2012 Whitetail Rut Report

[Timberstalker]

Just tagging along.

[PA BEN]

So a general rule of of thumb on the eastside what do you think the average "peak" rut is? Nov. 10-19? Earlier?

Back in the day when late buck opened on thanksgiving day the rut was in full swing. I've hunted 121 the 2nd of Dec. and the bucks were still rutting hard. I've killed bucks the 11th veterans day that were following does.

[TommyH]

lots of scrapes and rubs! A buddie rattled a very nice one in 4 days ago.

[rem/sav300]

awesome thread! im heading out the end of next week to hunt the last 5 days of my gardner late tag. pretty jacked! hopefully i can get on some whiteys!

[Seabass]

I am amazed at the number of 2 1/2 year old bucks I have on camera just in the last 4 weeks. I don't recall a year with this many bucks. I expect that some big bucks will start walking in front of the cameras soon.

[Highcountry360]

 I CANT WAIT ARE WE THERE YET!!!!!

[greenhead_killer]

just tagging. great thread

[jnevs23]

Spent the day in 124 resetting cams and getting ready late archery.  No sign of any rut activity.  Couple rubs, no scrapes, no bucks with does.  Saw lots of deer in the fields, no horns that I could see

[vandeman17]

Tag.  Also, I will be heading up Saturday for the week so I will try and update as well.

[fishunt247]

All of the whitetail I saw last sunday were bedded within an hour after light. Saw one decent buck bedded in the middle of 6 does, but that was it for rut activity, if you can even call it that. Did see several fawns that were alone, which I have heard (and may be complete BS) can mean that momma is ready for action.

[SkookumHntr]

-The weather on accuweather looks like its going to get real cold starting thursday! That should get them going!

[archery288]

The rut is already starting pretty good in the NE.  Lots of scrapes and rubs this past weekend while doing some scouting and setting up treestands and cameras.  With the cooler air coming in this weekend, it should really start to take off!

[hunt4]

Well I was told the rut was over I was at Cabelas last night and the guy running the archery counter told me so  :yike:I said excuse me I don't think I heard you correctly? YEP ruts over you wont be needing any of that  rut scent your after "that we don't have".
SO it must be true ITS OVER 

[fishunt247]

Maybe it was the same guy at Cabelas who told me last week that he was pretty sure the Primos Can had scent in it, kind of like a dual purpose deal. Sure glad they hired these "experts" when they opened the Yakima Cabelas.

On a side note, will they generally work the same scrapes as the year before? Last year we found a string of scrapes. The scrapes were still there this Sunday, but they look old, like they haven't visited them yet this year.

[Colville]

Look for new ones.  Old ones are a good in that you know that's a likely area, but look for the new ones and you're good to go.