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!


I love your videos. I think I have watched every one at least twice. I just love your practical advice, with no hype or showboat... Keep up the great work.
—Steven

This is a great channel. Each video is so informative.
—Joey

You sir are the man. Thank you so much for your straight up honesty and the passion you bring to your channel!
—Doug

Rock solid knowledge. I consider everything you preach about lol. I’m sure you hear it all the time but you’re very knowledgeable on the white tail!
—Josh

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

The class did a great job of highlighting the baseline fundamentals from which to work all of the other improvements into.
—Kolby

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

I am so glad I picked you guys!
—Brendon- PA

Thank you!
—Craig- WV

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 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 wanted to send these over so you could forward them to Jeff, I have hunted in Western PA my whole life and to shoot a buck over 120” is an accomplishment for most hunters. I have spent hours watching Jeff’s youtube videos. The pictures below are from bucks I shot since I started listening to what he taught on his videos about 4 years ago. Prior to watching his videos I never shot anything bigger than a 125” buck. I just wanted to take a moment to thank him for his dedication and knowledge, he has helped me to become a way better hunter and not spend an eternity of hours in the woods spooking deer. The biggest buck shot was one on a cold front morning, I had covid and had about a 700 yard walk to get to my stand in order to not spook them going in. I felt terrible but knew I had to be there. I learned where he was bedding and where he was eating. It was pouring down rain and when the rain stopped at 7:00 I shot the buck at 7:18 like clockwork. I recommend his videos to all of my friends and will always promote his business. I have been busy with work which is why im getting these plot mixes so late. Prior to this year I never needed food plots to hunt as I just took the basic principals I learned from jeff and used them, in this case this year I have to keep my target bucks a little closer on a new property since there is so much pressure here. Anyways Thanks again Jeff for all you do and continue to do, im excited to share the knowledge I have learned from you with my kids. Im not a kiss ass type of person but figured you might enjoy seeing the good that your doing by helping hunters.

Thank you,

Josh

Josh L- Pennsylvania

These are my top 5 archery bucks i've taken all from the same property over the years using all the tactics i've learned from watching his video's!! The biggest in the middle scored 171-3/8s! Got my first archery buck when i was 15 & I'm turning 28 in June soo it took abit of time, but in my area I'm fairly well known for getting these bucks in that short time cause most hunters here maybe get lucky & shoot one like that in a whole lifetime lol

Tyler S

after 34 years of hunting this land and only 2 years after a 1/4 acre food plot at the very bottom of the hill next to the creek and turning the powerlines into switch grass and a 1/2 acre of a 4 clover mix he shot his first big buck here and I'm seeing alot. Thanks you so much. That deer never would have been harvested without your help. And the last one I seen is much much larger than that

Benjamin P- Pennsylvania

Hi Jeff,
Just a quick thank you for using your passion for hunting and teaching to help hunters like myself. I have been hunting Whitetail for seven years, but by taking the time to learn and be strategic, I have become ten times the hunter I was last year! Much of that is thanks to you. I was able to fill three tags this year; one being my first harvest with a bow and one being my first buck. It feels great!
I wish you the best and look forward to learning more from you and supporting you in the coming years.

Andrew S

How To Hunt The Whitetail Rut

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