A Guide to Hunting Whitetail Before the Rut

This can be a majorly missed opportunity to bag a mature buck who is still in his summer patterns and, therefore, is typically much easier to ambush with the correct setup.

We don't want you to miss any opportunity to get a buck. So, today, we’re going to discuss some of the best ways of successfully hunting whitetail before the rut starts up.

What Does "Pre-Rut" Mean for Whitetail Deer?

So, what does the pre-rut mean for whitetail deer?

This is a period of transition from early-season patterns to the breeding period (or rut). This transition occurs in late October in most states.

Bucks will shift away from the summer feeding patterns I mentioned earlier and move into breeding behavior, which includes watching for does coming into estrus. This is when does will accept breeding with a buck.

For bucks, testosterone levels skyrocket during this time, so the aggression will go up. You'll see scraping and rubbing, and sparring between bucks.

Where Do Whitetails Go Before the Rut?

Let’s talk about where whitetails like to go and hang out before the rut gets started.

Bucks typically spend more time in core areas with thick cover, which is often near food sources. This behavior serves a dual purpose of giving them more peace of mind or security, and allowing them to conserve their energy. They will be very comfortable in this area and likely walk the same few paths back and forth from their bedding area to the food source.

In the early season, bucks will be in bachelor groups with other bucks. But as it gets closer to the rut, they will break off from each other. This coincides with increased activity around doe bedding areas and the travel corridors leading in and out.

As the season moves out of early season and into the beginning stages of the rut or “pre-rut,” you'll want to shift focus from hunting bedding areas and edges of food sources to hunting the travel routes between bedding and feeding areas.

Try locating scrapes or rub lines adjacent to the travel areas because bucks will start to mark their territory and check on these spots repeatedly. If you can’t find any scrapes that are huntable, try making a mock scrape where curious bucks will be able to check it out.

This is also when some light calling with grunts or ratting can be effective, be sure not to go overboard though, because that will usually cause more damage than it’s worth.

When Is the Best Time to Hunt Pre-Rut Whitetail?

Morning and evening hunts can be productive during this time, but I would focus more on evening hunts. These hunts will give you more bang for your buck and reduce the chances of blowing deer out of the area.

What is the Best Lure for Pre-Rut Bucks?

If you want to use lure for bucks during the pre-rut, some of the better ones to use are doe urine or doe estrus (try to use this sparingly). These scents may grab the attention of curious bucks cruising for early does in estrus.

Buck urine or tarsal gland scents can also be very effective to simulate a challenge to mature, dominant bucks in the area. There are lots of products out there that can be purchased for this reason. Drip systems are extremely popular and can be a great tool.

Get the Right Calls

Having the right calls on hand (and other gear) can get expensive, but HuntWise can help you with this. By downloading and starting a Pro or Elite subscription with HuntWise, you get access to discounts on some of the top brands of hunting equipment on the market.

For example, Elite subscribers can save 30% on a grunt or rattling call from Rocky Mountain Hunting Calls.

How Do You Find a Pre-Rut Buck?

Now, we’ve discussed finding bucks in the early season and touched on finding them in the pre-rut, but now we’ll get a little more in-depth.

As we near the last two weeks of October, start to scout food sources where you would typically see does feeding. Bucks will be checking these areas frequently.

Like I said earlier, try locating scrapes and/or rub lines. Bucks will be marking their territory with these. Position trail cameras on these and other travel corridors so you can start identifying patterns. During this time period, shift to hunting the transition zones heavily; this is the best place to ambush a mature buck.

Hunt the Weather With Smart Insights

This time period is also when the weather begins playing a larger role in sparking daylight activity. This is where HuntWise can be another huge asset.

Utilizing all the weather and pressure variables through the HuntCast feature can help you better predict increased deer movement, allowing you to plan hunts more effectively. RutCast also helps you plan around the rut, so you know when it's coming to your area and where bucks are likely to be.

HuntWise is the Best Tool for Hunting Whitetail Before the Rut

I personally check HuntWise non-stop through the hunting season, so I know when to take that PTO for a hunt! It's the best tool to use for planning around weather, animal behavior, wind, and pre-rut and rut behavior.

Hopefully, some of the whitetail pre-rut strategies I shared today help you bag a buck during the pre-rut, and good luck out there this year.

And, if you don't have HuntWise, now is the time to download and start exploring the key hunting features and mapping tools to make sure you never miss an opportunity to get out and hunt this season! 
We'll give a free week in the app.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We have answers to your questions about hunting whitetail before the rut!

Q: Is it better to hunt pre-rut or peak rut?

A: The pre-rut is often better for consistent deer movement. However, the peak rut offers more daytime buck activity (but can be unpredictable).

Q: Where is the best place to hunt during pre-rut?

A: Focus on travel corridors, scrape lines, and areas between feeding and bedding spots. These areas are where bucks start checking for does.

Q: How to attract deer before a rut.

A: Use mock scrapes, doe scent, light rattling, and food sources like acorns or crop fields to draw in bucks.

Q: What are the signs of pre-rut?

A: You'll see fresh rubs and scrapes, increased daylight buck activity, and bucks sparring lightly with each other.

Q: Why am I not seeing deer when I hunt?

A: You might not see many deer due to hunting pressure, poor wind direction, being too noisy, or setting up in low-traffic areas.