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PITTSBURG —
Deer rut season is upon Crawford, Bourbon and Cherokee Counties and motorists need to be sure to pay extra attention to roadsides while driving down county roads.
In Kansas, rutting season — when bucks are looking for does with which to mate — occurs primarily during the month of November, said David Jenkins, public lands manager for the Mined Land Wildlife Areas.
“It’s that time of year where it’s the beginning of breeding season,” Jenkins said. “Deer are going to be moving a lot.”
The rutting season is based on photo period, or the length of winter days. Bucks often fight each other for dominance and chase does wantonly, often driving them across roadways.
“Does typically have a pretty small home range, but bucks tend to range out farther in search of does, and that pushes across the road,” Jenkins said.
Bucks also spend much of the season stocking up on food to strengthen up for mating and winter.
“They are more actively feeding, and they’re moving from their bedding area in search of food sources such as cut corn crops,” Jenkins said. “We ask that people try to scan the ditches. You can see their eyes glowing along the road. That’s an indicator there’s an animal getting ready to cross.”
Deer are in abundance this year, which has led the state to up the number does hunters can bag, Jenkins said. Hunters can have up to 5 does and one buck this year in Unit 11, which covers Cherokee, Labette, Neosho, Crawford, Allen, Bourbon, Anderson, Linn, and portions of Franklin, Miami, Johnson, Wilson, Woodson and Coffey Counties.
Jenkins said the myth that deer are only active around dusk is just that: A myth.
“Deer can be moving at all hours of the day and night,” Jenkins said. “Activity has more to do with day length, but the weather can intensify that activity.”
According to a release from Response Insurance, an adult deer can weigh more than 200 pounds and cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to a vehicle. It also can cause cars to veer off the road. Reports indicate that hundred of thousands of deer are hit by cars each year in this country.
Deer rut season is upon Crawford, Bourbon and Cherokee Counties and motorists need to be sure to pay extra attention to roadsides while driving down county roads.
In Kansas, rutting season — when bucks are looking for does with which to mate — occurs primarily during the month of November, said David Jenkins, public lands manager for the Mined Land Wildlife Areas.
“It’s that time of year where it’s the beginning of breeding season,” Jenkins said. “Deer are going to be moving a lot.”
The rutting season is based on photo period, or the length of winter days. Bucks often fight each other for dominance and chase does wantonly, often driving them across roadways.
“Does typically have a pretty small home range, but bucks tend to range out farther in search of does, and that pushes across the road,” Jenkins said.
Bucks also spend much of the season stocking up on food to strengthen up for mating and winter.
“They are more actively feeding, and they’re moving from their bedding area in search of food sources such as cut corn crops,” Jenkins said. “We ask that people try to scan the ditches. You can see their eyes glowing along the road. That’s an indicator there’s an animal getting ready to cross.”
Deer are in abundance this year, which has led the state to up the number does hunters can bag, Jenkins said. Hunters can have up to 5 does and one buck this year in Unit 11, which covers Cherokee, Labette, Neosho, Crawford, Allen, Bourbon, Anderson, Linn, and portions of Franklin, Miami, Johnson, Wilson, Woodson and Coffey Counties.
Jenkins said the myth that deer are only active around dusk is just that: A myth.
“Deer can be moving at all hours of the day and night,” Jenkins said. “Activity has more to do with day length, but the weather can intensify that activity.”
According to a release from Response Insurance, an adult deer can weigh more than 200 pounds and cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to a vehicle. It also can cause cars to veer off the road. Reports indicate that hundred of thousands of deer are hit by cars each year in this country.
