Red Deer Rut Tactics That Actually Work with Mick Cullen

Red Deer Rut Tactics That Actually Work with Mick Cullen

From Becoming a Bowhunter by Matty | Becoming A Bowhunter

May 8, 2026 · 1h 46m · Season 1 · Episode 177

About this episode

Matty and Mick Cullen discuss effective tactics for hunting red deer during the rut.

In this episode, Matty sits down with long-time mate and experienced red deer hunter Mick Cullen. Mick is someone who’s been in Matty’s ear for years, helping break down mistakes and sharpen decision-making in the field. This is a practical conversation about what actually works when you’re chasing red deer in the rut. Mick shares the systems he’s developed over more than a decade of consistent hunting. From calling setups and reading terrain, to understanding how stags behave across different phases of the rut. There’s a big focus on execution under pressure , why most hunters get busted at the last moment, and the small decisions that separate blown opportunities from clean kills. Podcast topics: Early vs late rut behaviour and when calling works best Why wind and setup matter more than the call itself Using terrain (benches, folds, cover) to force movement Drawing early vs getting busted at full draw Hind & fawn calls vs stag roars Spot-and-stalk vs calling, and when to use each Why most hunts fall apart inside 50m The importance of repetition and experience Find Our Guest: Mick Cullen Instagram: @bows_dogs_n_rods Follow Becoming a Bowhunter Instagram…

People in this episode

Host: Matty

Guest: Mick Cullen

Topics covered

  • Red deer hunting
  • Rut behavior
  • Calling techniques
  • Terrain usage
  • Hunting strategies
  • Execution under pressure

Keywords

  • red deer
  • hunting tactics
  • rut behavior
  • calling setups
  • terrain
  • execution
  • hunting strategies

Sponsors

Dog and Gun Coffee, Kayuga Broadheads

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