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The drip rut and who's right
#6928716
10/22/17 02:43 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,210
Texas Dan
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The current issue of Deer and Deer Hunting includes a good article on strategies for hunting southern bucks. The author mentions the term "drip rut" to describe what I believe many southern hunters call the second or even third rut. The author describes it as rutting activity that happens later in the season as doe not bred during the first or initial rut come back into estrus about 28 days after not being serviced during their brief, 24 hour breeding period. The author also notes how these secondary rutting periods occur when buck/doe ratios are out of whack.
IMO, the author's observations are the same as my own, meaning that buck/doe ratios are commonly out of whack in many areas of East Texas where I rountinely see chasing and breeding activity late in the season. Still, most biologists will tell you that second ruts are only a myth because very few doe are not bred during the initial rut. It's as if they're saying buck/doe ratios are out of whack, but not so much that many doe are missed during the initial rut.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: The drip rut and who's right
[Re: Texas Dan]
#6928719
10/22/17 02:46 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
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S.A. hunter
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I buy that.
Last edited by S.A. hunter; 10/22/17 02:47 PM.
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Re: The drip rut and who's right
[Re: Texas Dan]
#6928724
10/22/17 02:51 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 43,769
Stub
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I believe in a second rut, we have a lot more does than bucks so not all are bred first round so first 10 days of December it seems like the chase is on again
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Re: The drip rut and who's right
[Re: Texas Dan]
#6928759
10/22/17 03:13 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 19,498
Erathkid
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I think the term drip and trickle rut are one and the same. To me, it seems to barely trudge along without the madness of a full blown hooskow.
Last edited by Erathkid; 10/22/17 03:13 PM.
Life is too short, as is. Don't chance it. Don't text and drive.
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Re: The drip rut and who's right
[Re: Texas Dan]
#6928761
10/22/17 03:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 19,498
Erathkid
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Warm weather and full moon phase usually dictate wether or not there'll be a 'trickle rut' Also the shape the deer are in.
Last edited by Erathkid; 10/22/17 03:16 PM. Reason: Autoincorrect sux
Life is too short, as is. Don't chance it. Don't text and drive.
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Re: The drip rut and who's right
[Re: Texas Dan]
#6928929
10/22/17 06:57 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,418
BDB
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Seems simple to me. They have documented proof in wild herds that some does will calf about 1 month later than most other does. Gestation period is not up for argument...they all have the same gestation period. So its a fact ...there is a 2nd and very rare third 'rut'
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Re: The drip rut and who's right
[Re: Texas Dan]
#6929485
10/23/17 02:22 AM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,638
Pitchfork Predator
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You would see all fawns with spots on them at the same time of year if there was only one rut. Not the case every where I've hunted,
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Re: The drip rut and who's right
[Re: Texas Dan]
#6929803
10/23/17 01:34 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,213
tShawnB
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I hunt in the rolling plains region and have good ratios of bucks to does but it's been a long time since I've seen a hard, full on rut. Our rut activity is pretty steady, though not crazy, from about the first week before Thanksgiving to the second week of December. Sometimes if you hit the weather, moon phase, etc... just right you might have day that's more active than others, but for that 4 week period you just hunt daylight to dark as much as possible and you see bucks seeking and chasing at some point just about every day.
How come everybody I meet is a deer hunting expert?
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Re: The drip rut and who's right
[Re: Texas Dan]
#6929868
10/23/17 02:09 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,273
BenBob
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Some doe fawns that are born early/late whichever it would be can also contribute to a trickle rut. Some biologists/hunters may not agree with it, but there is some reason for bucks to be chasing after does 28 days or so after the initial rut. Lots of times the trickle rut is more productive because the big bucks are willing to be out and about looking for that one last doe to come into heat. Bucks do a lot of traveling looking for that first doe in heat and the last doe in heat.
Tired, Wired, and Uninspired
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Re: The drip rut and who's right
[Re: BenBob]
#6929871
10/23/17 02:12 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,210
Texas Dan
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Bucks do a lot of traveling looking for that first doe in heat and the last doe in heat. Very well put BenBob.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: The drip rut and who's right
[Re: Texas Dan]
#6929875
10/23/17 02:14 PM
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Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 387
Trophytaker3
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Usually here in east Montgomery county, we see about 2 bucks chasing 1 doe, which i guess may be normal?
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Re: The drip rut and who's right
[Re: Texas Dan]
#6930239
10/23/17 07:42 PM
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,170
Jimbo
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The second rut isn't a myth, and if you observe the fawns where you notice some still have spots the first of bow season or at times the first of November. We had several fawns last year that fit that description. Those same fawns probably will be late breeders as well just due to age differences, but that's just my theory. As long as there are bucks, and does coming in there will be bucks in rut.
Last edited by Jimbo; 10/23/17 07:47 PM.
Thursday at 12:45 PM #33 Once i learned that i didn't "NEED" to kill something, and that if i did kill something all the fun stopped and work began, i was a much better hunter.
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