Help bucks bounce back from rut

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- As any hunter knows, you’re not the same person at the end of the season as you were on opening day.

Miles in muddy boots, sleepless nights and the wonders of what could have been, or the thrills of success, change you. But we aren’t the only ones who change throughout the season. Whitetails, especially bucks, can be dramatically different animals by the end of the season.

For many hunters, the breeding season or “rut” is the highlight of the year. Bucks charging through the woods, scraping the ground, rubbing trees and chasing does with reckless abandon is a phenomenon like no other in nature. But once the dust settles and the last does are bred, the real story begins for the buck. A buck that began the season as a spectacle of strength and stamina has emerged battered, exhausted and often on the brink of survival.

Bucks may increase their average daily distance traveled from 2.7 miles during pre-rut to more than 4 miles during peak rut and can lose over 30% of their body weight during that time. To put that into perspective, imagine starting the hunting season at 200 pounds and tipping the scales at 140 by the season’s end.

This isn’t just cosmetic. It’s life-threatening, leaving bucks vulnerable to starvation, disease and predators. In the North, short, intense ruts lead to quicker recovery if forage is available, but winter snow can make it hard to find food. Southern herds, with milder climates, might fare better, but varying breeding dates mean recovery times vary widely, and food can be limited.

Unbalanced sex ratios can also extend the rut. If there are too many does, bucks can’t breed them all during their initial estrus, so they must cycle again later, lengthening the time bucks spend chasing.

After the rut, bucks bed more and seek high-quality food. Their focus is on recovery, using nutritional resources to support antler growth and build reserves to support next year’s rut. Unfortunately, food is likely limited because agricultural crops have been harvested, acorns are scarce and forbs are dormant. Browse, including twigs and woody plant leaves, makes up most of the diet during this period.

How can we help? Managing deer numbers is one of the most important things we can do. We often focus on producing more food while ignoring the growing number of mouths to feed. Focus on harvesting enough deer, especially does, to keep the population at a level the habitat can support. This ensures there are plenty of resources to go around, improving fawn survival, supporting antler growth and ultimately maintaining a healthy herd.

Habitat management is another way to support post-rut recovery. Use prescribed burning, disking, herbicides and tree felling to promote beneficial forage and cover. In forests, open the midstory to allow sunlight to reach the ground and support forb growth. In fields, burning, herbicides and fall disking can encourage desirable plants while controlling unwanted grasses.

Supplementing with cool-season food plots of cereal grains and clovers can offer high-quality forage from fall through summer. Warm-season food plots can help address late-summer stress periods by providing additional resources so deer can pack on fat reserves for winter. The quicker bucks bounce back after the rut, the sooner they can use nutrients for growth.

Managing herds and habitat responsibly is our duty. Whether you’re in the stand or planning for next season, remember: A buck’s ability to recover after the rut may determine whether he’s around next year.