As with several other months pertaining to the ecological cycles of animals, Aamaleekiilhswa ‘Deer Rutting Moon’ pertains to the whitetail deer’s rut (breeding season). It is during this month that the pre-rut has started to end or has ended, and the different parts of the peak rut phase begin to occur. Bucks’ testosterone levels rise, as do the does’ estrous levels, rising higher than any other time during the year. This rise and change is determined by the amount of daylight that takes place this time of year. When a doe is in estrous, bucks fight and push other bucks away from her. Bucks chase, tend to, and breed with does during this peak part of the rut. Usually within 28 days from the first start of the peak rut, another peak rut will occur. This happens because some does come into estrous later than others, and some come into estrous for a second time (from not breeding in the first peak rut phase). Hunting for deer (especially bucks) during pre-rut & peak rut allows for better harvest of deer, because the deer’s patterns are predictable at this time, with bucks’ main focus on breeding.
