The rut season is the mating season of certain mammals, which includes ruminants such as deer, sheep, camels, goats, pronghorns, bison, giraffes, and antelopes, and extends to others such as skunks and elephants). During this season, males exhibit an increase in testosterone, exaggerated sexual dimorphisms, increased aggression, and increased interest in females). The males of the species may mark themselves with mud, undergo physiological changes or perform characteristic displays in order to make themselves more visually appealing to the females). Males also use olfaction to entice females to mate using secretions from glands and soaking in their own urine). The rut in many species is triggered by shorter day lengths, and the timing of the rut depends on the length of the gestation period (pregnancy), usually occurring so the young are born in the spring).

For deer, the rutting season is the period between the middle of October to early December when deer mate. During this period, deer behavior changes, and hunters must adapt to those changes if they want to score a successful kill. For the hunter, this period represents the best time to harvest a buck, as deer become more active during the daylight hours, making them easier to spot and kill. The peak breeding season, also known as rut hunting season, occurs between the last week of October and the first two weeks of November.

In summary, the rut season is the mating season of certain mammals, including deer, and it is characterized by changes in behavior and increased activity. For deer, the rutting season is the period between the middle of October to early December when deer mate, and it represents the best time for hunters to harvest a buck.