By Eric Bruce

David Hall hunts in Fulton County, Georgia, in western suburban Atlanta. While this county is mostly developed, it also has some wooded pockets with some excellent deer hunting—and, with an archery season that lasts until the end of January, can provide a bowhunter with some exciting late rut or second rut action. Last week, Hall had the kind of encounter lucky hunters typically experience during the absolute peak of the rut. Here’s how he describes it:

“I had to hunt super hard this morning (Jan. 9) as it felt “on,” so I kept my eyes and ears super focused. At 7:45 a.m., I hear something busting through the creek bottom. A small doe came from the ridge across the way and headed up and away from from me. Then she turns back and runs to the creek bottom fast! Behind her is ‘The Man.’ [ Read Full Post ]

By Eric Bruce

Overall Activity Status: Movement is sporadic, with some areas in full rut, some with light early chasing, and others only experiencing some residual rut activity. Numerous reports of chasing are coming in, but most involve younger bucks. Some hunters are complaining about the warm weather suppressing movement. The season is over in Arkansas. In Georgia, the season extends to January 15 in the southern zone and is limited to archery in the suburban Atlanta counties. South Carolina hunters can bowhunt until the end of February. Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama hunters are seeing some form of the rut at this time, and have many opportunities.

Fighting: Some bucks in the late-rut states of Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana are fighting. Competition for estrous does will often spur some head banging. A hunter in Alabama recently bagged a good buck with much of its beam broken off, likely from fighting.

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By Eric Bruce

Overall Activity Status: Deer activity these days is dependent on weather and location. Hunting is winding down in Georgia, South Carolina, and Arkansas and heating up in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and eastern Louisiana. Scott Perrodin hunts in Louisiana and hunted the western part of the state and is now focusing on the eastern zone. “I had a good season so far, killed two bucks and one doe, but nothing big. The deer in my area have gone underground. It's just that time of year. I will be hunting in the eastern zone next week with primitive weapon. The rut action is on, seeing a lot of scrapes in the woods there.” Louisiana has two rut periods, and, as Perrodin mentioned, it’s winding down in the west but the rut is intensifying in the eastern portion near the Mississippi River.

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By Eric Bruce

Overall activity status: Deer activity in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and eastern Louisiana is kicking into overdrive as the colder weather and onset of the rut stimulates rampant movement. The rut is here or very close in these states, and bucks are on the move looking for does and engaging in rutting behavior. The does are a week or two away at the most for these regions. The recent rain front followed by colder temperatures is also contributing to more movement.

Mature bucks are moving as many trophies are being seen and taken. Jerry Webb took a 160-class buck in Alabama that was trailing three does. A 242-inch toad was taken on Giles Island, Mississippi by Joshua Bruce (no relation) last week. [ Read Full Post ]

By Eric Bruce

Overall activity status: Like the waxing and waning of the moon, rut activity is waxing in Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, and eastern Louisiana. It’s waning in Arkansas, South Carolina, Georgia, and western Louisiana. The recent unseasonably warm weather across the South has dampened movement somewhat, but in pre-rut states, the bucks are on the move.

Fighting: Bucks should be sparring and getting testy in Florida, eastern Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi. As bucks begin laying down sign and marking their territory, expect more bucks to bang heads in preparation for the rut.

Rub making: Deer in Mississippi, Florida, western Louisiana, and Alabama are rubbing more and more. Shane Dempsey, who hunts in northern Alabama, says he is seeing more rut sign: “The bucks are starting to crank out the rubs and scrapes, and some young bucks are starting to cruise a little. The warm weather has shut down a lot of the deer movement. Everyone that I have talked to said this has been a down year as far as movement, and all agree this warm weather we have had is the culprit.”

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By Eric Bruce

Overall activity status: The unseasonably warm weather and waning rut in some states has reduced overall movement. There are still some bucks searching for mates in South Carolina, Arkansas, Georgia, and portions of Louisiana, but the primary rut is over. Some second-rut action may be on the way. Mississippi, Alabama, and parts of Louisiana are coming into pre-rut and some areas already have some rut activity. These states are seeing some buck activity but the warm temperatures are subduing the movement for now.

Fighting: Not much fighting is going on, though some bucks in pre-rut states are sparring.

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