Many sportsmen count the November deer hunt as the highlight of all their outdoor pursuits. It is a special time. Frosty mornings and quiet moments in a tree stand, with hand warmers, a thermos of hot coffee and the anticipation of a big buck in the crosshairs, are part of a deer hunter’s daydream. For the hardiest and most driven hunters, the dream is to follow a big, dew-clawed track in fresh snow.
And, of course, the Maine deer camp is also a centerpiece of the hunt, part of its heritage and history. These camps come in all sizes and are scattered across the state. Many have been passed down from generation to generation, along with their unique histories and hunting yarns that get retold year after year.
A mouse in the corner — a graying one that has been hiding in the food bin for more than a year or two — knows that many of the same topics get debated around the card tables year after year. Among them are the best deer gun, the time of day bucks move, tracking methods and the granddaddy of them all: when is the peak period of the all-important rut?
In general, knowing when the rut peaks gives you the best chance of catching a buck distracted by breeding activity, with his guard down and less focused on danger. But predicting the peak involves educated guesswork and anecdotal evidence, making the timing of the deer rut a subject of spirited debate at deer camp.
There are two schools of thought on the subject. The conventional wisdom of respected wildlife biologists such as Gerry Lavigne is straightforward and has nothing to do with moon phases. Lavigne maintains that the rut peaks around Nov. 15 every year. This theory holds that the breeding season is driven by day length.
The more romantic theory, if you will, is that although the rut occurs over a period of several weeks, there is a “sweet spot” lasting about 10 days. This is the lunar theory advanced by well-known deer researcher Charles Alsheimer of Bath, New York. In a chapter of his book, “Anatomy of the Rut,” Alsheimer proposed that the whitetail rut is regulated by the lunar cycle.
According to Alsheimer’s theory, the Rutting Moon, also known as the Beaver Moon, is the second full moon after the autumnal equinox. He proposed that the 10-day rutting “sweet spot” begins three days after the full moon.
In 2026, the full moon falls on Nov. 24, meaning the predicted window would begin around Nov. 27, much later than last year. Unlike the theory that the rut peaks around Nov. 15 each year, the lunar theory predicts a different peak period from year to year.
However, Maine’s firearms season ends Nov. 28, followed by the muzzleloader season, which begins Nov. 30. So smokepolers, take note.
So what does this mean for hunters? It depends on which theory you believe: the lunar cycle or day length. If you favor the lunar theory and want to maximize your chances of encountering a buck distracted by breeding activity, you might want to reconsider when you schedule your hunting vacation. If Alsheimer’s theory is right, a buck may be more likely to make a mistake in your favor late in November.
One other thing: If you really want to cover your bases and account for both the lunar and day-length theories, spend as much time as possible in a tree stand in good deer country during the dates mentioned above.
Good luck and hunt safely.