When will most does be receptive in Virginia?

By Grant Woods,

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Question
Grant , here in Virginia our gun season comes in this Saturday . My question is when is the rutting season start here , been seeing scraps and rubs . Large bucks are moving after sunset and before sunrise , by the photos we’ve been getting . Plenty of places for bedding down , had logging done on parts of property and we know they are learning it . Looking forward to a great season , waiting for you reply . Thank you

Sonny,

Unless the deer herd’s adult sex ratio has been managed to strongly favor bucks the majority of does will become receptive from approximately November 10th through the 25th.  A whitetail’s gestation period is approximately 200 days.  Most fawns are born during mid-late May through early June.  

Some folks describe the rut as when bucks are most active.  This occurs just before most does are receptive – so during approximately November 5th – 10th. is prime hunting time throughout much of the whitetail’s range.

Missouri’s gun season opens this weekend and as along as the daytime temperature are not warmer than normal it should be a good season!

Enjoy creation,

grant

November 9, 2015