Rut phase dates by species and region for the 2026 season. Dates are typical windows based on latitude and historical patterns — weather and pressure shift them year to year.
Broken out by region — northern areas typically run several days earlier than southern.
| Region | Pre-Rut | Seeking | Peak Rut | Post-Rut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adirondacks / North | Nov 1 – Nov 12 | Nov 12 – Nov 18 | Nov 18 – Nov 28 | Nov 28 – Dec 8 |
| Central NY | Oct 28 – Nov 8 | Nov 8 – Nov 15 | Nov 15 – Nov 24 | Nov 24 – Dec 3 |
| Southern Tier / LI | Oct 24 – Nov 5 | Nov 5 – Nov 13 | Nov 13 – Nov 22 | Nov 22 – Dec 1 |
Statewide timing.
| Region | Pre-Rut | Seeking | Peak Rut | Post-Rut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adirondacks | Sep 22 – Oct 5 | Oct 5 – Oct 16 | Oct 16 – Oct 29 | Oct 29 – Nov 12 |
Statewide timing.
| Region | Peak Strut |
|---|---|
| Statewide | Apr 25 – May 15 |