Late Season Deer Hunting: Do Bucks Come Back to Their Main Area After Rut?

@Brad: Late season hunting can be a bit different compared to the rut. During the rut, bucks are actively searching for does and are more visible. However, after the rut, bucks tend to go into what is known as the "post-rut" or "lockdown" phase. During this time, bucks may become less active and more reclusive.

But don't worry, bucks do come back to their main areas after the rut. They will start focusing on replenishing their energy and finding food sources to recover from the intense breeding season. This means they will likely return to their core areas, especially if there are reliable food sources nearby.

To increase your chances of success during late season hunting, focus on food sources such as agricultural fields, food plots, or areas with abundant mast crops. Setting up near these areas can increase your chances of encountering bucks as they search for food. Additionally, consider adjusting your hunting strategies, such as hunting during the late afternoon when deer are more likely to be active.

Late season hunting can be challenging, but with some adjustments to your approach and a bit of patience, you can still have a successful hunt. Good luck out there! 🦌 SquatchBot is GoWild’s furry assistant powered by artificial intelligence. He comments on all posts flagged as questions. It’s a good idea to also ask a human.

@Casey

@Brad are you seeing does still, or no deer at all? I ask because even during lockdown bucks can sometimes remain elusive while keeping a doe pinned down. Last year I kept seeing a doe in the same spot over the course of a 6-hour period. Assuming she was locked down, I decided to put a stalk on her to investigate. Turned out she was being guarded by a mature buck that was keeping out of sight while keeping her locked down.

I say that to say if you’re seeing does it may be a good idea to do some stalking

Set up a bit closer to bedding areas. The “lockdown” is just the bucks reducing their movement and hunkering down with the does they have, often in thicker, less pressured areas (bedding). Hope this helps!

@Vince I’m suburban hunting a small 30 acre lot. Can’t move unfortunately.

@Wes I’m seeing some does, not as many. I’m mostly wondering if they will start to return to this spot, which was loaded with deer a month ago. I’m on a bit of a nutrition oasis in a suburban lot

@Brad I feel your pain. I live just outside of Philadelphia. The majority of deer I shoot are 50 yds from someone’s backyard. I wish I could help more!

@Vince all good. This is my first year hunting like this. Normally out in the country where I pop whatever on opening day 🤣

I feel you man! Had the same thing happen to me. I’ve had the hardest time figuring out how to hunt the property I’m on. I’m hunting a 450 acre farm but it’s a horse farm. So maybe only a total of 80ish acres are wooded, everything else is cleared and fenced. But I’m assuming the bucks have the does locked down in the wooded areas which is their known bedding, but it’s too thick to bomb in there.

@Dan I’m trying to decide if I push on or give it a week or so and go back out. Problem is with this time of year I can now only hunt weekends because the staff is working the property until 5 and sunset is at 5:33 right now. 😂

@Brad I decided to give it a bit, given the archery season here goes until mid January I figure I have time. Also the deer around me aren’t receiving much pressure. There’s only one property that hunts and they did their shooting yesterday. So from what I’ve learned from myself and others over the years, the bucks will be back around. Bed to food patterns are solid after the rut because they’re trying to put mass back on

Find a reliable food source and give it some time. They’ll be looking to replenish after chasing during the rut.

@Dan that’s kinda what I was thinking. You may convince me to wait it out.

@Caleb yeah I’m kinda thinking that. May take a break tonight and head back next weekend and see what’s up

@Brad heck yea brother, good luck!

@Caleb thanks and same to you

@Brad I plan on being in the woods all next weekend depending on what trail cams show me. That 80 degree streak we had last week threw some stuff off with the rut. Personally I think we’re about a week behind on normal behavior patterns for our area. Usually you see this lock down happen the first week of November.

I know we’re in lockdown right now because I went from 2 shooters showing themselves for 3 nights in a row, now all I’m seeing is small bucks and 1/10th of the does. Sounds like you’re there… post chase can be hot, hang in there.

In another week or less, you’ll see some mild chasing and seeking again. But once that clears up and gun seasons are over, bed to good patterns will return and be as predictable as they were in early fall

I’m in Southcentral PA hunting mostly hills, hollows and ridges. When does start cycling into estrous I hunt travel corridors, saddles, pinch points, logging roads and other travel corridors where bucks cruise looking for does and chasing. For the most part my bucks don’t leave, just roam more. Downwind side of feeding and bedding ares are good too. I have killed alot of bucks in pinch points and downwind of bedding areas.

@Broden ok that’s what I’m thinking. Took a break today and will see what happens on camera over the next few weeks.

@Mike yeah I’m hanging. Decided not to go today to spend time with Ernie. Plenty more days for hunting

@Dan I saw pre rut behavior all October. Sparring. Dogging does. I definitely think the weather must have thrown things off.

My experience is they half assed do. You'll get a spike in activity a few days after lock down and then again first of December. I've never killed a buck outside of November but I've seen good ones chasing first of December so it happens.

@Adam 🤞🤞🤞

I had two of the craziest hunts for rut activity oct 30th evening then the next morning. so I think late November there will be action again. But I’m a novice as well but that’s just based on what I saw in the woods

@Brad I seem to have the same problem my deer have disappeared however the late season winter conditions seem to bring the deer back in if you have a good food source.

@Arthur it’s lockdown time now

@Arthur I’m watching my camera to see when the activity picks back up