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The Whitetail
Fanatic's Deer Hunters Dictionary
When it comes to deer, Whitetail Fanatics
often times have a lingo all their own. The information contained
on this page will help you unravel all the different terms
being used around hunting camp. Before you dive into the dictionary
terms and definitions, please take the time to read an important
tip. (below)
A Rut Hunting
Tip from Team Whitetail Fanatic;
When hunting the rut, your approach can not be one dimensional.
You must match up all the pieces of the puzzle to be successful
but above all else, focus on these 3 things: location, location,
and location. You must understand each phase of the rut and
be able to effectively identify the sub-categories of each
phase. Put your knowledge to work when choosing your stand
location by knowing which phase of the rut you are likely
to be successful with when hunting from a specific location.
Hunting close to the bedding area of the buck you're after
won't do you much good if he's in the chasing phase of the
rut. A more successful strategy would be to set up at a known
doe area. Alternately, setting up next to the doe area will
not be too successful if the bucks are just peeling off their
velvet and still traveling in bachelor groups. Mock scrapes,
grunting and rattling are all tactics that will help aid in
your success, but only if you know what phase the rut is in
and set up in the right location.
Rut
An all encompassing term for the whitetail breeding season.
In simple terms the rut consists of three (3) main phases:
Pre-Rut, Peak Rut, Post Rut. Additionally there are several
secondary phases such as cruising, chasing and the recovery
phase. Some biologists contend there are five or more phases
to the rut. While they may be right, we prefer to keep it
simple and therefore recognize three major phases along with
several secondary phases or subcategories.
Pre Rut
The pre-rut starts when bucks begin peeling the velvet from
their newly hardened antlers and encompasses the cruising
phase and the chasing phase. During this time bucks become
increasingly aggressive as their testosterone levels climb.
Pre-rut bucks are ready to breed but does are unwilling.
Cruising phase (subcategory of the Pre-Rut)
The period starting 6 to 12 days before peak breeding occurs
when bucks begin cruising areas both inside and outside their
normal territories looking for the first receptive does. During
this time bucks are often seen during daylight hours, even
at mid-day.
Chasing phase (subcategory of the Pre-Rut)
The period of time starting 5 to 8 days before peak breeding
occurs when bucks are constantly on the go looking for receptive
does. During this time bucks will chase every "near estrus"
doe they encounter until they are satisfied the doe is not
yet willing to stand still for them.
Peak Rut
The height of the whitetail breeding season. Does are in estrus.
The peak rut can last 7 to 14 days. During this time you'll
find the bucks are pretty close to where the does are.
Primary Rut (subcategory of the Peak-Rut)
The first time does enter estrus for the year.. Bucks tend
to push does into some pretty obscure non-huntable areas before
actually breeding them. Although some hunters find this period
difficult to hunt and choose to stay home, if you can get
into and out of known doe areas without being detected you
can occasionally experience success on trophy deer.
Secondary Rut (subcategory of the Peak-Rut)
The second rut occurs 3-4 weeks after the peak rut. Some yearling
does will cycle into estrus and other does that didn't conceive
during the peak rut (often around 10% of the doe population)
will cycle into estrus again. The second rut is generally
much less intense than the first. Some bucks will not participate
in the second rut.
Post Rut
The period of time after completion of the peak rut when most
does have already been bred. Mature bucks are tired and run
down and their desire to breed takes a back seat to their
survival instinct. The post rut also has some secondary categories
including the seeking phase and the recovery phase
Post Rut Seeking Phase (subcategory of
the Post-Rut)
During this time mature bucks will occasionally venture from
their post rut hiding areas in search of one last receptive
doe.
Recovery Phase (subcategory of the Post-Rut)
After an intense peak rut breeding period a mature bucks winter
fat reserve is mostly depleted. His survival instincts take
over and his primary concerns are eating and resting.
Trickle Rut
A trickle rut occurs in areas where there are 5 or more does
for each mature buck or daytime weather conditions are too
warm to permit aggressive deer movement or both. With an unbalanced
ratio, bucks won't have to look too hard to find an available
doe and there will be no noticeable peak in breeding activity.
Unseasonably warm weather will often restrict deer movement
to the cooler evening hours.
A trickle rut may last up to twice as long as a frenzied rut.
Frenzied Rut
A frenzied rut occurs when daytime weather conditions remain
cool and the buck to doe ratio is in proper balance. During
this time we often observe frenzied daytime deer activity
including chasing and buck fighting.
Saliva Scent
After rubbing their antlers on a tree, bucks will often chew
and lick the tree limbs leaving the scent from their saliva.
Bucks will often times leave saliva scent above primary scrapes
as well. This scent apparently serves as a calling card for
estrous does as well as other bucks.
Scrape
An area of exposed earth up to 6 or 8 feet in diameter that
a deer has swept clear of leaves, twigs and other debris.
Deer leave their scent at scrapes in several different manners.
One way to view a scrape is that it is a check in station.
Deer passing through the area will check in or visit the scrape
to leave their scent and see what other deer have recently
been in the area. Both bucks and does will visit active scrapes.
There are several different types of scrapes.
Primary Scrape
A large scrape made in an area that does frequent or where
several doe trails converge. A buck will often urinate in
these scrapes and leave other glandular scents in the area.
Satellite Scrape
A scrape made by a mature buck along edge cover or buck travel
corridors. Some hunters believe these secondary scrapes are
used mostly by the buck population to keep track of each other.
Random Scrape
A scrape made randomly by a buck along a trail. These secondary
scrapes are typically smaller than a primary scrape and usually
are not accompanied by a licking branch. Most hunters believe
that most satellite scrapes are made by immature bucks and
are never revisited by the deer that made the scrap nor any
other deer.
Mock Scrape
A mock scrape is one that has been made by a hunter in an
area that deer frequent. Some hunters will visit mock scrapes
year around and freshen them with commercial deer scent. The
purpose of a mock scrape is to a create a signpost that attracts
deer to your predetermined hunting location.
Active Scrape
An active scrape is one that is being regularly maintained
by multiple deer. A scrape that is not regularly visited is
referred to as an in-active scrape.
Overhead Branch / Licking Branch
A low hanging branch over a scrape that deer will lick and
chew in an effort to leave their scent.
Rub
An area on a tree 1 to 3 feet off the ground where a buck
has rubbed the bark off the tree by using it to remove the
velvet, polish his antlers and strengthen his neck muscles.
It is often said that all bucks rub little trees, but only
big bucks rub big trees. If you see a rub on a tree that is
as big around as your thigh, chances are there is a big buck
living in the general area.
Rub Line
A series of rubs along a bucks travel route. A rub line will
offer clues to the direction a buck was traveling when he
made the rubs. Finding a rub line may provide clues that lead
you to a bucks early season bedding area.
Signpost
In general a signpost is both a visual and olfactory marker
for other deer. Signposts include both rubs and scrapes.
Grunt
A grunt is a vocalization made by a buck during various times
of the rut. The type of grunts we hunters try to imitate most
are called tending grunts. Tending grunts are made by a buck
when he is breeding a doe. Experienced trophy hunters sometimes
try to reproduce a grunt / snort / wheeze which is the type
of grunt a dominant buck makes when he attempts to ward away
a subordinate buck. Hunters believe this tactic will anger
the areas dominant buck and he'll come to your location looking
for the source.
Rub-Urination
A rutting buck will stand in a primary scrape and rub his
hind legs together as he urinates over his hocks and tarsal
glands into the scrape. This signpost alerts other deer that
he's in the area and looking for action.
Hunters Moon
The second full moon after the fall equinox. Many biologists
and hunting experts believe this lunar phase triggers the
start of the Rut in the Midwest and Northern states
Flehmening
A lip curling and inhaling motion made by a rutting buck to
help inhale a does scent and analyze her readiness to breed.
The motion is named after the biologist that discovered it.
Estrus Cycle
The breeding period of a doe. A doe is in peak estrus for
24 to 28 hours. If a doe does not conceive during the primary
rut, she will again cycle into heat approximately 28 days
later creating what is called the second rut. If she does
not conceive during the second rut in some cases she may cycle
once more.
Funnel
A travel route that funnels deer movement through a narrow
feature in the terrain such as a brushy gully that connects
two larger woodlots.
Saddle
A low area in the terrain that deer will choose as a travel
route to avoid being skylined.
Bulk up period
The time during late summer and early fall when bucks are
still in bachelor groups, are semi predictable and relatively
easy to pattern. During this time bucks feed heavily in an
effort to pack on a fat reserve for the upcoming rut. Note:
A mature buck looses about 20% of his body weight during the
rut
Bachelor Group
A small group consisting of 2 to 5 bucks that hang out with
each other, often time just loafing, during spring, summer
and very early fall.
Velvet peel
The time (usually in September in the Midwest) when a bucks
new antlers harden and the velvet covering starts peeling
off. During this time a bucks testosterone level increases
and the buck begins sparring with other bucks to establish
his status within the herd.
Sparring
A social activity performed by bucks as they spar to determine
each deer's standing in the social pecking order. The strongest
and most aggressive buck becomes the herds dominant buck.
Sparring contests begin taking place soon after the buck sheds
his velvet.
Buck Fight
Fighting is a battle between two or more bucks dominant bucks.
Fighting occurs during the rut when two or more dominant bucks
cross paths while each is seeking the attention of the same
estrus doe. These all out fights are rare but when they occur
they can often result in serious injury or even death for
participants unwilling to accept defeat.
Locked Bucks
Two or more bucks that have their horns hopelessly locked
together as a result of sparing or fighting.
Doe Unit
The extended family an adult doe, often consisting of her
most recent offspring as well as her female offspring from
past years. Her female off spring from past years will also
have current offspring making for a large group of antlerless
deer that share the same core area. Note: Buck fawns will
often be driven off by their mothers in early summer. These
young bucks will usually relocate outside their mothers home
range forming bachelor groups with other displaced bucks.
Hot Doe
A hot doe is one that is approaching estrus. A hot doe will
often urinate in an active primary scrape to signal to the
areas dominant buck that she is ready to be bred.
Bedding Area
This refers to an area that deer use for sleep and resting
for long periods of time during daylight hours. Doe bedding
areas will have lots of deer beds, an abundance of tracks
plus lots of droppings. A bucks bedding area will generally
contain rubs and scrapes.
Ready Posture
This is when a doe sticks her tail straight out, lays her
ears back, and stands to be bred by a buck.
Mature Buck
A mature buck is one that is at least 3 ½ years old.
Its skeletal structure is fully developed and in fact can
now divert the maximum amount of minerals from skeletal development
into antler development. Mature bucks have a wider body and
a thicker neck structure than immature bucks.
Satellite Buck
Satellite buck are typically 1 ½ year old deer that
have been chased from their birth area by their mother. Satellite
bucks must establish a new home range and will attempt to
compete, often with very limited success with established
resident bucks for breeding privileges. Older non-dominant
bucks are also considered satellite bucks
Nocturnal Buck
A nocturnal buck is one that will not risk daytime movement
or tolerate any human intrusion into his area. Therefore he
only moves under the cover of complete darkness. Nocturnal
bucks are hard to hunt and even harder to harvest.
Dominant Buck
A dominant buck is the strongest and most aggressive buck
in the area. In a deer herd with the proper buck to doe ratio
the dominant buck (s) will do the vast majority of the breeding
ensuring the best genes get passed on to the next generation
.
Head-Bob
When a deer sees something that it can't readily identify
like a camouflaged hunter partially hidden in the brush, it
will often raise and lower its head in a circular motion attempting
to trick the unidentified object into moving . Hunters often
refer to this circular motion as the "head-bob".
Sulking Buck
Sulking bucks are generally mature animals that have survived
many hunting seasons and have maybe been shot at or have had
several close encounters with humans. They may be past their
prime and are possibly declining in the social status among
resident bucks. Sulking bucks tend to isolate themselves from
bachelor groups and other deer. A sulking buck usually holes
up in very remote, rough and rugged terrain.
Scent Checking
A cautious mature deer will often circle down wind from an
active scrape, deer decoy, rattling set up or other hunting
situation and scent check the area by sniffing the air currents.
This is a precautionary maneuver that helps a whitetail detect
potential danger before they venture closer.
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