"The Rut" Timing.

[Jackalope]

Came across this the other day and went looking. Years ago the state of MS did a fetal development study on harvested does to better understand their core breeding times. I thought I would share it because I think it answers a lot of questions. Especially the ones where the rut is happening over there, but you're not seeing it where you are. At first glance one would think it's temp related, and some of that is true as it starts earlier the further north you go, but that's not all of it. The study was unable to make a complete correlation to any one factor.

 

[giles]

Do they still do this?

 

[Jackalope]

Something that really stuck out to me was this area. Across a 4 county wide area the breeding date went from Dec 1st in the top left to Jan 24 in the bortom right. .

 

[Jackalope]

Do they still do this?

The deer? I can't imagine they would have changed their breeding cycle by much. This was done in 2016 so weather could have changed it, or whatever other factors may have changed to move the times some. It was a snapshot for that season so the dates may be complete garbage today. But the biggest takeaway is "the rut" is not some big widespread event. It ebbs and flows based on area, almost fluid.

 

[triple_duece]

That’s because the closer you get to bama the more inbred you are. Roll turd

 

[giles]

The deer? I can't imagine they would have changed their breeding cycle by much. This was done in 2016 so weather could have changed it, or whatever other factors may have changed to move the times some. It was a snapshot for that season so the dates may be complete garbage today. But the biggest takeaway is "the rut" is not some big widespread event. It ebbs and flows based on area, almost fluid.

My brain was moving towards it being the same every year. Or seeing a slow change over 10 years kind of thing.

 

[Clay Showalter]

Also isn't the rut completely different in Alabama, it is amazing how much it varies from area to area

 

[hickslawns]

Do they still do this?

Yes. The deer still mate. It's how they reproduce.

My attempt at an AI response.