My favorite time of year is finally upon us. In some of the areas that I hunt, we are still a few weeks out, but considering I almost hit two big bucks on the road last night alone, I’d say it’s starting to pick up here in southern Missouri. It’s time to be in the woods. I fully believe that if I can catch some decent weather and put myself in a good spot, I will have a chance to fill some more tags.
My plan this year is to start in Missouri this upcoming weekend, which is Halloween. I’ll get a few hunts in here before going back to work for a few days. I have the last couple of days of next week off, so I plan to have 4 straight days of bowhunting then. The rut should be kicking off heavy at this point. I will go back to work for another week, then, finally, I will have a 5-day weekend to enjoy some firearm hunting at the tail end of the Missouri rut and the beginning of the Arkansas rut.
This will be the most days that I’ve got to hunt the rut in my lifetime. We are talking about more than 10 days hunting the rut. Will I tag out? Maybe, maybe not. Luck still has to play a factor, but the God-given drive to get up and move in daylight hours will help put some deer in front of me. That being said, I still think there has to be some strategy involved in finding deer. The rut can be rough if you don’t make the right adjustments. Here is how I plan to hunt the rut.
Hunt Around Does
It’s basic biology. Bucks need does to breed, and their increasing testosterone will ensure they are frequenting the same areas as does. If you can find a good number of does using an area during the rut, you can almost guarantee that bucks will be near. Acorn flats, green fields, and thick bedding areas will be areas to key on. If I can find the does, I will find some bucks.
Find Wind-Advantaged Travel Areas
Bucks will be traveling long distances this time of year, and in morning situations, especially late morning, I like to be in travel areas. This specifically includes long-running travel areas that tie together multiple doe destinations. These spots are even better if they are downwind of other deer traffic hubs. A buck will use his nose heavily during the rut. If he can get a whiff of an upwind doe while traveling from hub to hub, he will take off to find the source. I plan to be in these types of areas.
Put the Time In
I’ve already mentioned the opportunity to put the days in, but I will also have to be able to put the hours in. Rut movement can be finicky and could easily happen in the late morning, early afternoon, or even the middle of the day. Leaving the woods to eat a hot lunch this time of year can be a mistake. Packing a sandwich or taking a quick midday nap on the hillside could help you get more hours in the stand. I suggest you pack a book or your bible as well. More hours in could equal more success out of your hunt.
It's time to be in the woods. The rut is here, and the sad thing is, it’ll be gone as quickly as it got here. If I’m going to try to capitalize on this biological phenomenon, I have to go in not only with a plan, but with some vigor.