Why Male Deer Become Aggressive During Rut Season in Kansas

As the leaves change color during autumn, many animals change their behavior. Reptiles seek out shelters to pass the time through winter. Rodents like squirrels gather large supplies of food. Deer, however, become more active—it’s their mating (rut) season. From late October through the third week of November, male deer undergo noticeable changes in appearance, behavior, and hormones. During mating season, male deer experience an increase in testosterone and gland secretions, which makes them more aggressive, less afraid, and singularly focused on finding a mate. In the state of Kansas, which has a sizeable deer population, the rut season is an event for both deer and the people who hunt them. Let’s learn more about the state’s deer rut season, its timing, and how it affects the behavior of deer.

Deer Rut Season Begins

The rut season has three general periods: finding, chasing, and breeding. Determined to find a viable mate, male deer put their caution to the side, show aggression to other potential suitors, and become singularly focused on females.

Male deer behavior begins changing during the pre-rut season. It starts in late August to early September, with males shedding the velvet from their antlers, which harden due to increased testosterone. In the weeks leading up to the rut, male deer grow more aggressive with each other. They engage in small skirmishes, pushing and shoving one another in mock battles. In late September and early October, males start rubbing their antlers on trees and scraping their hooves on the ground. This signals to rivals not to challenge them and indicates to females that the male is the best potential mate in the area.

The scents come next. Male deer start secreting different scent markings from glands around their bodies: pedal glands between their toes, preorbital glands in the corners of their eyes, and metatarsal glands on the outside of their hind legs, between the ankles and hooves. They rub these scents wherever they can, whether on trees or the ground.

Deer Rut Season Ends

With the stage set, male deer begin to fight in earnest. The biggest and oldest males will uphold their spot in the social order, fighting other males for a shot at breeding. It can be a bloody, brutal affair; fights between male deer can become so intense that they kill each other.

Most female deer in Kansas become receptive to breeding during November, with peak activity mid-month. Males follow them around and, if able to breed, will keep their mate separated from other deer for up to three days to ensure successful mating. Afterward, males leave the female to seek additional mating partners. Female deer that did not breed successfully during the initial rut will have another opportunity in early to mid-December, when their estrous cycle restarts. Some female deer born that same year will also attempt to breed for the first time.

Kansas Deer Rut Season

The Sunflower State has white-tailed and mule deer in considerable numbers, both of which experience rutting season. It’s the rare time of year when deer are less skittish, so they venture out farther into human view. Mule deer live in the western part of the state in areas like the High Plains, Smoky Hills, and Red Hills. White-tailed deer, which have been increasing in numbers across Kansas, enjoy widespread distribution. Tuttle Creek, in particular, is famous for its record-sized white-tailed bucks.

While deer are typically cautious the rest of the year, they appear without fear during rutting season. This is a boon for both observers and hunters. Deer hunting season in Kansas generally occurs from mid-September through December, with some special seasons extending into January. Keen hunters know that the rut season brings the best chance for trophies. This is when the biggest bucks are out and unafraid. Typically, hunters target deer during the finding and chasing phases of the deer rut. During this time, deer move the most, making it easier to find deer that meet hunting license requirements.

Deer Rut Safety Tips

During rut season, it’s not uncommon for a hunter in a deer blind to see 20 or more deer walking past in an hour. The deer, particularly males, are uninhibited and throw caution to the wind. This behavioral transformation, however, is not without its dangers. In 2023, Kansas experienced 10,648 deer-related accidents, with a significant increase during the rut season.

Male deer are so focused on finding a mate and fighting off competition that they put themselves in considerable danger. With the uptick in activity comes more roadway crossings, which also puts drivers at risk. If you find yourself driving across the state of Kansas during rut season, remember these key tips:

• Be aware of your surroundings, especially in areas with low visibility or high tree coverage.

• Look for the gleam of deer eyes reflecting off headlights at night. Use high beams in areas with no oncoming traffic.

• Suppose you come across a deer on the roadway, brake but do not swerve. Most fatal accidents involving deer happen when drivers swerve to avoid the animal.

• Deer are not loners. If you see one deer on the road, there’s probably more in the area.

• When a deer crosses your path, honk. This should scare them away from the road.

Rut season in Kansas is a landmark event, full of fighting, activity, and breeding. It’s the perfect time for hunters, but it is also a great opportunity to observe deer in their natural state. Just be sure to exercise caution when watching the deer rut. Bucks are unpredictable, aggressive, and fearless during this time. Keep a safe distance, whether you are on foot or in your car.

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