Peak rut dates in South Carolina.

South Carolina's coastal bucks peak weeks before the upstate — one of the most dramatic rut spreads in the Southeast.

Peak breeding window: Oct 15 – Oct 28 → Nov 8 – Nov 18

Rut phases by zone

Pre-rut, peak, post-rut, late.

Peak Breeding column is highlighted — that's when most does are in estrus.

Zone	Pre-rut	Peak breeding	Post-rut	Late rut
Coastal Plain (Game Zone 4)	Sep 25 – Oct 14	Oct 15 – Oct 28	Oct 29 – Nov 10	Nov 15 – Nov 28
Midlands (Game Zone 3)	Oct 18 – Oct 31	Nov 1 – Nov 12	Nov 13 – Nov 26	Dec 1 – Dec 14
Upstate (Game Zones 1 & 2)	Oct 25 – Nov 7	Nov 8 – Nov 18	Nov 19 – Dec 2	Dec 7 – Dec 20

Zone
Coastal Plain (Game Zone 4)
Peak breeding
Oct 15 – Oct 28
Pre-rut
Sep 25 – Oct 14
Post-rut
Oct 29 – Nov 10
Late rut
Nov 15 – Nov 28
Zone
Midlands (Game Zone 3)
Peak breeding
Nov 1 – Nov 12
Pre-rut
Oct 18 – Oct 31
Post-rut
Nov 13 – Nov 26
Late rut
Dec 1 – Dec 14
Zone
Upstate (Game Zones 1 & 2)
Peak breeding
Nov 8 – Nov 18
Pre-rut
Oct 25 – Nov 7
Post-rut
Nov 19 – Dec 2
Late rut
Dec 7 – Dec 20

What drives the rut here

South Carolina's whitetail rut runs early on the coast and gradually later moving inland. Coastal Plain genetics descended in part from never-extirpated native herds, contributing to a much earlier peak than the upstate, where restoration stock came largely from out-of-state. Hunters who chase deer in multiple regions need different calendars for each.

Source

Data sourced from SCDNR deer-program reports and the agency's analysis of fetal-rate data from harvested does.

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

Always verify with the official agency before basing planning decisions on this page. Peak windows shift year to year.

Get rut intel for your specific land.

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