Are you hunting the rut right now? It may be the most important time of the year for whitetail deer hunters. This week we met with Kenneth Lancaster of the Given Right to discuss his tactics for hunting during this often fast-paced time of the deer hunting season.

Taylor: How do your tactics change as the rut kicks off?

Kenneth: When the Rut kicks off I tend to stop hunting scrapes and rub lines. I will instead key in on food sources. This is where the largest concentration of does will normally be and the bucks will be looking hard for the HOT does.

Taylor: What kind of terrain do you like to hunt during the rut?

Kenneth: During the Rut I prefer more open areas where I can see a long distance. Bucks seem to get on their feet this time of year more looking for does, and I like to cover as much ground as possible.

Taylor: Do you do mid-day sits?

Kenneth: I put in a lot more hours during the Rut and sometimes will hunt all day. You never know when the Rut is on when a big one may cruise by.

Taylor: How many times will you hunt a stand before you change?

Kenneth: I will only hunt a stand if the wind is right, and I also depend a lot on trail cameras to tell me if I should keep hunting a stand.

Taylor: Do you pattern bucks during the rut or is it more of luck of the draw?

Kenneth: I do pattern bucks during the Rut. I will use trail cameras a lot to determine if I’m in the right place. I also hunt a lot of pinch points where bucks naturally travel to catch them in transition.

Taylor: What is your ideal stand and weather conditions during the rut?

Kenneth: I love a good 35 degree high pressure day with a NW wind during the Rut. I love to sit on a pinch point all day on a day like this waiting on a cruising buck looking for a doe.

Do you agree with these tactics? What are your most often used tactics for hunting during the rut?