying Rutting Behavior
Observing behaviors and physical signs helps identify when the rut is underway. Bucks create “rubs” by rubbing their antlers and foreheads against trees, leaving scent from glands. These rubs serve as visual and olfactory markers, indicating a buck’s presence and territory. A “scrape” is a bare patch of ground where a buck paws away leaves, often under an overhanging branch. Bucks urinate in scrapes and may rub their pre-orbital or forehead glands on the “licking branch” above, leaving a complex scent message for other deer.
During the rut, deer activity increases, particularly during daylight hours. Bucks, driven by hormones, actively seek does. This seeking behavior can escalate into “chasing,” where bucks pursue does to test their receptivity. Sparring matches between bucks also become more frequent as they establish dominance hierarchies. These behaviors signal the deer rut.