How to Hunt the Second Rut: The Most Misunderstood Window in Whitetail Season

By the time December rolls around, most deer hunters have already made up their minds.

“The rut’s over.”
“Deer are nocturnal.”
“You missed your chance.”

Tree stands come down. Rifles get wiped off and locked away. Social media fills with grip-and-grin photos from November, while December gets labeled as cleanup duty at best.

But every year, a handful of hunters witness something that doesn’t line up with that narrative—a buck dogging a doe through cover, fresh tracks circling bedding areas, or a short, violent burst of chasing that feels eerily familiar.

That’s the second rut.

It’s not loud. It’s not predictable by date on a calendar. And it absolutely does not behave like November. But if you understand what’s happening biologically—and adjust how you hunt—it can be one of the most efficient windows of the entire season.

What the Second Rut Actually Is

The biggest mistake hunters make with the second rut is assuming it’s a sequel to the primary rut.

It isn’t.

The primary rut is driven by adult does entering estrus, creating widespread, overlapping breeding opportunities. Bucks cover ground because the odds are good everywhere.

The second rut is driven by scarcity.

Most adult does have already been bred. What’s left are:

• Doe fawns reaching sexual maturity for the first time
• A small number of adult does that didn’t conceive earlier

For a doe fawn to enter estrus, she must hit a physical threshold—generally around 70–80 pounds by late fall or early winter. When she does, her cycle kicks in regardless of weather, moon phase, or hunting pressure.

That creates a small, concentrated breeding opportunity—and every buck in the area knows it.

Why December Rut Activity Feels So Random

Hunters often describe December rut behavior as “sporadic” or “unpredictable,” but it’s actually just compressed.

In November:

• Many does are receptive
• Bucks don’t have to compete as hard
• Movement is spread across days or weeks

In December:

• Very few does are in heat
• Bucks stay close to cover
• When a receptive doe appears, activity spikes fast

Instead of days of chasing, you get hours.

Instead of widespread movement, you get hyper-local intensity.

That’s why some hunters never see it—and others stumble into explosive action seemingly out of nowhere.

Buck Behavior During the Second Rut

By December, bucks have learned a few hard lessons.

They’ve:

• Survived gun season
• Been pressured out of open terrain
• Burned massive calories during November

They are still hormonally capable of breeding, but they’re no longer reckless.

Second-rut bucks tend to:

• Stay close to bedding cover
• Move during short daylight windows
• Trail does instead of openly chasing
• React cautiously to calling and rattling

This isn’t about cruising—it’s about capitalizing when the odds finally shift in their favor.

How to Hunt the Second Rut the Right Way

If you hunt December like it’s November, you’ll be disappointed.

If you hunt December like it’s December, you’ll be dangerous.

1. Prioritize Food—but Don’t Sit the Obvious Spot

Late-season deer movement revolves around energy conservation. Food sources still matter, but pressure has already taught deer where not to go.

Productive late-season food includes:

• Standing beans or corn
• Brassica plots
• Regenerating clear cuts
• Soft mast like apples

Instead of sitting the middle of a field, focus on:

• Entry trails
• Downwind edges
• Transition cover between food and bedding

Second-rut movement often happens before deer fully commit to feeding.

2. Pay Attention to Small Does

The most important deer in the woods during the second rut is often the easiest to ignore.

Doe fawns entering estrus:

• Are noticeably smaller
• Move with purpose
• Often travel alone until pressured

If you see a small-bodied doe being followed closely—or repeatedly checked—by one or more bucks, that’s not coincidence.

That’s the second rut unfolding in real time.

3. Hunt Close to Bedding Cover

By December, bucks are not roaming.

They are staging.

Focus on areas that offer:

• Thermal advantage (south-facing slopes)
• Visual security (cedars, pines, thick regrowth)
• Quick escape routes

The closer you are to bedding cover without intruding, the better your odds. Second-rut bucks often appear suddenly and disappear just as fast.

4. Tone Down Calling and Rattling

The woods are quieter in December—and your strategy should be too.

Instead of aggressive sequences:

• Use occasional, soft grunts
• Light rattling only when visibility is limited
• Let deer come looking instead of challenging

Think curiosity, not dominance.

The bucks are already on edge. You’re trying to confirm what they suspect—not provoke a fight.

5. Act Immediately When You See the Signs

The second rut doesn’t wait.

If you observe:

• Fresh chasing
• Multiple bucks in a small area
• Consistent daylight movement near cover

Adjust immediately.

Move stands. Shift sit times. Stay longer than planned.

This window is brief, and once it closes, it’s gone.

Why the Second Rut Rewards Patient Hunters

The second rut doesn’t cater to hype or highlight reels.

It rewards:

• Observation over tradition
• Adaptation over habit
• Persistence over optimism

When most hunters assume the season is over, the woods belong to the few who stay engaged.

And sometimes, that’s all it takes.

Final Thoughts

The second rut isn’t mythical—it’s just misunderstood.

It doesn’t announce itself. It doesn’t last long. And it doesn’t forgive lazy strategy.

But for hunters willing to slow down, hunt tighter, and pay attention to subtle behavior, December can offer one last—and very real—chance at something special.

The season isn’t over until the woods say it is.