Chuck Porter of Sumter said that when the rut ends, it can occur rather abruptly, and unless you hunt frequently and know the signs, you’ll continue to hunt for rutting bucks too long. You may miss the potential for some great late-season hunting in South Carolina.
Porter said mature bucks will have been traveling and breeding a great deal and often have lost a good bit of weight. The end of the rut triggers the need to feed to these big antlered deer.
“A well-positioned food plot in and around thick or swampy areas can be awesome for attracting quality bucks — and deer in general — late in the season,” Porter said. “The thick habitat offers bucks the sense of security and cover, but the food source right there is a big draw. Often, I’ll be watching several does feeding on the greenery planted, and a buck will simply step into view.”
Porter said most agriculture corps, including corn, beans and other favored foods have been harvested by this time, so deer are looking for alternative food sources. This is the time of year when food plots pay off best, when times begin to get hard for deer in terms of having ample food to eat.
Porter said that not only will bucks come to these areas; doe deer will be drawn to them in big numbers as well. Managing the herd on the property being hunted, harvesting some doe deer is often needed for quality management.
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