18 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2018
the
ook online, or watch outdoor television,
and you're bound to see or hear someone
talking about "the rut", one of nature's most
intriguing rituals as bucks and does appear more
and more across the landscape.
When exactly the rut takes place and precisely
how deer – particularly whitetails – behave then
is a source of great debate. Millions of dollars are
given to rut research each year, with universities
and other cooperatives pouring resources toward
understanding this phenomenon to help hunters
see more bucks in the field.
Hunters after trophy bucks will try to position
themselves where they think they have the best
chance at seeing the biggest animals during
the rut. Many hunters think the rut is the one-
week period during Nebraska's firearm season
when bucks are moving most. But many archery
hunters are convinced it's the week before. Other
hunters would argue with both of these times,
stating that one should get in the woods a couple
of weeks before the firearm season, while a
select group of people often hunt the "second
rut," which they think occurs later in the year.
Who's right? Well, they all are. With that in
mind, let's discuss the constants, myths, and
what you can do to advance your white-tailed
deer hunting experience during the rut.
L
RUT
Story and photos by Jeff Kurrus