Every fall, deer hunters dream of November, but these are northern hunters, and a select portion of southern whitetail enthusiasts. In the South, most whitetails rut outside of what many refer to as the magical month. In reality, millions of deer do the deed during months some hunters might find surprising, ranging from July to February.

Reasons for Wide Rut Range Dates

Some might not realize why rut ranges vary so much throughout the country. Of course, in the northern half of the country, these are very defined. Deer need to rut in a tight window to drop spring fawns within the most favorable (and survivable) timeframe. They need to be born late enough to avoid cold weather, but early enough to gain strength for their first winter. Itxe2x80x99s a delicate balance.

Due to warmer temperatures, this is not as necessary in the South. Still, while genetics play a role in the rut, environmental factors seem to be the biggest drivers, even in the South. While deer donxe2x80x99t deal with cooler weather, they do have other things to worry about, such as drought, flooding and more. But since they donxe2x80x99t have to worry quite so much about colder temperatures, therexe2x80x99s less of a need for a concise rutting period.

Thanks to college research centers and DNR data, we have a very comprehensive list of rut range dates throughout the South. No state is left unanalyzed. Here is a progression of the southern rut, which surprisingly spans more than half the year.

Julyxe2x80x93August

Most people are thinking about traveling to Florida in July and August. The beach and ocean waves call their name, and the allure carries them southward. Interestingly, deer hunters do the same, but for other reasons.

Florida: Parts of Florida see peak-rut action range from late July to the end of August. This area includes parts of Monroe, Miami-Dade, Collier, Broward, Palm Beach, Hendry, Lee, Charlotte, DeSoto and Glades counties.

September

In some states, the month of September is the traditional kickoff of bow season. That said, most places must wait until the end of the month or beginning of October to begin their season. Regardless, these hunters are thinking about velvet or bucks not long removed from it. Again, parts of Florida and Louisiana are way ahead of the game.

Florida: Other areas in Florida see peak rut action throughout September, ending in early October. These include parts of Sarasota, DeSoto, Highlands, Glades, Palm Beach, Martin, Okeechobee, Citrus, Levy, Nassau, Duval, St. Johns and Flagler counties.

Louisiana: A few parishes in the southwestern corner of the state, including small parts of Iberia, St. Mary, Vermillion and others, see a peak rut in late September, trickling into early October.

October

Speaking of October, the rut continues in parts of the South. While northern deer are still on strict bed-to-feed patterns, some southern deer are running with their noses to the ground. It isnxe2x80x99t just Florida and Louisiana seeing the action, either.

Florida: Other areas in Florida see whitetails breed throughout the month of October. This includes most of the counties (including parts of some already mentioned) in the northern two-thirds of the peninsula, except for a 75-to-100-mile radius around the Winterhaven area, which wexe2x80x99ll talk more about momentarily.

Texas: While not all do, most of the coastal counties in Texas see a rut sometime in October.

Louisiana: Numerous pockets within parishes in southwestern Louisiana see a peak rut occur between Oct. 10xe2x80x9320. Some of these same parishes see a peak between Oct. 20xe2x80x9331.

Georgia: Much of the coastal county ground xe2x80x94 Camden, Glynn, McIntosh, Liberty, Bryan and Chatham xe2x80x94 sees a peak rut around Oct. 10xe2x80x9320. The counties nearest these to the west as far as Lanier, Atkinson, Ware, Pierce, Wayne, Long and Effingham, will see their peak rut a little later, likely around Oct. 20xe2x80x9330.

South Carolina: The southern half of the coastal counties should peak around Oct. 15xe2x80x9330.

North Carolina: Southeastern coastal counties peak between Oct. 23xe2x80x9330, with some counties experiencing the rut earlier or later.

November

Finally, itxe2x80x99s time for the northern rut, which usually takes place during the middle two weeks in November. That said, contrary to popular belief, pockets throughout the south experience their annual rut hunts at similar times.

Florida: A small portion of the Florida panhandle sees rut activity throughout November, including parts of Jefferson, Leon, Madison and Taylor. Some counties in central Florida do, too, including parts of Marion, Lake, Sumter, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus.

Texas: The vast majority of central and northern Texas sees a rut fall sometime during the month of November.

Georgia: Aside from the southeastern corner of the state, most of the remaining eastern counties should see peak conception dates sometime during Nov. 1xe2x80x9315. Then, virtually all the northern and western counties see the rut peak from Nov. 15xe2x80x9330.

South Carolina: Approximately 95% of the state sees its rut peak Nov. 1xe2x80x9315.

North Carolina: Northeastern coastal counties peak Nov. 1xe2x80x935. Aside from coastal counties, the eastern half of the state should peak around Nov. 10xe2x80x9320. The easternmost counties in the western half of the state should see a peak around Nov. 15xe2x80x9325. The westernmost counties should peak somewhere between Nov. 25xe2x80x9330. 

Kentucky: The entirety of Kentucky whitetails tend to produce peak conception dates around Nov. 10xe2x80x9320. That said, some westernmost and easternmost counties are a little earlier or later than that.

West Virginia: Most deer throughout West Virginia peak from Nov. 10xe2x80x9320.

Virginia: Nov. 15 is the peak in Virginia, perhaps a little earlier in certain counties.

Tennessee: Average conception dates are Nov. 15xe2x80x9320 in central counties, Nov. 20xe2x80x9325 in eastern and western counties.

Arkansas: Most statewide average conception dates fall between Nov. 10xe2x80x9325, but some are slightly earlier, but especially later. More on that momentarily.

Louisiana: In the western half of the state, the remaining areas that havenxe2x80x99t already experienced rut activity should do so between Nov. 1xe2x80x9330. Thatxe2x80x99s a broad window, but Louisiana is one of the most difficult states to give ranges for.

Alabama: A few counties see peak-rut activity during the last week of November. These include parts (but not all) of Lawrence, Calhoun, Cleburne, Randolph, Chambers and Lee counties.

December

While most synonymize Thanksgiving with the tail end of the rut, it just gets things started in others, with the bulk of the action spanning the month of December, then wrapping up around Christmas.

Florida: While we said portions of Marion, Lake, Sumter, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties see a November rut, other parts of these very same counties see peak-rut activity sometime in December, or even early January.

Texas: The west central parts of Texas generally see peak rut activity from Dec. 1xe2x80x9315. Then, the southern counties see the most action from Dec. 15xe2x80x9331, and on into early January.

Georgia: Very small portions of Catoosa, Whitfield, Murray, Fannin, Union, Towns, Rabun, Early, Miller, Seminole, Decatur and Grady counties see a peak rut during the first couple weeks of December.

Alabama: Other parts of Alabama experience peak rut activity between Dec. 10xe2x80x9325. These include parts (again, not all of), Winston, Franklin, Cullman, Morgan, Lawrence, Franklin, DeKalb, Cherokee, Bibb and others.

Mississippi: Seven to eight counties along the northwestern border see a rut that falls between Dec. 1xe2x80x9315. Most of the remaining counties in northwestern Mississippi see the rut sometime between late December and early January.

Louisiana: As alluded to, Louisiana has one of the spottiest ruts in the nation. It can be on fire in one location, all while a property a few miles down the road doesnxe2x80x99t see rutting activity for months (literally). That said, in the eastern half of the state (northern and southern parishes), some areas see a peak rut between Dec. 1xe2x80x9331.

Arkansas: River-bordering counties, such as Arkansas, Ashley, Crittenden, Chicot, Desha, Lee, Phillips, as well as a few other random counties, see a peak rut between Dec. 1xe2x80x9315.

South Carolina: The northwestern corner of the state sees a late rut fall around Dec. 1xe2x80x9315 in parts of Oconee, Pickens and Greenville counties.

January

The calendar rolls over to the new year. While most whitetails are back to bed-to-feed patterns, and the rut is a distant memory, other deer are just getting started or still going strong.

READ: THE BEST STANDS TO HUNT DURING THE RUT

Florida: As mentioned, a 100-mile hot zone around Winterhaven, Florida, sees a much later rut than the remainder of the peninsula. As already detailed, some of these areas see a November or December rut, but the northern stretch of Polk, eastern part of Pasco and Hernando, southern stretches of Sumter and Lake, and southwestern corner of Orange counties generally donxe2x80x99t see much rut action until January, and it oftentimes carries over into February, too.

Georgia: A miniscule pocket of ground in southwestern Georgia sees a rut that starts at the very end of December but carries over well into January. This small area includes the southern half of Seminole and Decatur counties.

Alabama: Most of the north central counties see a peak rut from Jan. 1xe2x80x9315, including parts of Jackson, Morgan, Marshall, Etowah, Blount, Cullman, St. Clair, Talladega, Shelby, Jefferson, Walker, Fayette, Tuscaloosa, Pickens, Greene, Hale and others. Other counties see a rut peak from Jan. 16xe2x80x9331, including parts of Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison, Colbert, Franklin, Marion, Lamar, Pickens, Sumter, Choctaw, Mobile, Clarke, Marengo, Wilcox, Dallas, Perry, Autauga, Chilton, Coosa, Elmore, Tallapoosa, Lee, Macon, Barbour, Dale, Coffee, Henry, Houston, Geneva, etc.

Louisiana: Some areas see a peak rut fall sometime during the month of January. These parishes include parts of West Carroll, East Carroll, Madison, Concordia, Catahoula, Avoyelles, St. Landry, St. Martin, Pointe Coupee, West Feliciana, Ascension, Assumption, St. James, Tangipahoa, St. Helena, Washington, St. Tammany and more.

Mississippi: Most southwestern, northeastern, central and east central counties might see the rut kick off in late December, but it doesnxe2x80x99t really get going until Jan. 1xe2x80x9315. Then, the far northeastern and southeastern corners of the state see the festivities begin in late January, and in some instances, carrying over into early February.

February

While most deer are merely struggling to survive, and deer hunters have hung up their gear for the season, some bucks are still in search of estrous does. This is limited to only a few areas, but it still happens this way each season.

Alabama: A defined region in south central Alabama doesnxe2x80x99t see peak rut activity until Feb. 1xe2x80x9315, including parts of Baldwin, Escambia, Monroe, Conecuh, Butler, Crenshaw, Pike, Bullock, Montgomery and more.

Louisiana: Previously unmentioned parishes (and parts of some already mentioned) within eastern Louisiana see their peak rut fall sometime throughout the month of February.

The Craziest States

While most southern states have significant variations from region to region, and even county to county, others see very wide ranges from first to last estrous doe. For example, Georgia is spotty, and ranges from early October to early January. Texas is spotty, too, and starts in early October and ends in late December. Alabama is even spottier, and spans late November to early February. Louisiana has the spottiest rut of all and runs from late September to late February. Mississippi has a long rut as well xe2x80x94 although it at least shows a geographical progression that begins in the northwestern corner of the state and slowly moves southeastward xe2x80x94 and runs from early December to early February. Finally, Florida has the longest rut range, beginning in late July and ending in early February.

The Best Time to Hunt the Rut

Itxe2x80x99s commonly said that hunters want to hunt the peak rut. Thatxe2x80x99s not the best time to hunt rutting whitetails. Those who plan to chase the rut will see much better results by hunting the week to 10 days leading up to peak conception. This is the window when bucks are the most active, cover the most ground in daylight, and occurs just prior to the lockdown phase.

While the rut timeline provided offers a ballpark timeframe for each southern state, itxe2x80x99s still important to contact local experts for fine-tuned rut dates. Local DNR biologists assigned to your county, game processors taxidermists, and other professionals have a great grasp on when the big bucks start falling, which generally coincides with the days leading up to peak conception. Of course, always check season dates to ensure a season is open during peak rut. That said, most states have season dates that span or coincide with the rut.

Exceptions

In the South, the rut isnxe2x80x99t hard and fast as it is in the North. This leads to variations in peak conception dates, even in areas that are close to one another. You can see rut action on one property today, and another property down the road might not fire off for a week or two, if not longer.

Of course, rut dates donxe2x80x99t follow county lines, either. So, there are exceptions when counties are mentioned, especially regarding their average peak conception dates. In some states, single counties can see rut activity span two or three months before itxe2x80x99s all over with.

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