Map - Average Conception Dates 1995-2015 11-9-15In the middle of the 20th century, Alabama embarked on an extensive restocking program, bringing in whitetail deer from as far away as Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin to rebuild the herds. Also, deer from southwest Alabama were captured in relocated to other parts of the state.

Due in part to all these different genetics, the rut for Alabama’s deer is literally all over the map.

“You can look at the distribution map of where deer were stocked in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, and you can see the different genetics of those deer that came from the different parts of the country and even different parts of the state,” says Chuck Sykes, Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Director. “You can see the differences in the rut.”

Sykes says that depending on which region of the state you’re hunting, deer might rut the first week of November, or in December or through January and into February.

Sykes does says that rutting activity for most of the state is based on the genetics from the deer captured in southwest Alabama and relocated to other parts of the state.

“The predominant rut is from the last two weeks of January through the first two weeks of February,” he said.

Good. As you read this, I’m in Union Springs, Alabama, hunting for a few days. It is the first time I’ve ever hunted whitetails in February. The last few times I’ve hunted Alabama it’s been mid-January. On those occasions I thought I was a week or more early, so I decided to give February a try. On the map, the peak conception date (when does are bred) is anywhere from late January to February 16!

Another thing on the Alabama rut. While states farther north and especially in the Midwest typically have a defined, distinctive rutting period of 10 days or so, it’s a “trickle rut” in Alabama, with spotty periods of rutting and chasing lasting four to six weeks or more.

“That can (be due to) the age structure of your deer herd, or an unbalanced buck-to-doe ratio or hunting pressure (depending on region),” says Sykes. “Those deer are going to rut, but if you’re pressuring them hard, you’re not going to see them. They’re going to do it at night.

“Also our weather is so crazy, it may be 85 degrees in January and those bucks aren’t comfortable chasing hard in the middle of the day. They’re going to do it at night.

“As far as having a strong, condensed rut, like you see in other places, you’re not going to see it (in Alabama).”

Rut tactics-wise, Sykes says: “When it comes January (into February), I’m going where the does are. I’m probably going to be close to a bedding area just in case those bucks don’t want to get up a lot during daylight hours. If I’m close to that area where the does are and where they’re bedding, the better chance I’ve got of seeing him in daylight.”