Crazy deer activity common during 'the rut'
- Bob Hanna: Someday
- November 4, 2020
- 1079
What a crazy year it’s been, 2020.
It’s not enough we’ve had a historical COVID-19 pandemic that’s turned the world on its ear and disrupted everyone’s life. We have many friends and family who have contracted or know someone who has contracted this virus. Scary stuff.
It’s not enough to be an election year in which so much political unrest and scandals have everyone on edge as to what’s going to happen to our freedoms as a nation. As I write, it is the evening of Nov. 2. The election could change the direction of the United States of America (doesn’t feel so “united” right now). I try to keep my political views out of my column except to defend our 2nd Amendment rights or hunting laws.
Add to the fact that our lives (Taryn and I) have had a complete change with the sale of our farm and the move to Kentucky. We still ask each other if this really happened or if we’ve been dreaming the same dream.
And we’re only into November.
Oh yeah, did I mention the rut is in high gear? We’ve been watching all of you lucky hunters out there. Many nice deer have been taken so far. It’s encouraging to see all the posts of the new hunters, both young and older, getting it done. A big shoutout to my friend Dave Burgett of Millersburg on taking a nice buck two years in a row on the same day. Also, to Gary Grant of Grace Elk Outfitters (Ky) on a nice buck. Gary guided Taryn on her Kentucky elk hunt a couple years ago and also organized our long-range shooting course.
So to the nonhunter or younger readers, the question is asked, what is the rut and why is it called that? First things first, the rut is from the Latin word rugire, meaning to roar. In New Zealand it actually is called “the roar” due to the red deer stag’s crazy mating call, which could be compared to the roar of a lion.
The rut is the mating season of certain mammals in which the female is in estrus (keeping it PG), and in the case of our deer family, the bucks are more active and less cautious to danger, namely us. During this period the bucks will travel great distances seeking does. That’s why, in the peak of the rut, you may see bucks you’ve never seen before.
This also is the time when the greatest number of deer/car collisions happen. I was reading a Kentucky wildlife article that said, “The most dangerous animal in Kentucky is the whitetail deer,” due to traffic collisions.
To you inexperienced drivers out there, it is critical, this time of year, to drive slower than normal with your bright headlights on, where possible, and be ready at a split second for deer to appear. I was going to say “when in a wooded area,” but in the rut, it really doesn’t make much difference. In many cases the deer hit you, rather than you hit them. They seem to lose all common sense this time of year.
Some of you may remember a couple years ago, just after getting our current Subaru Outback, an owl flew into our front grill on Friday night and a buck ran into the side of our car on Saturday night. The buck hit us just as we were passing the Water Treatment pond at the south end of Millersburg, right in town. Town residents have said they see more deer in the city limits during this period, as well as crazy antics like attacking their own reflection in store windows.
Our trail cameras here have revealed some large bobcats roaming our area. Hunting season for bobcats in Kentucky is Nov. 28 to Feb. 28. The limit is five, and only three can be taken with a gun. The trail cameras also show some large creatures roaming our woods. The neighbors’ beef cattle have been getting through the fence and roaming our woods looking for acorns. They also found the mineral block I put out for the deer.
Life is still crazy here in Kentucky. Be safe out there and keep praying for our country and her leaders.
God bless.