Ask a group of deer hunters when their preferred time to hunt is and you'll likely get opinions that are as different as they are strong. Some favor the early season, when bucks are still on regular feeding routines, which makes them easier to pattern. They're also still in bachelor groups, which means where you see one, you'll likely see more. Other hunters prefer the early rut stages, when bucks are starting to patrol rub and scrape lines and their increasing intolerance of other males makes them more susceptible to aggressive calling and rattling.

Still others enjoy the unpredictable excitement of peak rut, when mature bucks let their guard down and wander around in the full light of day; and they'll come to the sound of rattling with fire in their eyes. Only a select few, it seems, put the post-rut at the top of their list. While it may not be as glamorous, there are some good reasons why post-rut can be a very good time to bag a big buck.

However, before we discuss why post-rut is a good time to fill your buck tag, let's briefly note the challenges hunters face during this period. In many states, post-rut is at the end of the season — especially for bowhunters. Hunters may have been chasing deer for two months or more. A fair number have already been killed, and those that remain have become quite intolerant of human disturbance. They're sequestered in thick cover and seldom move during daylight. They may seem invincible, but they're not.

Beginning of the End
Rutting buck behavior follows a fairly predictable chronological progression, at least in a herd with well-balanced age structure. Younger bucks are the first to start acting foolishly as autumn breezes carry the first wisps of estrus scent. Later, as testosterone levels start to peak, middle-aged bucks get into the mix. They're out seeking, chasing and otherwise molesting does that are still not quite ready to breed.

Mature bucks, meanwhile, are biding their time. They've been through four ruts and have learned not to waste valuable energy until the odds of being rewarded are in their favor. Then, they kick it into high gear. This behavior carries over into the post-rut. Finding a sudden shortage of receptive does, the older bucks seem to redouble their efforts, wandering farther and wider from security.

For his doctoral research, Dr. Mickey Hellickson conducted a three-year study of 125 radio-collared bucks on the Faith Ranch in Uvalde, Texas. He found buck activity was highest in January, during the post-rut period, and that a lot of that activity occurred during daylight hours. He attributed both, at least in part, to the older age structure of his sample. "The older bucks are still actively breeding," he noted, "while the younger bucks are worn out and have gone back to their bachelor groups."