December can feel like the final chapter of deer season—quiet woods, cold mornings, and a whole lot of hunters either tagged out or running out of steam. But this stretch is far from a dead period. In many ways, December is one of the most opportunity-filled months of the year for killing a mature buck, especially if you understand the biology behind how worn-down deer behave after the rut.

If you’re still grinding it out, this is one of the most predictable phases of the entire season. Bucks are beat up, calorie-starved, and shifting into patterns driven almost entirely by survival and efficiency. If you lean into that truth, your odds of success go way up.

Before we dive in, shoutout to my dad for harvesting a very impressive buck we called “stickers” on our farm the other week.

Hunting the Post-Rut

The post-rut often gets written off as slow, but biologically, it’s one of the most consistent windows to kill a mature buck. Once peak breeding wraps up, bucks are depleted and running a steep energy deficit. Studies show mature bucks routinely lose 20–25% of their body weight, and in older age classes sometimes even push close to 30%. When a buck is that worn down, his movement becomes purposeful, deliberate, and—most importantly—predictable.

Why Deer Move Differently in December

A buck’s priorities shift almost overnight:

1. Recover lost body weight

2. Avoid unnecessary energy expenditure

3. Maintain thermal stability through cold snaps

That combination focuses movement around high-quality food, secure bedding, and low-pressure travel routes. You won’t see the reckless cruising of November, but you will see calculated daylight movement toward resources that help a buck rebuild quickly and safely.

Food and Thermal Cover Rule Everything

In December, deer gravitate toward spots where food and cover meet. The closer a buck can feed to his bed, the better your chances of seeing him in daylight. Key food sources now include:

• Standing grain

• Green plots that survived pressure

• Woody browse near bedding

• Fresh regen from TSI or recent cuts

Red Oak Acorns Are a December Magnet

When you get a strong red oak crop, it can influence deer movement well into winter. Unlike white oaks, which get vacuumed up quickly, red oaks hang around thanks to their tannins. Those tannins delay decay and germination, keeping red oak acorns available as a nutrient-rich food source deep into December.

If you’ve still got caps and shells under your red oaks, that area deserves a hunt. Both bucks and does will work those pockets until the last acorn is gone.

Midday Movement Around Hidey-Hole Plots

Warm mid-day temps often get deer up and feeding. Combine that with post-rut fatigue, and you get a surprisingly productive window for small, tucked-away “hidey-hole” plots—especially those close to bedding. Pressure is low, movement is efficient, and bucks often hit these spots on their feet in daylight.

Doe Fawn Estrus: The Second Rut

Fawn does that hit the right body weight (about 70 pounds depending on region) enter estrus in mid-to-late December. Mature bucks know this and quietly scent-check family groups for one more breeding opportunity. Think funnels near doe bedding, thick edges, and sheltered slopes where doe groups gather.

Low Pressure Is King

After surviving November, mature bucks are hypersensitive to pressure. Reflect that with your late-season hunting:

• Hunt fresh sign

• Keep access routes clean

• Avoid marginal winds

• Focus on short, targeted sits

• Hunt tight to secure cover

As temperatures drop, daylight activity compresses into the safest areas with immediate access to food and thermal cover.

Warm Weather & Southern Strategies

Hunters in southern states know December can bring stretches of weather that feel more like October—lows in the 40s, highs in the 60s, and deer moving in ways that don’t match classic “late-season” advice. But warm fronts don’t kill post-rut hunting; they just rearrange the pieces.

Bedding Shifts in Warm Weather

When temperatures rise, deer—especially mature bucks—often abandon sunny bedding areas in favor of cooler microclimates:

• North-facing slopes

• Shaded hollows

• Benches under evergreens

• Cool drainages

• Slightly wind-exposed points

Warm weather plus winter coats equals overheating risk, and deer respond by seeking shade and airflow.

Midday Movement Can Improve

Warm spells often increase midday movement. Deer may take advantage of comfortable temperatures and lighter thermal stress to feed, especially in shaded staging areas or tucked-away food sources.

Water, Shade, and Short-Distance Feeding

During warm stretches, expect deer to:

• Stay close to water

• Favor shaded browse

• Move shorter distances

• Key on red oak pockets close to north-facing hollows

Treat warm-weather late-season hunting more like early season—shade, water, and low-stress feeding win.

Closing Thoughts

December gets a bad reputation, but when you understand what deer need during this window, it becomes one of the most predictable (and productive) phases of the season.

If you’ve already filled your tag, enjoy it.
If you’re still chasing one, stay sharp and stay patient. Hunt the right food, watch the warm spells, stay out of high-pressure areas, and keep betting on where a worn-down buck can safely meet his needs.

And whether you’re planning ahead for next fall or looking for a piece of ground to manage yourself, I’d love to help. Whetstone Habitat and Tutt Land Company work hand in hand to help landowners give their property an edge.

And hey—if you’re staring at a polar vortex with standing beans, go hunt the beans. You don’t always have to overthink it.