1. Original Power Point Created by Andy Harrison
The Rut
Original Power Point Created by
Andy Harrison
Modified by the GA Agriculture Education Curriculum Office
July 2002

2. Driven By Need to Reproduce
Must pass on traits to offspring
They then reproduce

3. Basics
Whitetail evolved primarily as forest animals in the eastern United States
First record of deer was recorded by explorers from the old world
Reported in New England and Atlantic coastal states
Whitetail were the primary source of food for settlers and Indians

4. Basics Mating animals have various methods for attracting mates
Birds: colorful plumage
Monkeys: screeching calls

5. Basics Population of deer at time of colonization
7 deer/square mile (640 acres)
Deer do not thrive in virgin forest land or dense vegetation
Need areas that have been disturbed
For example: fires, storms, tornadoes, or ice storms
These create openings and new vegetation

6. Basics
Deer have a developed system for announcing their availability for mating
Scent: attracts opposite sex
Visual signs: e.g. markings
Deer not known for vocalization
Elk are the exception
Deer evolved to rely heavily on scent cues and visual cues
These are the basis for rut

7. Pre-Rut In late summer food quality poor or declining
Deer enter fall in fairly poor condition
Must get into breeding condition fairly fast
Fruit, nuts, and acorns mature about this time
High in energy and fat

8. Bucks: Pre-Rut Have expended a lot of energy for: Antler growth
Shedding their velvet
Caused by short term loss of blood flow to antlers
Shedding summer coat and subsequent growth of heavier winter coat
Developing muscles for upcoming combat period

9. Bucks: Pre-Rut Nutrient resources shunted to growing antlers
Minerals and protein come from the bones of the body
Shedding of coat and growth of grayish winter coat

10. Bucks: Pre-Rut Shedding of velvet
Bur forms at base which shuts off blood supply to velvet
Process occurs inside of the antlers
Similar to hardening of arteries
In only a matter of hours, the velvet dies and falls off
The buck can now get ready for rutting and combat

11. Bucks: Pre Rut
Many anatomical and physiological changes take place at this time
Remain in their summer sanctuaries and move very little
Yearling bucks tend to roam because of no habitat
Yearling bucks also attempt to become associated with buck groups

12. Bucks: Pre-Rut
Most of initial rutting signs occur in and around their summer habitats
Size and strength important
Must work on strength
Male hormone levels increase
More belligerent and often take out frustration on saplings

13. Bucks: Pre-Rut
Enlarged neck due to strengthened neck muscles from rubbing, not enlarged glands
Mock combats with trees strengthen shoulder and ham regions
Usually attack trees with light colored bark in order to leave signposts
Signposts are generally near the primary bedding spot

14. Bucks: Pre-Rut Scent communication is important to the Whitetail
Body is covered with scent glands
Communication occurs from one deer to another
There is still little known about scent communication

15. Bucks: Pre-Rut Scraping allows the buck to release information:
He is in area
He is in breeding condition
Scraping usually begins in mid-summer
Not all bucks scrape
During pre rut bucks perform mock scrapes

16. Late Pre-Rut Last few days prior to actual rut
Bucks extremely aggressive and agitated
Full scales fights are easily provoked and are characterized by:
Slow stiff-legged approach
Ears laid back, hair standing on end, and becoming darker
Presentation of a broadside in order to appear larger
Circling each other

17. Late Pre-Rut Fight Largest antlered buck not always winner
One or both may “Snort-wheeze”, signals intent on fighting
Violent coming together of antlers
Durations from minutes to hours
Largest antlered buck not always winner
Defeated buck pursued by victor

18. Rut Full rut begins with response to light conditions
Bucks move and roam farther from summer area
They expand the rubbing and scraping area
This expansion continues as season progresses

19. Rut Doe social groups are, for the most part, related
Bucks roaming away from related social groups prevents inbreeding
In overpopulated areas inbreeding is common

20. Rut
Vagrant (roaming) bucks set up lines of scrapes as they move along from one group to another

21. Full Scrape Sequence
Begin by pawing-out a depression in the ground beneath a bush
Urinates in the depression
Urine carries male secretions
Signals other bucks that he is in the area
Signals the does that he is available for mating
He may also refresh his signpost markings

22. Full Scrape Sequence
Information is left from the forehead gland or glands around antlers
This information is picked up by other bucks either by smell or by taste (licking the scrapes)
Buck follows the series or line of scrapes
If scrape produces a doe he sticks with it
If no doe appears, he moves on

23. Rut No special time of day If does are in heat, bucks move
If does are in good condition, they come into heat about the same time as the buck comes into rut

24. Doe Estrus
Well-managed herds or herds with low populations have 2 – 3 distinct periods of rut
1st: strongest; early in season
2nd: 20 – 30 days later; includes does that became pregnant in primary rut plus younger does that did not come into heat
3rd: small group; includes a few fawn does

25. Doe Estrus
Up to 40% of fawn does have ability to reproduce in well-managed herds or low population densities

26. Buck: Doe Behavior Communication Scrapes
Bucks can trail does over great distance
Some believe that does show preference to selected bucks

27. Buck: Doe Behavior Pheromones are chemical communicators
Sex hormones: source is not urine
Does also make scrapes
Signposts are most often located in open areas visible to each sex

28. Buck: Doe Behavior Buck approaches doe
Struts
Antlers held high
Walks stiff-legged
Could come running with a wagging tail
Doe initially not willing to cooperate

29. Buck: Doe Behavior Vocalizations
Several pig-like grunts when buck approaches doe
Variable in pitch and delivery
May also attract other bucks
Does do not make grunting sounds during mating

30. Buck: Doe Behavior
Once contact is established the buck and doe stay together for several days
Mating occurs during this time
Only after the doe decides to mate
Doe positions more easily for mating
Mating may take place several times over short period
Buck may breed 6 to 8 does

31. Post-Rut Instinct for survival takes over Bucks become wary of hunters
Spend much of their time in sanctuaries
Limit movement to when hunters are not out
Lose a good portion of their weight and fat reserves

32. Post-Rut As high as 40% mortality rate in northern US and Canada
Does do not experience this high rate because of a lower level of rutting activity
Bucks seek out high carbohydrate and high fat foods
Higher acorn production years
Agricultural crops

33. Post Rut
Light conditions and breeding activity cause buck to lose interest in rutting
Loss of male hormones cause a “breaking layer”
Break between the base of the antler and the skull
Antlers fall off singularly or as a set
Bucks may continue scraping out of habit