-
Actually, the timing of the rut has to do with the length of day/amount of daylight that the deer receive rather than the temperature. Horses are the same. One of the farms i worked on used artificial lights to bring mares into heat in February and March so that they would foal in January since racehorse foals are aged as of january 1 on the year of thier birth. Northern deer may have evolved to be ready to gestate during different amounts of daylight than southern deer. Its all on the females though. A buck will breed a doe any time she comes into heat, rut or not, regardless of antler development.
And... In Michigan the rut starts in November. Some does breed in October, most in November, and those that didnt get bred or didn't catch (or young of the year doe fawns) will come into heat in December. Ive been witness to it and have hunted the Michigan rut for 30 years.
-
-
-
Remember, Bill, when it comes to snowmen---No carrots below the belt.
