How To Hunt The Whitetail Rut

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Navigate the Whitetail Rut

I'm really excited to bring you our third installment in our Web Class Series: How To Hunt The Whitetail Rut. Hunting all 6 phases of the annual whitetail rut can be highly successful with effective scouting, stand setup and mature buck hunting practices. Once the forecast, tracking and strategy of the whitetail rut has been completed, it is time to forecast the best days to hunt during the rut and then hit the woods! The bucks will be ready - but will you?I am thankful that you are considering this class to guide you on the path towards becoming a more consistently successful rut hunter, for the rest of your life.By the end of this web class, you will have learned the knowledge necessary to navigate not only the 7-10 day peak rut, but the entire 45 day window of rut opportunity.

Jeff playing rut poker screengrab

Learn from an innovator in Whitetail Hunting Strategies since 1986

Featuring 10 online video lessons in over 3 hours of video grouped into 3 modules. You will learn:
- All original, whitetail rut tactics and strategies that are actually effective in the real world, anywhere a whitetail roams
- That the rut offers 45 days of hunting opportunity
- What playing poker in the rut woods means for whitetails
- When the rut begins and ends, including the incredible 2nd rut and 3rd rut
- Tactics to navigate the rut weather rollercoaster
- What the rut timeline is and how to hunt all 6 phases of the rut
- How to score the sit to maximize an entire high value day of rut hunting opportunity through defined morning and evening stand locations
- What Calls to use during the rut and at which time

... and much, much more!



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Your Instructor

Jeff Sturgis takes decades of pursuing his passion, and then professionally transfers those pursuits into the enhancement of his client’s, reader's and viewer's hunting and habitat experiences, across the entire country. Jeff prides himself in creating the healthiest free-ranging deer herds in the world of whitetails, as well as taking on the challenge of hunting the oldest bucks in the neighborhood. Jeff has been able to create, own, operate and build a successful business in the whitetail industry by focusing on the teachings of his advanced whitetail strategies, since 2005.Jeff received the QDMA's Deer Manager of the Year award in 2004, and hasn't stopped learning since. After studying and creating over 1500 whitetail videos and articles, as well as working on over 1100 client lands and counting across 26 whitetail states, Jeff is in a league of his own when it comes to the ability to design your advanced habitat, herd and hunt opportunities - anywhere a whitetail roams!


Thanks Jeff for making these priceless videos. So much info packed into these videos. Just a dry sponge soaking up all the great info in your videos and books.
—MeeLow

I wish I would have found out about your channel a couple of years ago, you consolidate everything I’ve learned... into simple information. Thanks!
—Andrew

It’s been a great experience.
—Joel- IN

Jeff has allowed me to take the advanced principles of land management, and put them to use on my property in a language I could understand.
—Eric E

I would highly recommend following Jeff to anyone who is serious about managing for wildlife and taking their land stewardship to the next level.
—Justin

The only thing that is frustrating about watching your videos is I am going to have to wait another 6 months to apply a lot of what I have learned.! Keep it up!
—Chad

After the classes and a few videos, I feel like I have a great strategy for next year with less effort and money.
—Andy

Jeff, you have the best deer hunting advice on YouTube. I always watch your videos. I can’t wait to try some of these tactics this year.
—Gary

Please let Jeff know he’s an inspiration to me.
—Terry E

Jeff, big thanks for this video. Last year I abandoned the plots and got the does to leave, and the mature bucks returned right away.
—Buck

Course Curriculum

1. Incredible Whitetail Rut Opportunities
45 Days of Rut Opportunity! (07:07)
Playing Poker In The Rut Woods (18:34)
When The Rut Begins (16:57)
The Incredible 2nd Rut (12:31)
2. How To Track And Hunt The Rut
Rut Timeline-How To Hunt Each Phase (26:50)
When To Hunt Core or Non Core Bucks (14:01)
Rut Weather Rollercoaster (16:34)
3. Whitetail Rut Sit Management
The Morning Sit Advantage (31:21)
All Day Rut Sit Management (14:34)
What Calls To Use During the Rut (25:20)

Rut bonuses

PLUS: Exclusive bonuses worth $120 for the Whitetail Rut Class!

Exclusive WHS Hat

Most deer hunters love hats, and we know you will enjoy this exclusive, high quality hat made exclusively for this web class! Hopefully you will want to collect them all!

$30 Value

50 % OFF an Elite membership to the HuntWise App

Includes the HuntCast hunting prediction algorithm that Jeff developed after decades of experience and success.

-$60 Value

A signed hard copy of Jeff's book, All Weather Whitetails

Your copy of All Weather Whitetails will be personally signed by Jeff and mailed to your shortly after your purchase.
a $30 Value

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the course start and finish?

The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.

How long do I have access to the course?

After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.

What do I need to access the course?

If you have an Internet connection and a modern web browser, you'll be able to view the content.

Can I download the course for offline use?

Not at this time but please let us know if this is something you need. We might be able to make accommodations due to your circumstances (eg spotty/slow Internet, plane trip, etc.).

Is the course available on other formats (eg DVD, audio only).

Not at this time. However, please let us know if this is something you would find useful.

Are there closed-captions / transcript available?

Not yet, but please let us know so we can make accommodations.

What if I am unhappy with the course? Is there any refunds?

If you are unsatisfied, please let us know so we can address your concern.

I purchased the class—how do I login?

After you purchase the class, you will be prompted to create a password to this website and setup your account. If you forgot your password please try resetting it.

What Others Are Saying


I can’t begin to express how happy I am to have made the decision to choose Whitetail Habit Solutions (WHS). Jeff and his team have done amazing things for everyone which includes me. As an out of state owner my time is limited and I knew I needed help so I researched and follow Jeff for awhile and the decision was very easy for me to learn from to get me on track. Kevan Smith came out to the property and was absolutely a beast getting things straightened out and offered great information to help me understand how to properly set things up and how to hunt the property the correct way.
I was able to turn my struggle over the years and turn it into a successful memory. I was able to do this by following the proven concepts Jeff created over the years. Staying focused to maximize the potential and leverage my limited time was important for me in order to become successful. WHS was able to help me get there. By following the concepts it offers a higher potential to the success you’re looking for and also gives you those important memories with family and friends on the way to fulfilling your dreams.
A Big Thank You to Jeff choosing to share for all to learn and for his team for sharing his vision. Your awesome!

Here are some photos of my 1st years success and more to come.

Brad- Kentucky

I am writing to thank Whitetail Habitat Solutions and Kevan Smith, my habitat consultant, for the outstanding analysis and plan he developed on 01 March 2025. I am a retired Naval officer and recently took the leap from public land hunting to buying my 30-acre parcel in late 2023 and luckily purchased the adjacent 30-acre parcel the week before Kevan’s visit. I was initially hesitant not being able to book Jeff (as my property is in western Maryland), but Kevan exceeded all expectations. He skillfully assessed my property as we walked around and upon completion provided me with a masterful strategy and map of how to hunt the property, stand locations, as well as where and what to plant in my food plots. He took the time to explain everything in great detail to ensure my understanding as well as defining the order of the tasks necessary to improve my hunting property. I’ve had to miss many hunting seasons throughout my 22-year Naval career and want to take full advantage of the seasons I have left. Kevan’s advice will enable me to maximize this opportunity. Not only has his guidance prevented wasted years in trial and error by having the wrong stand locations, access routes or incorrect food plots, it will save money by not undertaking unnecessary tree cutting or wasted time on erroneous habitat improvements. It truly was a master class – and specifically tailored to my hunting property. I strongly encourage anyone on the fence about hiring Kevan for your habitat consultant to get off that fence right now and book him today!

Brian - MD

“I took home a buck, first time on the farm. Owned it 4 years. We can’t thank you enough for all that you did!”

Bill A- Ohio

I’m 62, I’ve hunted deer for fifty years. In the previous four years I’ve harvested only wall hangers.
This year makes it five. Not only my fifth one for the wall in as many years, but a target buck, a resident buck, a pretty well patterned buck, a buck I had two previous encounters with but he never knew it. At 7:15 this morning he stopped to survey the valley 15 yards from my perch. Only my fourth sit of gun season, first in this stand. I sat out all this warm days waiting for this.
All because of you Jeff. I can’t begin to thank you enough. I live about 20 miles from you if you ever need someone with a strong back and a weak mind to help with anything I’m you’re guy!!!

Kevin F

I just wanted to say thank you so much for all the information you provide on this site and on YouTube. Your information on weather, deer behavior, dos/don'ts, rut activity and more has been so helpful to me. Last week, I put down a small 9-point buck; it's what my friends are calling a damn good "you've got two young kids at home" buck lol.

WHS information helped me every step of the way. When I scouted my property, I heard Jeff's voice reminding me of what to look for. I found a nice cruising funnel (a crossroads, really), and multiple bucks came by last Friday. By prioritizing high-value mornings, I took the deer in under 7 hours in the ground blind. Next year, I can't wait to make improvements (food, water source, mock scrapes) that I've seen you all use and explain.

I've been blessed with a lot of great friends who helped me in person every step of the way as well. But your stuff has been wonderful -- easy to understand, presented with a humble authority and not too long.

John, Ohio

How To Hunt The Whitetail Rut

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