How long does a deer rut last in Louisiana?
How long does a deer rut last in Louisiana?
Even though the rut in Louisiana spans four months of the year, the prime rut time for much of the state is in mid-November, followed by the late-rut in mid-December to mid-January that is especially active in the Delta region of northeastern Louisiana.
How long does the whitetail rut last?
three weeks
White-tailed deer. The rut for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) usually lasts three weeks in the Northern Hemisphere and may occur most of the year in tropical zones. The rut is the time when white-tail deer, especially bucks, are more active and less cautious than usual.
What is deer rut?
Rut is a word for deer breeding season, not just the peak. It actually means all behaviors and activities associated with breeding season and can be broken into different phases. Pre-rut: Does have not come into estrus — breeding cycle — but they begin to move into family groups.
Should I hunt field or woods during rut?
During the seeking and chasing phase of the rut, bucks love to run back in the woods (usually about 15 to 30 yards) from the edge of a field (harvested corn is my favorite) as they use their eyes and nose to search for any doe offering even a hint of being near estrous. Often, bucks will cut the corner of the field.
Where do bucks bed during the rut?
3. Community Property. In farm country, rutting bucks will take advantage of any bit of cover as they move about the countryside. Irrigation ditches, hedgerows, fence lines and creek beds immediately come to mind.
What Parish in Louisiana has the most deer?
Deer hotspots “Union Parish has the highest harvest rates of deer in the state, and has maintained this status for the last several years,” LeBlanc said.
Where are the biggest deer in Louisiana?
Madison Parish: Home of the Louisiana record typical Buck, and a few other B&C bucks, this Northeast Louisiana parish has bottomland hardwood habitat and lots of agriculture. Quite a few Pope & Young trophies have come from the Tensas River Refuge with the best one being a 163 1/8 typical.
Is whitetail rut timing predictable?
Because the length of daylight is always the same for a given day every year, the photoperiod approach makes the whitetail rut timing very predictable. According to the QDMA study the average center of breeding fell within a 7 day period every single year, and for eight of the nine years it fell in the same 4 day period.
Where can I Hunt the rut in Louisiana?
Southwest Louisiana, Areas 3, 7, 8 and 10, is the region where the rut is earliest. Archery season opens in September, and gun hunting begins in October. This is not a land of big bucks, but a 130-class deer is possible. West Bay WMA and Fort Polk WMA are the primary public deer hunting areas.
How are breeding dates for white-tailed deer established?
Breeding dates for white-tailed deer are established based upon embryo and fetal measurements. This management work started in the 1960s, and during my tour with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, we greatly expanded our understanding of breeding dates across the state.
When is the best time to hunt whitetail deer?
The rut in these areas generally occurs in January and February, and it is not uncommon for hunters to continue to see rutting activity in March — and even bucks with antlers in early April. Hunters need to be patient and wait for the late season and not burn themselves out in November and early December.