What Variable Has the Greatest Influence on the Start of the Whitetail Deer Rut?
Copyright (c) 2011 Todd Jensen
Predicting the whitetail deer rut down to a certain day each year is a tall order because there are too many variables that come into play that affect the actual timing of the rut. However, the variable that has the largest effect on triggering the annual deer rut is actually the phase of the moon.
Why is this?
Does coming into estrus is what triggers the rut. Diminishing light that occurs every year during the fall is what triggers estrus. The pineal gland releases a hormone know as melatonin when the amount of light available in a certain day hits an optimum level. The amount of sunlight that is available on a certain date each year remains relatively constant from year to year except for the unknown variable of cloud cover. Storms which effect the amount of cloud cover play into the amount of light available and cannot be predicted over an extended period.
The other great source of light that is available is moonlight. The moon goes from the phase of "full" and thus producing the maximum amount of light to "new" where the sun only shines on the back side of the moon and thus produces no light. This cycle happens every 28 days. However, months vary from 28 to 31 days and therefore the day the full moon occurs or a new moon occurs in a given month varies from year to year. This is why the peak rut does not happen on the same day of same month each year.
Next hunting season look at the full moon and new moon cycle in relation to the usual peak deer rut date for your area. Know that if a full moon is coinciding with the usual peak deer rut date, you are going to see some very intense rutting activity that will be short lived. So don't miss it.
If the full moon is earlier, it will cause the rut to start early as well, but not all of the does will cycle at the same time. This will mean the rut will carry on for a longer period but will not be as intense.
If it falls later, don't make the mistake of thinking that you missed it. Watching this will give you a great opportunity when your hunting competition thinks they missed it and may not be hunting.
About the Author
Todd Jensen holds the current non-typical whitetail P&Y Record for the State of Montana. Get his free Special Report "17 Killer Whitetail Hunting Tips Every Bowhunter Should Know!" These tips will help you take that dream buck of a lifetime. FREE Special Report:==> http://www.whitetailbowhunter.com
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