What triggers the rut

[Roper]

I suspect this may not be a one answer question. Many people believe its temperature related. I suspect it is more closely related to the moon. Meaning length of daylight hours etc. But if the moon is the trigger, then the rut would be easy to identify beginning and end. If its temperature then theoretically you could take a herd of deer in August and move them up north to colder temperatures and trigger the doe's into season early. I assume there may be more than just 2 (temp/moon) factors involved. ????

[parkcity]

from what i know, only the length of daylight triggers the hormones in deer. The rut occurs at the same time every year, the only thing that temperature dictates is how much of the rut we see i.e. if it is abnormally warm then majority of rutting activity may occur at night. The moon doesn't affect daylight hours so not sure what you mean there but I don't personally subscribe to the moon phases having too much effect on deer. Does are coming into estrous as early as mid october and continue to come in and out until mid december with the majority in the 2 weeks in November everyone gets excited about.

[bester]

Here’s a great article breaking down the “rut”. “http://charliealsheimer.com/ca/articles/art_rut.html

[firedeptlt]

I’m sure weather has a huge part to play in it... I’ve also stumbled across this formula for a rough approximation...
Calculation used to determine the Rut: Autumn Equinox + 2 Full Moon Cycles + 10 Days = 1st Day of Rut + 14 days of activity

[smitty55]

Parkcity nailed it. Weather has zero effect on hormone levels, they are strictly regulated by day length. No doubt weather can affect general activity levels but not estrous. Does come in to estrous within a couple of days each year.

Cheers

[johny]

Calendar date--same every year. Does not matter about moon, hot, cold, wind... it is the same every year, relentlessly on time by Calendar.
Moon=BS
Solunar =BS

Basically it is day light length that triggers it.

[paultracy]

So where I hunt deer in Bancroft has 12 minutes less daylight today than where I live in Sheffield. Does that mean that does come into estrus a week earlier as you go east or north because the days are shorter in that geographic location? Can't wait to head up Friday. We always hunt the second week!
Paul

[jim]

What determines when your wife goes into estrus?

[Snowwalker]

What determines when your wife goes into estrus?

Four words.."I'll be home tomorrow"

She is on the juice.....no more cycle based on the moon. I sure don't miss those days.