Rut Reporter Eric Bruce has been writing about hunting and fishing for newspapers and magazines for 25 years and hunts deer all over the South, including near his Georgia home. States covered: AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, SC, FL.

Things are heating up in some areas of theSouth, others are slow, while others are hoping for just a little action before the season is over.

Typically the rut should be getting cranked in Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi in January. The problem with predictions is that deer herds can vary so much from one county and region to another. Some portions of a state may be experiencing rutting frenzy while others have already had their rut come and go.

In Florida, particularly the panhandle, the deer are in pre-rut while it’s over in some parts of the state. Trevor Fitzgerald operates Southern Arrowhead Outfitters in the Florida panhandle and says that “our deer are in pre rut. They are rubbing and scraping a lot. It won't be long before it kicks off. Here is a picture of one that was killed last week just after he made a rub.”

By Brandon Ray

Rut Reporter Brandon Ray is an expert on the region. Ray was born in Dallas and shot his first deer with a bow in Central Texas at the age of 15. The full-time freelance writer manages his family’s Texas Panhandle ranch, is a licensed New Mexico guide, and last year took a 184 gross P&Y non-typical trophy. States covered: TX, OK, NM.

Any coverage of late season deer hunting in the Southwest is not complete without mention of January bow-only hunts in the desert. In states like New Mexico and Arizona, archers can hunt Coues whitetails or desert mule deer. Early to mid January can mean peak rut hunting for both species.

By Brandon Ray

Rut Reporter Brandon Ray is an expert on the region. Ray was born in Dallas and shot his first deer with a bow in Central Texas at the age of 15. The full-time freelance writer manages his family’s Texas Panhandle ranch, is a licensed New Mexico guide, and last year took a 184 gross P&Y non-typical trophy. States covered: TX, OK, NM.

Snow continues to fall in the Texas Panhandle. On Christmas Day, I got another four inches at my house. What that means for deer hunters in the region is simple: Deer are really keyed in on food sources now. At two of my bait sites, trails through the snow are like spokes on a wheel going back into canyons and thick brush. The deer need the extra calories to fend off the cold weather. If you hunt such a spot, there’s a good chance you’ll see lots of deer. Corn is the best attractant I’ve tried in the late season, but they also eat alfalfa hay.

By Will Brantley

Rut Reporter Will Brantley of Murray, Kentucky, knows the region well. He spends 40 to 50 days each season in the Mid-South whitetail woods. Brantley shot his first deer at age 10 with a sidelock muzzleloader. States covered: KY, TN, WV, VA, NC.

My buddy Mike Pendley, who hunts in northern Kentucky, had one of the best seasons of his life—and he’s only carried a bow or gun himself a handful of times. He dedicates most of the year to make sure that his kids and his wife, Cheryl, have had their chances at a deer. This season was off to a great start when his son bagged his first buck in early October.