Deer Rut: The Best Whitetail Hunting Tactics in Florida

Every outdoor sports publication in the country right now is posting variations of “How to Hunt the Deer Rut” advice columns. I’ve read tons of these pieces, as well as hunted in destination whitetail states, and I’m consistently impressed by how the rut functions across the board.

In general, the further north you go, the more predictable the deer rut becomes as the breeding season is timed for fawn survival in late-spring through the following winter. The deer are all firing at once. The southeast is the opposite with its ample food, temperate weather, and historical restocking efforts all prolonging the timing of the rut. At a micro-level, the whitetail rut can even vary greatly between properties 20 miles from one another.

Though the overall biology remains the same, whitetails simply behave different from place to place, which certainly adds to the challenge of hunting them, not to mention writing these "How-To" columns. Florida is a microcosm of this phenomenon with a truly unique range of rutting dates across the state's diverse ecosystems. Drawing down on the broad strokes of what hunters should prepare for here, to follow is a short-hand list of strategies for hunting Florida's whitetail rut.

Deer Rut Research Online

I talked about FWC’s Statewide Rut Map before, and there is a treasure trove of research material on their website, from breeding chronology information to Wildlife Management Area (WMA) harvest reports. The Big Buck Registry is a fine tool to see when and where the big ones are bagged. These can help narrow the times one should be in the woods. Check all of this out at myfwc.com/hunting/deer/

Understand the Rutting Cycle

The deer rut is really a progression through multiple stages of a breeding period. Lacking a biology degree and lengthy word count here, I’ll simplify it the best I can, while keeping in mind there are often really blurred lines between these stages. The pre-rut is when bucks establish territory, a relatively slack time for daylight movement, though hunters begin noticing scrapes and rubs. The peak rut is when bucks are on their feet seeking and chasing the does before finally breeding. This is your target time. After that comes the post-rut when deer activity drastically declines.

Master Different Skills

If you fancy yourself a "rut groupie," primitive weapons will be in your future as the peak rut and these seasons run concurrent in multiple zones. If you're not taking advantage of archery or blackpowder gear, you might be missing out.

Know your Local Deer

This is my 33rd deer season in Florida, and I’m telling you, a difference of a few miles will impact when deer rut. Complement boots-on-the-ground efforts by networking and learning from local hunters. Set your cameras and start a log of deer sightings. The best time to scout is after the season, too, when old rubs and trails will be visible as the underbrush has died.

Settle in Early

The rut isn't the time to scout and mess with equipment, as much as you can help it. I’m speaking mostly to private land folks here, because FWC won’t allow stands until close to the hunt, so you have no real choice. Otherwise, this is the biggest mistake hunters make, in my opinion—jockeying around stands, feeders and cameras, when they should be hunting. The noises and scent, especially in the Florida heat, will tip off the deer. This is just poor planning.

• Florida Rut Map: Find out when the peak rut is in your area.

Focus on Edge Habitat

In Florida, you’re simply not going to find many Kansas-like scenarios where you hunt funnels between well-defined bedding and feeding areas. There are too many places for deer to bed and eat here to be on the "X" every time. Using this concept, though, focus hunting efforts on trails and sign along edge habitats, where there is thick cover and available food concentrated nearby, whether that is agriculture or acorns. Even trails through subtle areas like a transition between pines and cypress are worth a look.

Plan Multiple Stand Locations

A variety of hunting locations geared around different types of edge territory provides flexibility if the wind is bad or a stand stops producing deer sightings. Inevitably, some dynamite spots will simply burn out after a hunt or two because of the scent and overall impact you’ll leave by hunting them. So, have a few back-up plans. Of course, if you’re on a quota permit hunt for a weekend, burn, baby, burn.

Climb High Over the Underbrush

Stand placement can be tricky in Florida. Low-canopied oaks are tough for ladders and climbers. As the rut progresses, though, bucks will take advantage of thicker palmetto flats and similar terrain that feel safe and probably are from ground level. Pines are readily available to run a climber high to peer down into these mazes.

Have Patience

Don't give up. Hunt as much as possible when the deer are seeking and chasing does. It's within the Hunter's Genome to blame weather, moons, predators, other hunters, or a litany of other excuses for not busting a buck on every sit or for staying at home. Generally, it's all wishful thinking and simply a matter of the wrong place at the wrong time. Given the length of the rut, deer here might be compelled to move hard one day and hardly at all the next, with little apparent reason. From my travels, I will say consistently successful Florida buck hunting is difficult. Still, planning well around the rut and being in the woods during these prime times remains the best advice anywhere.

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