How to Hunt Deer in the Rut in Missouri

Deer are most active and often less cautious during the rut. Missouri's gun season is timed to coincide with the most likely time of rutting activity, although the exact time is difficult to predict. Deer rut varies widely across the state, and even across counties in some seasons. Knowing what stage of activity deer are in will determine a hunter's strategy.

Things You'll Need

• Tree stand or ground blind
• Doe estrus urine or buck urine
• Wicks or cotton balls
• Rattling horns
• Grunt call

Instructions

1. Watch deer behavior to determine whether rutting is in progress. Fresh scrapes and rubs, bucks traveling rub lines and bucks chasing does are good indications. Scrapes are areas of ground made bare by bucks as a signpost that they are looking for does. Rubs are made by rubbing antlers on the trunks of small trees, especially conifers.

2. Pick a location for your deer stand or ground blind that is near or along one of these rub lines. If deer are very active, these lines are easy to spot once scrapes and rubs are discovered. In Missouri, as in all states, bucks will check lines periodically throughout the day during the rut. Big bucks hide out in heavy cover, but not as much during the rut. Look for clearings with heavy cover nearby as other places to stand. Don't disregard food plots, crop fields, creeks and areas dense with acorns, especially if you can set up along a deer trail leading to these spots. Despite the rut, deer still need to eat and drink.

3. Hang wicks or cotton balls scented with doe estrus or buck urine on tree limbs about 30 yards away from your stand. Three locations around your stand is sufficient. While walking to and from your stand and while hanging wicks, drag a rag soaked in urine to hide your own scent. Scents are permissable in Missouri.

4. Sound a grunt call to attract deer. A short, soft series of "contact" grunts works well. Grunting too deeply or loudly might scare off younger deer as will grunting too often or too aggressively. A series of three or four grunts no more than every half hour or so is fine. Grunting at a buck that is walking away from you sometimes turns them back around again. Physically activated calls are legal in Missouri, but electronic calls are not.

5. Rattle a pair of deer horns or a pair of artificial deer horns to attract the attention of bucks. During the rut, many bucks are mating, but not all of them will yet be paired with a doe. These unattached bucks may respond to the thought of a fight, which is what rattling aims to simulate.

6. Stay in your stand during the noon hour when many hunters leave. During the rut, bucks chase does throughout the day and don't stop because the sun is high. Also, as other hunters leave, they might inadvertently scare a few deer toward your stand.

Tips & Warnings

• The use of scents and minerals (including salt blocks) are permitted in Missouri. However, mineral blocks that have food additives are not.

• Hunting with dogs, electronic calls, electronically activated calls, decoys and baits are also prohibited.

• Areas are considered baited as long as 10 days after the complete removal of all bait.

References

• Game and Fish Magazine: 5 Strategies for Successfully Hunting the Rut
• North American Whitetail: Deer Hunting Hot Spots
• Missouri Dept. of Conservation: General Deer Regulations

Resources

• Missouri Dept. of Conservation: Life History