Southeast Rut Report: Small Pockets of Rut Activity in Louisiana and Mississippi and Good Action in Alabama

The forecast is pretty good for the next seven to 10 days. In the Deep South, we're looking at highs in the 40s and 50s and lows ranging from the 20s and 50s. We're expecting high temperatures ranging from the 20s to the 50s and lows from the Teens and 40s throughout the northern half of the region. The good news is that we'll see a sudden drop in temperatures that should hit sometime this weekend. Be in a tree when it does.

Numerous southern states' deer seasons have closed now. But a few remain open. In Florida, there's some rut activity around the central part of the state that ranges from November to March. We're also seeing continued rut activity in the panhandle. Those who hunt in and around Gadsden, Leon, Wakulla, Liberty, Franklin, Jackson, Calhoun, Gulf, Bay, Washington and Holmes should expect periodic rut activity for the next couple weeks.

In Alabama, the best counties for the last couple weeks were: Winston, Dekalb, Cherokee, Bibb, Jackson, Morgan, Marshall, Cullman, Blount, Etowah, Calhoun, St. Clair, Jefferson, Walker, Fayette, Clay, Talladega, Shelby, Tuscaloosa, Pickens, Greene, Hale, Russell and Barbour Counties. Things have changed within the last week, though. The rut is largely over with in those areas and the best action is coming from a new crop of counties. Increased chasing and breeding activity is occurring in: Madison, Limestone, Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Marion, Lamar, Mobile, Washington, Choctaw, Sumter, Marengo, Clarke, Perry, Dallas, Wilcox, Lowndes, Autauga, Chilton, Coosa, Elmore, Tallapoosa, Chambers, Lee, Macon, Bullock, Barbour, Coffee, Covington and Dale. Other south-central counties are seeing a huge increase in rubbing, scraping and general daylight activity.

In Mississippi, the best counties last week were: Webster, Clay, Choctaw, Winston, Neshoba, Kemper, Newton, Lauderdale, Jefferson-Davis, Lawrence, Walthall, Pike, Amite, Wilkinson and Adams. The rut is virtually over with there. The best — and only really — rut activity is coming from the southeastern corner of the state. Those who hunt in and around: Wayne, Jones, Forrest, Lamar, Perry, Pearl River, Stone, Hancock and Harrison counties are amidst the best rut activity.

For those in Louisiana, the rut is finally over for anyone who hunts in the northern and western halves of the state. For the southeastern quadrant, some parishes are experiencing peak rut activity in at least a portion of that parish. Last week we mentioned those who especially hunt in and around: West Feliciana, St. Martin, St. John the Baptist, St. Helena, East Feliciana and Pointe Coupee Parishes as seeing the best breeding activity. This week we're only seeing reports of chasing and breeding activity in West Feliciana, Pointe Coupee, Iberville, Assumption, Ascension, Tangipahoa, St. Helena and Washington Parishes.

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Photo Credit: Jim Cumming

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