March 2025 High Country Fallow Rut — Four Days in Victoria

Over the past few years, we’ve been scouting a new area for the fallow rut. This year, we returned to the high country of Victoria with a promising location for the March/April rut. After a pre-rut scouting session in late February, it became clear this year would be challenging due to what appeared to be a high doe-to-buck ratio.

A high number of does changes the rut dynamics — bucks don’t need to compete as aggressively, meaning calls and rattling are often ineffective.

We planned our hunt for the last week of March, with a four-day window coinciding with a new moon and a cold snap. Cooler temperatures and lower light conditions generally encourage morning and evening activity, making this the ideal opportunity.

Day 1

The numbers of deer were impressive — and intimidating. We located four active bucks holding at least 20–30 does. Amazing to observe from a distance, but managing wind, scent, and 30 pairs of eyes while trying to get into bow range proved extremely difficult.

We hunted morning and evening, with a few close calls but no arrows released. I tried a call at first light, but the old buck simply moved his does away slowly — no contest, no response. As expected with the high doe-to-buck ratio, bucks were not reacting to calls from other males.

Day 2

We were up well before first light, giving ourselves an hour to move into a valley system situated between the rutting area and the bedding spots. Scent control was critical, but we got into position without issue.

Dan went full draw on a doe but let down due to a difficult shot angle. A few does moved through with no opportunities, then suddenly — down the hill at 35 meters, a mature fallow buck appeared, walking slowly. I was the only one with a clear angle. Quick range, arrow away… miss.

It should have been an easy shot, but it wasn’t meant to be. The buck jogged off and disappeared, leaving us frustrated. After searching briefly for the arrow, we called it a morning.

The evening hunt took us to another valley. We wanted to check this area after putting pressure on the first, knowing it held good numbers — last year Dan had taken a doe here. Unfortunately, the approach was almost impossible, the wind betrayed us twice, and no clear opportunities presented. We returned to camp for a debrief.

Day 3

The limited pressure we applied to the first valley had pushed bucks further into dense scrub. Even at 60–70 meters, no clear shots were possible all day. The pressure of needing a success was starting to weigh, especially with only one day left.

On the upside, we located two sambar deer pods in the valley, observing them each day at first light. These will definitely warrant a closer look on future trips.

Day 4

On the final day, Dan and I split up to cover more ground. A little pressure on the bucks had made them skittish, and it was easier to move silently alone. My day was frustrating — despite doing everything right, success eluded me. Warming temperatures reduced deer activity, and a doe busted me in the late afternoon, pushing the herd into dense scrub and keeping them on edge.

Four days in the high country, and no buck harvested. The rut is unpredictable, and this year highlighted the challenges of high doe-to-buck ratios and rugged terrain. Next stop: NSW in the first week of May — time to see if we can get it done.