How to Hunt Deer After the Rut
Hunting after the rut may seem difficult but it's not if you keep a few simple tricks in mind. After the rut, deer resume their normal feeding patterns. They feed at different times of the day according to the moon and weather. If you learn where and when they feed you can be there waiting for them.
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Things You'll Need
- Pre scouted hunting area
- Extra warm clothing
- Good scent cover
- Deer bleat call
- Riffle or bow
- Deer stand or blind
Instructions
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Scout a good hunting area. Look for natural food plots. Post rut, the bucks leave the scrape lines and start returning to their normal feeding patterns. A good place to scout is the edge of fields. Look for where the deer enter the field from the woods. Find a place to set up at least 50 yards from the main trail but within sight of where the trail meets the field. Avoid setting up close the bedding places. You don't want to chance jumping them up on your way to your hunting spot.
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Keep a close watch on the weather patterns and the moon phases. When a front is moving in, deer will flock to their feeding spots in the evening. When the moon is full or nearly full the deer will feed at night and into the morning hours. During this time they are likely to bed down in the afternoon and evening hours.
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Set up your blind or tree stand two or three days prior to your hunt. You'll want to give the deer a chance to get used to it being there. It's a good Idea to spray your blind or stand with a good scent cover. This just gets rid of the human scent you leave behind. Wind generally blows from the west to the east so try setting up east of the trail. This way, your chances of being down wind are good.
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Hunting after the rut means the weather will be cooler, so dress for the cold. Make sure you spray scent cover on yourself before you head out. A doe bleat call will come in handy. Bucks after the rut are far less aggressive so they don't respond as well to buck calls and antler rattles.
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Post rut hunting is all about waiting. Once you are in your stand be as still and quiet as possible. The deer will still be jumpy from all the hunting pressure of the rut. They are more likely to flee at the first hint of danger because they no longer have the rush of hormones flowing threw them.
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Tips & Warnings
Scouting is key to success. Learn the feeding patterns and places in your area.
Never wear doe in heat scent on your body or clothing. Even after the rut, bucks can still get aggressive.
