Hunt the Lockdown Phase of the Whitetail Rut Like a Pro: Whetstone Weekly 11-15-2023

Hello, fellow land stewards, and welcome to Whetstone Weekly!

Don’t let the unpredictable deer movement deter you from this underrated phase of the rut! If you are enjoying your “rut-cation” in a tree stand, you might be in for some long, grinding sits during the next week in the whitetail woods, but this doesn’t mean your success rates have to suffer. Don’t take your foot off the gas! This week, I will help hunters understand the current phase of the rut, what the deer are doing, and how to position yourself best to fill your tag on a mature whitetail buck.

Understanding the Rut: Biologist vs. Hunter Perspective

Ask a biologist (oh, hey), and they’ll tell you that “the peak of the rut occurs between November 7th and November 12th throughout most of the whitetail’s range.” Ask a hunter, and they might say, “The first week of November.” So, why the discrepancy?

Most hunters falsely attribute deer movement to breeding activity, meaning a hunter’s “peak” is most likely the “seeking and chasing” or “pre-rut” phase of the rut, when daylight of mature bucks is at its pinnacle. The bucks are urgently seeking the first receptive doe in the area. Since estrus is determined by photoperiod, female whitetails come into heat with astonishing consistency (again, between the 7th and 12th of November for most places). Mature bucks are the most mobile in the days leading up to and immediately after peak estrus. Does the discrepancy make sense now?

When a buck finally locates a receptive doe and can defend her from competing bucks, he won't leave her side until she is bred. This courtship can last up to 72 hours and is typically secluded to some briar-choked hell-hole, but I have seen a breeding pair of whitetails take up residence under a lone cedar tree in a field for an entire day. This is the dreaded “lockdown” phase of the rut, where mature bucks are shadowing every move of their receptive doe. Don’t mistake the unpredictability of deer movement to mean the rut is over. No. Just the opposite!

As soon as the doe is bred, the buck desperately seeks his next companion. If you are hunting an area with a well-managed deer herd (balanced buck-to-doe ratio), then this phase of the rut, the dreaded “lockdown phase,” can be one of the most exciting and productive times of the year to be a mature-buck hunter!

Making the Most of the Lockdown Phase

Remember when I said that peak estrus is determined by photoperiod? In a balanced herd, most breeding-aged does will be bred within that brief window (Nov. 7-12). If all mature bucks are locked down simultaneously, they breed their females within 24-72 hours. (Which takes us to today’s date, November 15th!) Here is how to take advantage of this “desperately seeking” phase of the rut.

When to Sit:

Any time you can be in the woods, you should be in the woods. Deer movement can be slow all day long until it isn’t! It only takes one receptive doe to cross your path before every newly single buck in the county tries to catch her scent. If you can hunt, you should hunt.

Where to Sit:

This phase of the rut (mid-November) simplifies where to sit. If you can sit all day, don’t be afraid to switch stands mid-day. Focus your morning sits near cover, and your evening sits near food. These bucks have been running themselves into the ground for weeks now. They can’t maintain this level of exertion forever without refueling. Over the last ten days, I have noticed a tremendous uptick in food plot visits on my trail cameras. Likely food sources this time of the season are:

• Destination-type food plots.

• Recently harvested crop fields.

• Stands of Red Oak Trees.

Calling and Decoys:

Right now is the point in the season when I begin using a lone doe decoy. The bucks have been battling for breeding rights; even the bigger bucks on the farm could be tired of the aggression. A doe decoy is less intimidating for a buck and provokes a desperate sense of curiosity. Expect the buck to circle the doe decoy downwind and from the rear.

At this point in the rut, blind rattling is reserved for peak boredom. Don’t hesitate to do some doe bleats or soft tending grunts, but avoid getting too aggressive with your calling.

If you are a fan of using scents (and they are legal where you hunt), consider placing some “doe-in-heat” scent around the base of the decoy. NEVER PLACE ANY SCENT ON THE DECOY.

Conclusion:

Get in the woods! If you haven’t filled your buck tag yet, right now might be the best chance remaining to do it. Hunt close to thick cover in the mornings and whatever destination food source the antlerless deer are relating to in the evenings. Good luck out there this week, and be sure to encourage all of your hunting buddies and fellow land stewards to subscribe to Whetstone Weekly!

While you are here…

Whetstone Habitat is thrilled to announce our new online store, Whetstone Holler! Consider the store a one-stop shop to complete your Holiday Shopping for your outdoorsy loved ones. Thank you for supporting Whetstone Habitat, and good luck hunting this week!

If you want to work with Whetstone Habitat to give your property the edge, please don’t hesitate to reach out at the link below!

Happy Hunting,

Zack Vucurevich

If you missed our Youtube episode with David Blanton of Team Realtree, you can view it below: