Live Wild with Remi Warren

Episode 208 | The Rut Rundown
Date: November 7, 2025
Host: Remi Warren

Episode Overview

This episode is all about the deer rut—its stages, behavior patterns across deer species, and Remi’s detailed strategies for hunting success during each phase. Remi kicks things off with a personal story: a late-season mule deer hunt with his brother Jason and longtime friend Ross, set in the snow-covered mountains. This hunt serves both as a memorable tale and a real-world backdrop for Remi’s practical rut hunting tactics.

1. Opening & Story: A Memorable Late-Season Mule Deer Hunt

Timestamps: 05:00–39:30

Setting the Stage

• Remi describes heading out for a late-season mule deer hunt with his brother Jason and childhood friend Ross after not often hunting together in recent years.

  “As life happens, of course, it's like everybody kind of goes their separate ways and just getting together and being able to hunt together becomes more and more rare as time moves on.”

• Objectives: Focus on helping Jason fill his freezer and enjoy the camaraderie of deer camp.

Conditions & Scouting

• Steep, snowy mountains with significant vertical climbs—hunting at the tail end of the season when pressure is high.
• Fresh snow (“top of the boots, eight inches or more”), cold temperatures (as low as 10°F), and clear weather after a storm.

  “When you're climbing, the last thing you want to do is have all these layers on and then just start sweating. So when you stop, you freeze.” — (17:55)

• Hunting strategy: Start very early before daylight, hike up 3,500 vertical feet to glass at sunrise.

Hunting Highlights

• First days: Spotted does and younger bucks, including a “potential shooter” high on the mountain—discarded due to size.
• Tip: Start cold when hiking; layer up once glassing or stationary to manage sweat and warmth (21:15).
• Remi notes how vast and deceptive the country feels—glass across canyons that are farther than they look.
• Missed opportunity: Jason nearly gets a shot on a nice four-point buck but terrain and timing thwart the attempt (37:00).

Persistence Pays Off

• Next day, even colder temps. Spot more does and fighting small bucks; then glass up a big, mature 3x4 buck.
• Execute a “classic mule deer hunt”: put the buck to bed, stalk across a canyon, crawl into position for a 300-yard shot (44:10).
• Quote: “We're both discussing it. We're like, it's not a great shot, but also, who knows what happens?... We should wait. Like, if he stands up, it's going to be perfect.” (47:40)
• Jason waits for a better angle. The buck stands, Jason makes a perfect shot. The buck topples down the mountain—success.
• Memorable moment:

  “Honestly, the body on this deer was like a small cow elk, like a yearling cow elk. I swear, it was like a calf elk. Huge body… what a tank of a deer!” — (51:10)

• Remi reflects on camaraderie, hard-won success, and the power of sharing hunts with family and old friends.

  “To have that, like, shared camaraderie and success on the hunt, like, it's just… such a memorable and fun experience…” — (53:00)

2. Deep Dive: Understanding the Rut—Phases, Behavior, and Hunting Tactics

Timestamps: 54:30–1:30:00

The Rut Applies Across Deer Species

• Phases of the rut are remarkably similar across mule deer, whitetails, blacktails, and even fallow deer.

  “The primary phases through the rut are very, very similar through a lot of deer species.” — (56:45)

• Learning the rut cycle allows hunters to “play chess” with deer behavior, adjusting tactics accordingly.

Phases of the Rut

1. Pre-Rut

• When: Mid-October (varies by region/species)
• Behavior: Increase in daytime buck activity, rub/scrape creation, neck swelling. Bucks aren’t chasing does intensely yet; younger bucks start pestering grouped-up does.
• Mature Bucks: Often still in isolated pockets, prepping for rut.
• Tip: Focus on “what are the does doing, and how are the bucks interacting with those does?” (1:01:35)

2. Seeking (“Cruising”) Phase

• When: Late October–Early November
• Behavior: Mature bucks leave isolation, increase cruising. Bucks move constantly, searching for does ready to breed.
• Strategy:
  • Find big glassing vantages; cover lots of country.
  • Expect bucks to be on the move, sometimes never stopping.

  “This is what I like to call the cruising phase. Anything can show up anywhere. You might see a deer once and never see it again.” — (1:05:40)

• Bucks may log 50–75 miles a day, constantly checking groups of does.

3. Chasing (“Peak Rut”) Phase

• When: Early–Mid November
• Behavior: Does become receptive, bucks intensely pursue does, fight for dominance.
• Strategy:
  • Focus where the does are; buck activity will cluster around groups of receptive does.
  • Peak opportunity to intercept mature bucks.

  “They’re really focusing on does. This is where they're going to fight each other… more likely to hold bucks longer.” — (1:08:10)

4. Lockdown Phase

• When: Follows peak rut
• Behavior: Bucks “lock down” with a receptive doe, often alone and bedded, barely moving.
• Tactics:
  • Focus on tight, secluded pockets where bucks stay with does.
  • Hunt smaller areas intensely; patience for spot-and-stalk in broken cover.

  “Seems like the rut dies, but if you hunt it correctly, you can really pinpoint those mature deer during that phase.” — (1:16:15)

5. Post-Rut / Second Rut

• When: Late November–December
• Behavior: Any remaining does trigger second wave of rutting; mature bucks are worn down, activity drops.
• Strategy:
  • Hunt early morning/late evening; glass for bedded bucks resting.

  “It just happens to be active, and it just becomes a buck magnet.” — (1:19:30)

• Remi notes “secondary rut” action can be hot one day and off the next.

3. Practical Hunting Tactics for Each Rut Phase

Timestamps: 1:20:00–1:30:00

• Pre-Rut: Glass secluded pockets, focus on isolated mature buck habitat.
• Cruising Phase:
  • Mule deer: Use big glassing points, stay within striking distance (400–600 yards); target likely travel corridors/funnels.
  • Whitetail: Focus on topographical features that channel movement—travel routes, terrain bottlenecks.
• Peak Rut:
  • “Literally hunt the does” — find where does congregate, and check for new buck arrivals, particularly in the mornings.
• Lockdown:
  • Hunt small areas where does traditionally hole up; tight glassing for bedded bucks.
  • For whitetails: Key on thickets, brush, or secluded bedding areas.
• Post-Rut:
  • Glass for recovery mode bucks; find limited groups of remaining active does.

General Tip:

“As I pick the locations for where I'm hunting, it's based on the phases of the rut and where I expect those bucks that I'm looking for to be.” — (1:28:15)

4. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Camaraderie:

  “To have that, like, shared camaraderie and success on the hunt… It’s such a memorable and fun experience to be a part of.” — Remi, (53:00)

• On Glassing Big Country:

  “Some places are like that especially it seems more when you're mule deer hunting… the size of this area was [deceptive]… looking down in your canyon below and you're like that's a mile and a half away. Whoa.” — (28:30)

• On Success and Perseverance:

  “Just to be there and all of us hunting together, it just felt like the good old days, the good times. Let the good times roll.” — (53:20)

• On Mature Rutting Bucks:

  “You’re talking about a deer probably putting on 50 to 75 miles a day… Just moving around. Think of a bird dog.” — (1:07:15)

• On the Cruising Phase:

  “You might see a deer once and never see it again.” — (1:06:10)

5. Announcements & Next Episode Preview

Timestamps: 1:30:00–end

• Next week: Remi teases a story about tracking and still-hunting mule deer in the snow—getting within 15 yards of his own buck.
• Encourages listeners to share stories, leave ratings, and check out his videos and sponsors.

Summary Table: Rut Phases & Tactics

| Rut Phase | Behavior Highlights | Best Tactics | Key Time | |-----------------|-------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|----------| | Pre-Rut | Bucks prepping, creating rubs/scrapes, not chasing | Glass hidden pockets for isolated mature bucks | Mid-Oct | | Seeking/Cruising| Bucks on the move constantly, searching for receptive does | Use big glassing vantage, hunt travel corridors | Late-Oct–Nov | | Chasing/Peak Rut| Bucks chasing/fighting over does; highest activity | Focus directly on doe groups | Early–Mid Nov | | Lockdown | Bucks hold up with single estrus doe, little movement | Hunt small, thick areas; patient glassing | Mid–Late Nov | | Post-Rut | Bucks recover, seek late-cycling does; low activity | Hunt for bedded bucks; target lone doe groups | Late Nov–Dec |

Final Thoughts

Remi Warren’s “Rut Rundown” is both hunting story and in-depth masterclass on reading and hunting every phase of the deer rut—no matter the species, region, or method. He delivers real-world tips, colorful anecdotes, and clear, actionable strategies, making this episode a practical and inspiring listen for hunters of all experience levels.