Understanding The Rut... In Georgia

We are in the middle of November and many Georgia landowners are

experiencing the Whitetail deer in full rut while others are already past

the rut and others have not had the rut start yet. Why is that? Why is

the rut at different times in different places in Georgia?

If you are an avid Whitetail hunter, you probably already know the

answer to this question but if you are new to the sport, you might not

know the history of Georgia’s whitetail population.

After the great depression, the whitetail deer population was almost

nonexistent in the state of Georgia. Except for a few pockets in the

north Georgia mountains and along the barrier islands, whitetail deer

were no longer around.

In the late 1940’s the state of Georgia began a restocking program

bringing in deer from other states and relocating them throughout the

state. This program continued for decades and ended in the mid-1980’s.

Deer were brought in from Texas, Wisconsin, Kentucky, and North Carolina

as well as some deer being captured and relocated from Georgia. What

we have learned over the years is that the does that were released held

onto the breeding cycle or estrous cycle from the heard that they came

from. Does from Texas come into heat much later in the fall than the

does from Wisconsin, Kentucky, and North Carolina. So depending on what

part of the state you are in and what deer were relocated to your

area, the rut occurs at different times in the fall.

Georgia Outdoor News (GON) published a book in 2000 that listed all of

the deer that were brought into Georgia over the years and documents

where they came from and where they were released. Having this

information and years of statistics from processing facilities, the

Department of Natural Resources has been able to determine the peak

of the rut throughout the state. GON comprised a map in 2000 that I

feel still holds true today. Georgia’s Rut Map from GON’s Georgia

Whitetail Journal published in 2000 is included with this post.

I will note that all of the funds to support this restocking program came

from hunting and fishing license sales. So if you enjoy whitetail hunting

or just like seeing deer on your property, thank the hunters and

sportsmen with the vision to start and implement such an outstanding

and successful program.

Happy Hunting and good luck during the rut. Whenever it may be.

If you are looking for land give us a call.