WILD Facts: Deer

The white-tailed deer breeding season, also called the rut, runs from October to January in Georgia. During this time, bucks mark their territory by rubbing their antlers on trees and shrubs. They may also fight with each other, using their antlers and front feet to see which
male is dominant.

Bucks and does travel more than usual when searching for a mate. Therefore, hunters have a better chance of seeing and harvesting a deer during the rut, especially during the height of breeding activity. Although the peak of the rut varies by location, it normally occurs about mid-November in Georgia’s Piedmont region.

WILD Fact is a regular feature written by Linda May, a wildlife interpretive specialist with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division based at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center in Mansfield, Georgia.