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Join the "Rut Watch" community science project

Be on the lookout for buck rubs, scrapes, sparring, chasing, and mounting

To gather additional information about white-tailed deer rut timing and breeding behaviors from hunters and wildlife watchers, we’ve added the Rut Watch survey to our Maine Deer Spy community science project. 

Participating is easy! When you observe any white-tailed deer breeding season behaviors between October 1 and December 31, share your information with us by clicking the link below or by visiting mefishwildlife.com/rutwatch

• Location
• Date and time
• Breeding behavior observed: a buck mounting a doe, buck rubs, scrapes, sparring, and/or chasing

Want to learn more about breeding season behavior? Pictured to the left is a buck rub. A buck rub is the quintessential sign that fall is upon us in the deer woods. Rubs are made when deer rub their antlers and foreheads on trees, removing bark and depositing their scent in the process. These rubs communicate a buck’s presence in an area. While any size or age of buck can rub on small trees, a rub on a large tree of 4 or more inches in diameter means a big buck is in the area. You may also find scrapes in the woods (a patch of cleared earth and a licking branch) or even witness bucks chasing does. It's a wonderful time of year to observe wildlife. Learn more.

More Information

Community Science Projects
Wildlife Information
Research and Management Reports