re: Louisiana Rut 2018 - When can we expect things to heat up?

I saw chasing last weekend. Warren County, so basically Tensas/Madison. It's my understanding that their's starts ahead of the river lands to the south in Concordia.

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Photoperiod is not nearly the only factor or even a prime factory of driving the rut in Louisiana or the South for that matter. If that was the case deer in Louisiana would not rut from September-February in all different parts of the state. They would all be on a similar schedule if that were the case. Genetics as well as other land/weather factors play a big roll. Photoperiod is more a a driving factor in the North.

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It's based on a genetic response to photo-period that's specific to every doe. Does across the state respond to different photo-periods because they are the offspring of re-introduced populations or a mix thereof. Does do not migrate unless forced to, they maintain home ranges very close to where they were born. That's why the "rut maps" put out by the various state agencies have concentric circles of dates around areas where deer where shipped in to re-stock.

For a given area, while how much of what you see will depend on any factor that affects deer movement, the time at which each doe comes into heat is triggered by her genetic response to photoperiod, and she will come in heat about the same day every year for as long as she lives. The genetics will eventually blend as bucks spread them outward, but it will take longer than any of us will be around to see.

that's right lousiana as a whole has a wide range of rut dates due to a bunch of different habitat types and also genetics that were brought in from different areas of the state and other states

deer (and almost all other wild animals) reproduce at a time that ensures their offspring will be born at an optimal time for survival and growth which is driven by photoperiod

If deer in your area rut around Christmas each year they will continue to do so

cold snaps and full moons and all that other stuff dont matter

deer cant just make themselves come into estrus a month early because the weather is cold

I have hunted in Madison Parish for 30 years. Rut is around Christmas every year.