Rutting Season

 

Deer rutting season in New Jersey typically begins in late October and can extend into November, but I have already seen news reports warning us that the season is upon us and that may find deer to be more active and male deer more aggressive. The exact timing can vary slightly depending on weather conditions and other environmental factors.

The term "rutting" is used to describe the mating season of deer and moose. For moose in northern areas, the Full Moon this week is often considered the start of the season. Rutting Moon was a name used by the Cree of Ontario because it's when moose start scraping the velvet from their antlers before mating season. 

The origin of the word "rut" is pretty interesting. It comes from the Old English "rot," which means "to copulate." During the rut, male deer and moose become territorial and engage in battles with other males to establish dominance and access to females. This behavior is often accompanied by loud vocalizations, such as bugling or grunting, and physical displays of strength.

So be especially careful when driving at sunrise and sunset in wooded area. Actually, for much of New Jersey (like my suburban area), you don't have to be driving in a wooded area and it can be any time of day that you may encounter deer on the road!

The Deer Rut

Buck by Ray Bilcliff on Pexels.com

The October 2023 Full Moon will be on October 28. Last month was the Harvest Moon, so this month is commonly called the Hunter Moon. The name Rutting Moon is one used by the Cree of Ontario for the September Full Moon because this was when moose would start scraping the velvet from their antlers ahead of the mating season. Here in New Jersey, the rut usually starts in October.

The rut is the period when deer mate, which usually occurs in October and can run into November or even early December in warmer areas. During this time, deer behavior changes, and hunters must adapt to those changes.==I don’t hunt but I have worked with hunter groups and I am an observer of wildlife. Bucks become more interested because their testosterone levels get them up on their feet a little earlier in the day. They will also make a series of mating vocalizations. They pursue does who are definitely in charge of mating. There is competitive fighting so injuries sustained while fighting might be evident on bucks.==Does are in heat and bucks compete for their attention. The amount of daylight each day triggers females to come into estrus. Does may be in estrus for up to 72 hours and may come into estrus up to seven times if they do not mate. During the rut, all deer tend to abandon their natural caution, move around more, and become more distracted. 

Doe by Zyla Rohly on Pexels.com

I'm writing about this topic on another blog of mine which is more human-focused, so I thought "Humans don’t have a mating season like other animals." Yes, humans are classified as continuous breeders, which means they mate year-round. Women ovulate every 28 days. But more humans are conceived during the winter. Statistics show that the period between October and January is the most preferred period for starting a pregnancy.

I’m sure that is mostly because more people are indoors together for longer periods. Snuggling up on a cold night might be a factor. The end-of-year holiday and parties might also play a part in our mating. Maybe humans do have a mating period. I know I have observed males of the species in the wild doing rutting activities!