Rut reports flooding in; consensus good for opening day deer gun hunters

            Deer rifle season kicks off Saturday, Nov. 21, and reports from across the state indicate the timing of the rut is just right to provide an exciting opening weekend.
             The whitetail deer breeding season, or rut, is a biological process that typically occurs around the second week of November. Deer activity during the rut picks up but the amount of activity can be influenced by a host of factors such as day length, temperatures, moon phase and herd condition.
            In some parts of the state, biologists are reporting that the rut is only just now picking up and that action could be at its peak during deer gun season, a welcomed possibility for hunters hoping to have an exciting season.
            Prior to this past weekend, rut activity in the northwest part of the state had been slow and picking up gradually, but according to Wade Free, northwest region wildlife supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, cooler weather over the weekend boosted activity.
            “The cold rainy weekend — 35 degrees, rain, drizzle, and overcast — gave the bucks a needed jolt, and there has been a considerable increase in buck movement, mostly cruising, the past three mornings,” Free said the week leading up to the opener. “The hard chasing in the northwest is on track for the gun opener.”
            Before the weekend, Free had reported that most rut activity had been occurring at night and that it had been “trickling along and could really cut loose” if the forecasted weather arrived over the weekend. Food sources currently being used by deer in the northwest region of the state include mostly agricultural crops such as wheat, rye, alfalfa and milo. Before the recent cold front Free reported crop fields with high numbers of does and fawns together, indicating that bucks had not yet started chasing does intensely. The sudden swing in the weather could be just what hunters need for a successful, action-packed opening day.
            Reports from the southwest region indicate the rut is picking up there as well. According to Rod Smith, southwest region supervisor for the Wildlife Department, reports of smaller bucks chasing does have been coming in, with larger bucks just now beginning to chase does. Smith predicts strong rutting activity this week as the state heads toward opening day, with bucks still active during opening weekend.
            Smith said hunter success during muzzleloader season was similar to 2009, with some areas having a higher harvest than normal.
            “We anticipate a good deer gun season,” Smith said. “Deer numbers continue to increase in several areas. We look forward to seeing the impact of the increased antlerless opportunities in much of the region.”
            Much of the southwest region falls into antlerless zone 8, where does can be harvested every day during the deer gun season. In addition, two does can be harvested in the region during the deer gun season, along with a buck. For more information, consult the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide.” Hunters are reminded that the southwest has a rapidly growing deer population and that hunters can play a major role in maintaining a healthy herd with an adequate doe harvest. Hard work now on managing the herd can pay off in the future with good buck:doe ratios, mature bucks and good overall health.
            Reports are that deer are shifting toward winter-type food sources in the southwest region, such as agriculture, some left-over mast and browse.
            In the central region, pre-rut activity was observed toward the end of muzzleloader season. While most hunters may have expected the rut to peak in mid-November, above normal temperatures continued until this past weekend, and the rut appears to be continuing as a result.
            According to Rex Umber, central region senior biologist for the Wildlife Department, muzzleloader hunters enjoyed excellent weather and vibrant fall colors.
            “It was a good time to be in the woods, even if you didn't see or harvest a buck,” Umber said.
            Deer harvest has been up from 2008 in the central region.
            “If the acorn crop is good in your area, that's where your deer will be,” Umber said. “Do your scouting a few days in advance of your hunt, but stay out of your honey hole at least three days before because bucks will be on the move. Don't forget to shoot your rifle before you go hunting.”
            According to Craig Endicott, northeast region wildlife supervisor for the Wildlife Department, the northeast part of the state enjoyed a fair to good muzzleloader season with buck harvest up the last two days of the season, indicating the rut was drawing near. Bucks were starting pre-rut activity around Nov. 1. While some breeding activity will likely still be occurring on the opening weekend of the statewide deer gun season, hunters should expect the peak to be winding down and adjust techniques accordingly. Doe estrous calls, antler rattling, and grunt tubes may still work, but hunting travel lanes to and from bedding or feeding areas may be more effective.
            A possible Boone and Crockett record buck was reportedly harvested in Adair Co. during the muzzleloader season.
            Hunters in the northeast region are reminded of the importance of scouting out their hunting spots before the season, including searching out food sources, such as acorns. According to Endicott's report, “most all oak species produced acorns, and recent reports indicate deer are still on acorns where available.” Hunters should also be on the lookout for browse such as greenbrier and cool season forbs. Hunters searching for a mature buck  should use weekdays to their advantage if possible, and should not overlook the second week of the season, especially if hunting public land. Hunters not successful early on opening day should remember that deer frequently get up to feed and move about around mid-morning to mid-day. Those still in the woods during that time frame often go home with a deer.
             In the southeast region, the rut is reportedly in full swing according to Joe Hemphill, southeast region wildlife supervisor for the Wildlife Department. Deer muzzleloader season was a success alongside a successful inaugural bear season. Deer harvest numbers were up and hunters harvested 19 black bears toward the state quota of 20. Food availability may be part of the equation for both successful seasons. Hemphill said there was a good acorn crop in the region and that deer are still feeding on large quantities of acorns.
            “We seem to have a large number of deer and it seems like the pressure wasn't there as much as usual on public land,” Hemphill said. Deer gun season could bring more pressure, but deer hunting opportunities should be plentiful.
            Southeast Oklahoma is known for large expanses of public land open to deer hunting, particularly on wildlife management areas such as Honobia Creek and Three Rivers WMAs.  
            For just $40 — the cost of a Land Access Permit from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation — Oklahoma hunters can gain a year of hunting or fishing access on the Honobia Creek and Three Rivers Wildlife Management Areas in southeast Oklahoma, where some of the most rugged terrain and abundant cover in the state allows deer to grow to mature age classes.
            Additionally, the upcoming deer season is expected to be a good one on Honobia Creek and Three Rivers WMAs.
            “Our 2009 deer surveys produced the highest number of deer surveyed since the WMAs were established in the late 1990s,” said Kyle Johnson, Wildlife Department biologist stationed on Honobia Creek and Three Rivers WMA.
            He added that both black and white oak trees produced good crops of acorns this year, which offer food for deer and good areas for hunters to focus on when locating a great spot to hunt.
            Deer gun season runs Nov. 21 through Dec. 6. For more information about license requirements, regulations and antlerless deer hunting requirements, consult the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide” or log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
 
-30-