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.
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