The Rut !

[Deer Hunter]

I was tring to remember the name of the gland that when the increased sun light due to the longer winter days causes the bucks to start coming into the rut ? Does anyone know the name of it ?

[ScentFree]

Do you mean shorter winter days because of less daylight? And do you mean Tarsal gland? Which has nothing to do with them going into rut it is a gland on thier hind legs.

[raven_over_easy]

Don't quote me but, I do believe there are 2 glands that regulate rutting activity in bucks.;) (Hint) These glands produce Testosterone.

[Deer Hunter]

No it is not the Tarsal gland that i am talking about. It is a gland that is i think in the deers brain of behind its eye. Not quite like a putitary gland but similiar to it i guess.

[Deer Hunter]

raven,

I know what you are talking about there and they diffinately would not be doing any rutting without thoes but that is still not what i am talking about either.

[raven_over_easy]

No it is not the Taral gland that i am talking about. It is a gland that is i think in the deers brain of behind its eye. Not quite like a putitary gland but similiar to it i guess.

pre orbital gland?

[quackrstackr]

pineal gland

[Deer Hunter]

lowerunit,

That is the one i was looking for ! :cool: And raven i am glad you brought that one up to. "pre orbital gland" Now can anyone give me a breif run down on what each one of thoes are suppose to do to start the rut ? :)

[Deer Hunter]

I was reading about the moon phases & the autumnal equinox and their effects on hunting & fishing. It is all pretty interesting. It is in a way sort of strange how wild life manages to keep up a breeding season rather than just breeding year round like domesticated animals do.

It is hard to not put a little faith into the theroy that the autumnal & vernal equinox, along with things like the photoperiod, moon phases etc..., Exspecially when you look at things like when turkeys start their mating season which is right about the same time the vernal equinox begins. And then to Elk begin their breeding season about the same time as the autumnal equinox.

It is all interesting though !

[GSPonGrouse]

BIOLOGICAL FACTS ABOUT WHITETAIL DEER
WHITE-TAILED DEER Ecology and Management, Halls. 1984 Reproduction
Over Most of the whitetail range, does come into estrous (heat) in autumn. These does experience several ovulatory cycles if not successfully mated initially. Onset of breeding activity is governed by photoperiodism, latitude, genetics and nutrition. Reproduction is directly

Endocrinology
Follicles in the ovary produce estrogen - the hormone responsible for the doe's mating urge. Another ovarian hormone, progesterone, apparently acts in concert with estrogen to promote optimum heat - the time when a doe will permit copulation. A rise in estrogen greatly increases the secretion of the luteinizing hormone by the pituitary, causing the release of a mature egg. (Halls. 1984)
The corpus luteum, a specialized gland, develops at the site of the ruptured follicle at ovulation. If the shed egg is not fertilized the corpus luteum degenerated in about three weeks, and the entire cycle recurs at regular intervals until conception takes place, or reproductive activity ceases in late winter. (Halls. 1984)
With the three weeks and the 7 days below is the reason I believe we have a false rut, 1st rut, 2nd rut, and even a 3rd rut in some years.
The chart from WHITE-Tailed Deer Ecology and Management shows Follicles in the ovary produce estrogen the hormone responsible for the doe's mating urge. Another ovarion Hormone, progesterone, apparently acts in concert with estrogen to promote optimum heat - the time when a doe will permit copulation. A rise in estrogen greatly increase the secretion of luteining hormone by the pituitary causing the release of a mature egg. (Halls. 1984)
To describe some similarities with the Moon phases. The chart shows a 7-day decline of the progesterone. During the same 7 days an increase of estrogen takes place then a sharp peak in the luteinizing hormone at the end of the 7-day decline of progesterone and the 7-day increase of estrogen, which are characteristics of estrus onset and ovulation in whitetail deer. (Halls. 1984)
A doe remains in heat for approximately 24 hours.(Halls. 1984)
I believe the decline and increase of hormones starts on the Full Moon and it takes those 7 days for the doe to be ready. This would put the peak during the Last Quarter Moon. Since all does are not genetically the same is why it occurs during that seven-day window of the Last Quarter Phase of the Moon. 24 hour would also explain the flurry of movement during this Last Quarter Moon Phase.
Melatonin, a substance secreted by the pineal gland (the "third eye"), influences the release of sex hormones from the pituitary. Many of the seasonal effects of the photoperiod are dependent therefore on an intact pineal, since it presumably serves as a mediator of transducer of photoperiod cues into chemical or endocrine information. Pinealectomy dramatically alters the timing of many seasonal physiological events in deer (Halls. 1984)
The pineal gland is located in the brain. This organ - the so-called "third eye" of vertebrates - is a transducer of photic information to the pituitary or "master gland"(Halls. 1984)
Photoperiodism
The rutting season is tied to photperiodism. A diminishing ratio of daylight to darkness triggers the start of the reproductive cycle. Photoperiodism serves as a time-giver for the inherent (endogenous) rhythm, the so-called "biological clock"(Halls, 1984)
Since photoperiodism is related to latitude, the rut progresses more or less as a continuum from November in the North to January or February in far southern ranges. Variation within a region possibly is due to genetic differences or hybridization. (Halls, 1984)
Yearling does generally achieve estrus later in the rut than older females. Doe fawns come into estrous after most adults have bred. (Halls. 1984) Does that do not become pregnant at their first estrus will come into estrous again 28 days later (Halls, 1984)
controlled by the endocrine system. (Halls. 1984)

[GSPonGrouse]

the short answer is the pineal gland that starts it all.

[Deer Hunter]

GSPonGrouse,

That is a very good article. Where did you find that ? If i understand that right, it is as the days start getting shorter that casues the pienal gland to start things off. And if that is so we are not going to have a new moon until about when season opens. And that means the third quarter will not show itself until about the end of November.

And if that article is true to its word. The peak of the rut will not be kicking in until about the end of November ? :(

[GSPonGrouse]

Not all does come in 28 days after.... it is a window of 22-28 days. (Lowerunit 2007)
Thats what I always thought too.

[GSPonGrouse]

GSPonGrouse,

That is a very good article. Where did you find that ? If i understand that right, it is as the days start getting shorter that casues the pienal gland to start things off. And if that is so we are not going to have a new moon until about when season opens. And that means the third quarter will not show itself until about the end of November.

And if that article is true to its word. The peak of the rut will not be kicking in until about the end of November ? :(
http://www.northmosportsmen.com/hunting/deer/moonfacts.htm
I think that will be the upcoming last quarter. Some one correct me if I am wrong should be around the 1st to the 9th of November. With a new moon on the 10th.