December 18, 2017

Quick Tips: How to Take Post-Rut Deer

Terry Drury | Drury Outdoors

Terry Drury post-rut buck

One of the things I've learned about hunting the post rut is that Mother Nature plays a major role when post-rut bucks move. In 2017, we didn’t have the colder temperatures that we’re accustomed to having in the Midwest during November and early December. Finally, in the early part of December, we did get some colder weather.

Remember that during the rut the bucks are chasing does, expanding their territories and on the move trying to breed. They’ll often move as much at night as they do in the day. So, when the rut ends, and winter is coming on, their number-one need is food. The first buck I harvested on December 2 was in extremely warm weather with a cold front moving in to where I was hunting.

The first two tips for taking post-rut bucks are:

look for cold fronts moving into the area where you hunt after the rut, and
be sure food’s available for the deer after the rut.

Experienced Hunters Cannot Overlook Tree Stand Safety

Statistics show that treestand accidents are the leading cause of injury among hunters. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reports that one in three people who hunt from an elevated stand will have a fall resulting in serious injury. The most common types are fractures of the spine and extremities, followed by head and lung injuries. Another study estimated 82 percent of those injured were not using a fall arrest system (FAS). The rest were

Deer, Mossy Oak Gamekeepers

Latest Content

Duck Hunting Rice Fields in Arkansas: The Rich History and Modern Strategies

Although mallards had been descending on the bottomland hardwoods, bayous, and swamps of Arkansas long before the 20th century, the legend of duck hunting in the natural states tends to coincide with the advent of rice farming.

Waterfowl, Mossy Oak Companions, Mossy Oak Gamekeepers

Mossy Oak's 2024 Christmas Gift Guide for Hunters and Anglers

Whether you need Christmas gift ideas for fisherman, Christmas gift ideas for deer hunters, or Christmas gift ideas for camo lovers, there's a great selection of products on our list here.

Fishing, Big Game, Small Game, Deer, Waterfowl, Gear

Toxey Haas's Tips for Brushing in a Duck Blind

Toxey Haas loves to hunt ducks. In these videos, he takes us through his essential kit for brushing in and repairing a duck blind as well as how he prepares his duck blinds every year.

Waterfowl, How-To

Mossy Oak's Woodsman Series is Back

The Mossy Oak Woodsman Series is Back. Rooted in everything core hunters expected from us in the early days, the Woodsman collection is thoughtfully designed, constructed with quality materials, quiet fabrics, sturdy stitching and of course, our timeless camouflage patterns. We're proud to celebrate the core of hunting, woodsmanship, and with seasonal collections on the horizon, we're excited to open the archives, add a few things and re-introduce these classic designs. The Mossy Oak Woodsman

Turkey, Big Game, Small Game, Deer, Waterfowl, Predator, Conservation, Land Management, Gear, Mossy Oak

From the Archive: Deer Calling Tips from the Pros

Originally published in the 1994 Mossy Oak Bowhunting Magazine, this article talks to professionals like Will Primos on calling in deer.

Deer

How a Fistful of Dirt Started a Revolution

"That day was the beginning of a revolution in hunter concealment. It was the beginning of Mossy Oak, America's most effective concealment system."

Turkey, Deer

From the Archive: Ask the Pros! Mossy Oak Experts Answer Key Questions

"Pay attention as Mossy Oak Pro Staffers Will Walker, Mark Drury, Mike Fine and Stan Oakes--archery hunting's A Team--delve deep into the sport for insight and info that only they can provide."

Deer, Bow

From the Archives: Tune-Up Clinic

Originally published in the 1994 edition of Mossy Oak Bowhunting Magazine, this article discusses how to make sure your bowhunting set up is perfect come season.

Big Game, Deer, Bow

From the Archives: Bob Dixon and Steve Burnett on the Art of Mix and Matching Camo

By Terry Madewell, originally published in the 1994 edition of Mossy Oak Bowhunting Magazine As big whitetail bucks are inclined to do, this one had done the unexpected. I'd studied this buck's pattern for a couple of weeks, being extremely careful not to leave any scent in the wrong places. I'd selected a stand site where the dense underbrush funneled into a 40-yard-wide strip. I was sure this was where he would walk and I

Turkey, Big Game, Deer, Waterfowl, Predator, How-To

Fall Foraging: Nuts, Mushrooms, and Fruit

Check out Mossy Oak's foraging mushrooms, nuts and fruit post and learn why fall is the easiest time to forage for Beka Garris.

How-To, Ingredient Wild

How to Use onX to Map Out Your Rut Hunting Plans

Here’s a look at how to use onX Hunt to map out your rut hunting plans in the weeks ahead.

Deer, Land Management, How-To

Field Judging Black Bears

Ask any experienced hunter and they’ll tell you that black bears are among the most difficult big game animals to field judge. Part of that is because they’re far less common than deer, so hunters just don’t get much experience seeing them. And part is just the nature of the beast. Any large, black carnivorous animal will look big, especially if you don’t have something for scale nearby.

Big Game, How-To

Explore All Posts