Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2B
^Reporter
November 11, 2009
Monroe County Outdoors
Now is best time to bag a buck
BY TERRY JOHNSON
henever deer
hunters gather
around the campfire
on a crisp fall
evening, sooner or
later the subject of the rut will come
up. The reason for this is simple -
during the peak of the rut hunters
have perhaps their best chance of
bagging a buck. With that in mind,
you need to know that the peak of
the rut in Monroe County is occur
ring right now!
There are a lot of theo
ries as to what triggers
the rut. One of the most
widely held theories is
that peak of the rut
takes place a week after
the second full moon
after the autumn equi
nox. As such it is called
the rutting moon. A
number of studies,
including one con
ducted by the
University of
Georgia, have
found that there
doesn’t seem to be
any relationship between the moon
and the peak of the rut.
While wildlife biologists aren’t
sure why the peak of the rut
varies across the state and coun
try, all agree that the onset of the
rut is sparked by decreasing day
length. Consequently, weeks
before the Monroe County land
scape is decorated with a tapestry
of red, yellow and orange leaves,
bucks begin going into rut.
One of the most recognizable
signs that the rut has begun is
bucks begin shedding velvet from
their antlers. During this time
look for pieces of velvet hanging
from bushes and trees that the
buck has used in an attempt to
rub it off.
Once the velvet is shed, bucks
begin entering into pushing con
tests with one another. Such con
frontations are not fights since the
bucks simply lock antlers and try
to push each other backwards.
Sooner or later, one buck will
break off the sparring and both
animals will begin feeding. These
contests determine who is domi
nant and will have the best chance
of breeding the does in that neck
of the woods.
As the rut progresses, the bucks’
necks begin to swell as they reach
peak physical condition. They
begin rubbing their antlers on
trees and making scrapes. Bucks
create scrapes by using their front
feet to scratch all of the vegetation
and leaves from an area roughly
three feet in diameter.
They will then urinate
on the exposed earth.
The vast majority of
scrapes are made
beneath a branch some 4
1/2 - 5 feet above the
ground. The bucks hook
and rub their heads on
the overhanging branch
es. For this reason, these
branches are often
twisted or broken.
Some four to
six weeks before the
onset of the rut
bucks begin chasing
does. At first, they will pursue
them at a distance of 160 feet or
more. During this time, when a
buck is trailing a doe, he will often
grunt with his nose to the ground
while holding his tail straight out.
Should he attempt to get too close
to a doe, she will quickly dart
away.
As the rut progresses, the does
eventually allow the bucks to
approach more closely. This coin
cides with the bucks becoming less
tolerant of one another. If a
younger buck should happen
across an older buck trailing doe,
he will often join the chase.
However, he will stay well back
from the dominant buck. During
this time, which lasts about three
weeks, buck will often fight with
one another. As a general rule,
mature bucks won’t fight with a
younger buck. When fights do
occur, the take typically take place
between bucks that are of roughly
equal size. One buck will charge
his opponent from three to six feet
away. His attack will be directed
at the other’s antlers.
Some two days before a doe is
ready to breed, she will actually
seek out a buck. Once a buck and
a receptive doe locate one another,
they are inseparable during the
day prior to breeding as well as
the day breeding actually takes
place. If, however, a doe is not
able to breed on the day she is
receptive, she will be ready to
breed again in 28 days. In some
instances, does may go through
three to four cycles before they are
bred. A buck, on the other hand,
may breed four to 20 does during
his rut.
The rut puts terrific strain on
bucks. During this time a mature
buck may lose 25-35 percent of his
body weight. As the rut wanes, the
buck’s swollen neck shrinks and he
loses interest in does.
The reason bucks are more vul
nerable to hunters during the rut
is because they travel much more
widely than normal looking for
does willing to mate with them.
Meanwhile they are much less
wary than normal. Their careless
ness and constant roaming can be
their undoing. Some recklessly
dart out into highways and collide
with cars and trucks. Others are
harvested by hunters that have
been patiently waiting silently for
a buck to pass their way.
The peak of the rut in Monroe
County takes place in the second
week of November. With that in
mind, you might want to spend a
little extra time in the woods dur
ing the next week or so. If you do,
you might be rewarded with a
freezer full of venison and a trophy
for your wall. Good luck!
Terry Johnson is the retired
Program Manager of the Georgia
Nongame-Endangered Wildlife
Program. He is currently Executive
Director of TERN (The Nongame
Wildlife Section's Friends Group)
and conducts wildlife research and
survey projects, presents programs
and writes about wildlife. Email
Teens get first deer
Kaleb Clephane of Forsyth got an early 13th birthday sur
prise on Nov. 1. Kaleb was hunting in Monticello when he
killed his first deer, an eight-point buck. Below: Thirteen
year old Joey Nutt of Forsyth bagged his first deer, also an
eight-point buck, on Oct. 25 while hunting with his grandfa
ther Willie Hubbard.
Support memorial this Veteran’s Day
Today, Nov. 11, is a spe
cial day set aside by
America to honor the
men and women who
have served in its Armed
Forces. Monroe County
has completed Phase One
of its proposed memorial
to these veterans. The
five granite walls erected
on the Courthouse
Square stand in solemn
memorial to those who
lost their lives while on
active duty in service to
our country during time
of war. But the memori
al is incomplete.
Phase Two of the
planned Veterans
Memorial will consist of
an obelisk and three
flags. The front of the
obelisk will contain a
statement dedicating the
memorial to all Monroe
Countians who have
served our country and
recognizing the memory
of those who paid the
supreme sacrifice that
other may live free. The
sides of the obelisk will
depict the emblems of the
different branches.
The U.S. flag will be
erected on a 30-foot flag
pole just behind the
granite wall containing
the Pledge to the Flag. It
will be flanked by a
Georgia Flag and a
Prisoner of War flag,
both on 25-foot poles.
The cost to purchase
and install the obelisk
will be approximately
$15,000. Total cost for
the flagpoles will be
approximately $2,900.
The flags to be flown
have been donated by the
Lt. James Monroe
Chapter, USDAR;
Cabaniss Chapter #415
United Daughters of the
Confederacy; and the
Viet Nam Veterans of
Monroe County.
Phase Three of the
planned Memorial will
consist of granite pavers
honoring all Monroe
Countians, both living
and deceased, who have
served their country on
active duty with any
branch of the Armed
Services. Pavers may be
purchased for $50 from
the Memorial Committee.
This price includes three
lines of engraving. Most
individuals who have
purchased pavers have
chosen to put their name,
branch of service, and
time of service on their
pavers. Some have
included rank; others
have included birth and
death dates for deceased
service personnel. To be
eligible to have a paver
in his or her honor, an
individual must have
served on active duty and
must meet one of three
conditions:
1. Must have been born
in Monroe County, OR
2. Must have lived in
Monroe County at the
time of service, OR
3. Must live in Monroe
County now (or lived in
the county prior to their
Win a 42" LG
Plasma Television
Valued at over $540
Contest Period: 11/01/2009 To 12/16/2009
Apply for any rarm Bureau Bank product
at the Monroe County Fern Bureau office,
and we will place your name in the drawing
Monroe County Farm Bureau
433 North Frontage Road
Forsyth, GA
47S 994-9S02
two Ways to Enter;
1. Apply far a- Harm
Bureau Ban k Credit
Card or Vehicle Lean
2. Open any otfier Faim
Bureau Bank account.
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The goal is to have the
Monroe County Veterans
Memorial completed in
time for formal dedica
tion on Monday, May 31,
2010—Memorial Day.
2010 Budget of Monroe County
The proposed 2010 Budget of Monroe County is completed and
available for public review at the Commission Office at
38 West Main Street; Forsyth, Georgia.
A public hearing will be held at the Monroe County Board of
Commissioners meeting room at 6:00 p.m. December 15, 2009.
Copies of the budgets are available and can be reviewed at the
Commissions’ Office in the same building.
For more information or special assistance, please call the
Commissioner’s Office at (478) 994-7000.