2014-15 Rut Report

January is upon us once again and that means that hunters everywhere in the Central and Southern parts of the State are getting ready for the Whitetail Rut in Alabama.  Historically, the rut in Alabama is spread out from Christmas through the end of the season depending on which part of the State that you hunt.  There have been many changes this year for deer hunters but the most prolific of them all is the extension of the season into February.  Lots of controversial data studies were used in determining the decision to extend the season and in some cases confirmed what a large majority of hunters have been saying for years.  This year so far has seemed to be very normal in some counties but some counties in the southern zones are already seeing rutting deer.  I am very anxious to see what the extended season will prove to determine.  The Rut Report is now in it’s third year and is a simple way of sharing information about rut progress in Alabama.  Our network of hunters and field staff members have spent hundreds of man hours in the woods since Christmas and the results of our observations are posted here.  There are obviously going to be discrepancies in what the public may see and what we see but that is why we do this to try and help pattern the South and Central Alabama Rut.  The weather and a multitude of conditions including ratios, habitat and pressure always skew results but this is what we have seen so far………

 

Montgomery Co.

Normal to intense scraping, does starting to become nervous and on edge. No visual sighting of mature bucks chasing

Lowndes Co.

Normal scraping, some smaller bucks becoming active.

Lee Co.

Lots of chasing and rutting activity, smaller bucks running hard and does starting to come in. Very close to peak

Macon Co.

Lots of scraping, some bucks still together but beginning to disperse, smaller bucks interested in the does but not much tarsal staining on the bucks that we have seen harvested.

Marengo Co.

This one is hotter than normal for this time of year.  Lots of reports of full rutting activity in some areas and then slightly less in others. I was there for 3 days last week and saw bucks fighting, working scrapes and trailing but not chasing the does.  Others are seeing signs of full rut in this county

Russell Co.

Smaller bucks with does, lots of scraping and no confirmed large bucks chasing yet

Bullock Co.

Same as above but maybe a little closer

Please note that these are only OUR observations by our sources that we rely on and trust.  Overall, it is getting really close and should be a week or two before we see full rut in some places.

If you would like to contribute to the report, please send your county and a description along with the date to joe@thesouthernlandbrokers.com