Knowing how to hunt the rut in Alabama creates an excellent opportunity to take a nice buck.

Alabama is a great state to hunt deer in. There is an excellent opportunity to take a deer with a season stretching from mid-October to early February and reasonable antler restrictions. If you are looking for the best time to hunt Alabama, you should save your vacation days for the rut.

Rutting bucks will forgo their evening routines and chase does just about anywhere they can. Deer hunting the rut in Alabama should arguably be considered a state holiday. While the rut is a high-intensity breeding period of two to three weeks, it doesn't happen everywhere at the same time.

What is the Rut

Multiple factors can kick off the rut. Anything from a drop in temperature to a change in precipitation can jump-start the breeding cycle. All of these factors correlate to the survival of fawns in the upcoming season. The rut rarely comes on a set day like Christmas does, despite feeling like Christmas. It does, however, come on predictable date ranges. The Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division maintains a compiled data set of previous rut activity and releases this forecast in a Rut Map to make your life a bit easier.

Where to Hunt the Rut

In the state's northern regions like Cherokee or Limestone county, the rut starts earlier; hunters will encounter the rut in late December. The peak rut will happen from late January to February for southern state hunters or those on the Gulf of Mexico. Nothing says a romantic valentines day dinner like deer steaks over candlelight.

In many states, the rut peaks during seasons that attempt to give the love-drunk deer a bit of a sporting chance. What we mean by that is in neighboring Florida, peak rut happens during archery season. Bowhunters need to stalk or set up closer to deer to make a clean kill, giving the deer more chances to spook or never get close enough. However, in Alabama, hunters can enjoy peak rut during rifle season.

Outside of peak rut, there are several blocks of time characterized by buck behaviors. These are pre-rut, seeking, peak rut, lockdown, and post-rut.

Pre-Rut

Pre-rut is the time of year when bucks are focused on marking territory and bulking up. Bucks have yet to change their summer routines, so keying in on buck signs and food sources is critical for success. Buck sign includes rubs; when a buck has removed the velvet from his antlers by rubbing against a tree and scrapes, where a buck will dig to expose open dirt and urinate on it to mark his territory.

Seeking

Seeking is the time of year when bucks begin to follow does. Keying in on does will significantly increase your chances of getting a buck, but with Alabama's long doe season, you may end up with a full freezer without a buck. Locating food sources near an area with lots of buck sign is a tactic that can pay off big time.

The Rut

The time of year for deer hunting. Bucks have abandoned their regular routines and are cruising the woods and fields looking for does. Bucks are so full of lust that they can be called in and away from other does. A combination of doe calls and buck grunts can drive a buck to charge headlong to your stand looking for love or a fight. If you cannot locate a buck in the morning, try setting up an ambush near doe bedding areas. Bucks in peak rut will sometimes try and sneak into bedding areas for a little afternoon delight.

LockDown

During the tending or lockdown period, the breeding pairs mellow out and spend most of their time in bedding areas. Put your focus on the bedding areas that the deer will retire to at the end of the day. Doe calls may still work as bucks will still want to mate. Buck grunts are less effective as the bucks don't show the same enthusiasm to spar now that they have found a few does.

Post-rut

In the post-rut phase, deer have returned to their cautious ways. Grunts and calls will not yield any action; staying focused on food sources and bedding will yield the best results.

The Second Rut

While the second rut doesn't always occur, it is more likely in areas with abundant food and early ruts like in Limestone county. Younger does may come into their first estrus, or does that were passed over in peak rut may be in heat again. There is no hard and fast rule for the second rut; should you see a buck chasing does a month past the rut, then you may be seeing the second rut. Hit the buck grunt or the trigger at your discretion.

Deer hunting in Alabama is an opportunity well worth the time to access. The state allows hunters to hunt the rut for several months by driving from one region to another. Alabama should be a stop on every southern hunter's list with long general seasons and generous bag limits. Mark your calendars, scout hard, scout early, and don't forget your grunt tube.