By Eric Bruce

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.

Nov. 6--Overall Activity Status: The rut is ongoing in South Carolina and right on the brink in Georgia. Rain storms blew through earlier in the week and brought colder and windier weather which should spur even more movement and rut activity. Numerous reports of bucks chasing does are coming in from Georgia and South Carolina. Some of the does may not be quite ready, but bucks are still following and checking them out. Expect most of the does to come into estrus in the next couple weeks, which will bring out even more chasing, fighting, and the emergence of the biggest and most mature trophy bucks. Other southeastern states are still weeks away from the rut, but chilly temperatures and pre-rut conditions are stimulating more movement.

Fighting: Fighting is happening in Georgia and South Carolina, with some light sparring in other states. A hunter in Georgia found two nice bucks locked together from fighting, with one already dead. The other was dispatched. Expect bucks to tassle in competition for does in Georgia and South Carolina as the rut continues.
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By Eric Bruce

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.

Nov. 2: For South Carolina and Georgia, that magical time of the year is here. Those states are on the brink of the rut and frantic, exciting deer action is about to bust out all over. It’s the time of the year that all deer hunters dream about all year. Shown above is some evidence of that: a 139 inch 10-pointer killed in Taylor County, Georgia on October 31. The buck was killed by Dan Brig who reports that the buck was rutting with a swollen neck and black, strong-smelling tarsal glands. Brig was using Buck Bomb Doe P, which the buck appeared to be responding to.

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By Eric Bruce

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.

Oct. 26—Overall Activity: The Oct. 23 full moon and warm temperatures appeared to suppress some daytime movement with more nocturnal activity. But with the pre-rut upon us, more bucks are moving during the day than previously. The onset of rifle season in some states has gotten more hunters in the woods and more good bucks are being seen and killed. The rut in ongoing in South Carolina with Georgia's being close. Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi are still months away from the rut.

Fighting: Frank Deaton reported seeing two bucks fighting in Morgan County, GA. The bucks were more than sparring and really going at it. Deaton choose the one seemingly winning the fight and killed the 8 pointer. The bucks appeared to be 2.5-year-olds; maybe the older mature buck fights are yet to come.

Rubs: Rubs are a daily activity for most bucks now. Torn-up trees are being seen throughout the woods, especially around scrapes and travel corridors. The rubs are being more vigorously rubbed with small trees ripped off and shredded.
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By Eric Bruce

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.

Oct. 19: Almost everything in life has to do with timing. Being in the right place at the right time is critical to success in many ventures. This is true with the whitetail rut as well. If you can get to your stand during peak rut, your chances of seeing and bagging a trophy buck go way up.

This is why it is so important to know when the whitetail rut in the region that you hunt. The problem is, it varies across the country and the hunter needs to do his due diligence to know when the timing is. No where else does the rut vary as much as in the south. The peak rut can range within several months in states adjacent to each other. If you're on your stand rattling and grunting in October when the rut is in January, you might as well be banging garbage can lids together. But if the rut is in October and you wait till December to get serious in the woods, your best chances are way behind you.
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By Eric Bruce

OVERALL: Oct. 16: Rut activity in the Southeast has not started except for some rubs and a few minor scrapes. Deer are concentrating on food sources, which is where rut sign, what little there is, will be seen. Warmer weather has reduced daytime movement but cooler temperatures on the way with more hunter activity should increase movement and sightings. Daniel Barnett of Wildlife Farms in Arkansas is starting to see some rubs, but no rut activity yet. He reports that bucks are feeding heavily on white oak acorns.

FIGHTING: Nothing yet.

RUBS: Rubs are beginning to show up in Georgia, Arkansas, and South Carolina, mainly around food sources. Trevor Franklin of Southern Arrow Outfitters in Florida reports that his bucks are still in velvet.

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