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Over a decade ago, I found a prime rut funnel in a low spot on a ridge. No worn trail gave it away, but consistent movement in a 30- to 40-yard area where deer took the path of least resistance proved it was a solid setup. On top of that, thick doe bedding was to my right and an evening food source was to my left. On November 8th, a lone doe crossed this saddle in front of me at 8 am. Seeing nothing tailing her, I continued my lookout on the rather uneventful sunny morning. At 8:30, another lone doe appeared from the same direction. Then a ten-point followed her exact path, nose on the ground, tracking her footsteps and walking right into my shooting lane for a 25-yard shot.
With the lion’s share of does now almost in estrus, the smell of love is literally in the air. Bucks are at peak movement for the entire year in their quest to breed, and this coming Sunday will be one of the best days to catch a big buck with his guard down. Look to hunt funnels and pinch points, and be ready to sit all day. Here’s how to punch your tag this Sunday.
Related: The Best Days of the 2026 Whitetail Rut
Rut Stage: Chasing/Early Breeding
Does are almost in estrus, and bucks are on the move looking to breed. During this period, does leave chemical cues on the ground with every step, and bucks use their noses to test both air and earth to find the source before other competing bucks do. These factors make the whitetail woods prime for thrilling action, whether you’re catching a buck bouncing a doe around the timber who’s not quite ready to accept his advances or catching him covering terrain with his nose to the ground, trying to cut a track of his quarry.
This eruption of deer activity can seemingly come at any time and from any direction during this “chasing phase.” But if the hot doe isn’t by you, all the bucks may be tailing her just a ridge over, leaving you wondering if this breeding ritual is happening at all. So how does one conquer the chaos of this exciting yet sometimes frustrating time of the whitetail rut? Below is a game plan for putting a tag on a big, love-crazed rutting buck this time of year.
November 9 Morning Hunt Plan: Fill a Funnel for All-Day Action
Your morning play for rut action is to fill a funnel… with you. Funnels come in various shapes and sizes, and you can determine them by habitat, topography, and man-made features. Regardless of type, funnels and pinches are key during the rut because they take random movement and force deer into one spot. If you haven’t tried to hunt one yet, an all-day sit could be in order if you have a good funnel, as bucks will be moving at all times of day attempting to cut track of a hot doe or pushing one out of a bedding area and likely through one of these critical neckdown points. When choosing one, consider how does move naturally in your area. Pick a pinch point that capitalizes on morning and evening doe movement to and from bedding and food. These does may drag a buck right past you, or leave a scent trail a buck may follow hours later.
A few good funnels to consider are: a saddle (low spot) on a long ridge, a creek crossing where steep banks keep deer from crossing at other locations, strategic hinge-cuts on private land, blowdowns and bodies of water, openings and gates in fences, and where multiple edges of habitat converge like inside corners of woodlots and ag fields. The key is getting as many lines of travel passing within bow range as possible. And if you can, opt for a hard funnel over a soft one. Soft pinches, like converging habitat types, can easily be skirted or allow deer to pass out of bow range. Hard funnels, like a narrow spot along a cliff or body of water, will almost guarantee any buck moving from A to B will have to walk right past you for a chip shot.
To increase your odds even more at a funnel, try fresh estrus scent on a drag. If a buck crosses your path, this will give him one more reason to steer toward you. If things slow down midday, try smashing real rattling antlers together to simulate a fight over a hot doe. Bucks are keyed up and ready to fight, so unlike earlier in the fall, you don’t have to hold back. Mimicking a knock-down-drag-out brawl signals a doe worth having is nearby, possibly bringing any buck within earshot on a string.
November 9 Evening Hunt Plan: Crash the Buffet
If sitting in one spot all day doesn’t work for you, consider hitting a hot food source for your evening hunt. You could combine this with hunting a morning funnel, or a morning sit on the downwind edge of a doe bedding area where multiple entrance trails intersect. This setup allows you to catch bucks tailing a doe back to bed, or cruising the downwind edge scent-checking the bedding area. Then just get ahead of doe movement back to the food for your evening sit.
When you transition to destination food sources at midday, be ready with bow in hand. More than once I’ve nearly been run over by a buck chasing a doe at high noon, and it only has to happen once to teach you this lesson. If you’ve done a good job keeping food sources low-pressure, does should be hitting these well before dusk. Be ready for bucks right on their heels or showing up on the downwind edge to check out the local females.
Keep using data to drive your decisions. Lean on trail cameras and visual observations to tell you what food does currently prefer. If it’s a late-fall food plot, set up along an edge where you have good shooting into the plot, can cover main trails entering it, and can also shoot to trails paralleling it just inside the timber. Cruising bucks will often fail to enter plots, preferring to monitor from a distance or scent-check the entire thing without ever entering. A stand positioned just inside the timber will get you shots at bucks just passing through and also ones chasing into the open.
And what about decoys on this pick of the rut? As I said on our previous two picks, match these to the aggression level of bucks in your area and the maturity of your herd. If mature or bully bucks are present, a good 3D decoy can work wonders, pushing them over the edge and getting them to commit to close range. And when a shot presents itself, I suggest being aggressive, as deer will likely be on the move and the window of opportunity is just a scant few seconds. Pick your first lethal shot within range, and let the arrow fly.
Gear Tip: Master the All Day Sit
Although I’m a fan of all-day sits at this time of year, staying in the woods all day can make for a brutal mental and physical grind. Here are a few things to help you make it through and be alert for when it matters most.
- Conserve Your Energy: Inclement weather can rob your body of energy you need to conserve, taxing both body and mind. If bad weather is in the forecast, try an enclosed blind or ladder stand that protects you from wind and rain. If you’re in an open stand, a good heated vest and hand warmers have saved my hide on many occasions.
- Up the Comfort: Some stands can be brutal on the rear end. An extra foam cushion is easy to haul in and can really save your… you know. For saddle hunters, a 2-panel saddle and thick-soled boots can be a game-changer for longer hunts, keeping you from wriggling like a worm at the worst possible time.
- Save the Snacks: Although you will need some calories and hydration to get through the day, many hunters eat and drink too much and of the wrong things. Sugary snacks can make you crash, so I suggest bucking the Little Debbie trend. My goal is to have just enough nutrition to get me through the day without so much that I have to scramble for the nearest log to take care of business. Have a light breakfast, avoid coffee, pack a small lunch and adequate water, and save the big meal for when you get home for dinner.
- Use Airplane Mode: The phone can be a major distraction in the woods, especially when a buck can stroll by at any time. The solution is simple—put the phone in airplane mode so when that bruiser cruises through during those boring times between 10 am and 2 pm, you’re on your guard.
- Take a 7th Inning Stretch: If your legs are getting cramped, you’ll need to change position at some point. The best way is to just get down and put your feet on the ground for 10-15 minutes at midday so you’re fresh for the evening. Just make sure your bow is at the ready.
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