2012 Whitetail Rut Report

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Just got back last night and my experience sounded just like Seabass's. Driving to my stand in the morning it was 11 degrees and averaged about 25 degrees during the day and was about 18 degrees when I would get out of my stand at dark. I had little activity during the day. A handful of does, mostly with fawns and a handful of small bucks. My trail camera on the other hand would tease me each morning as it was loaded with smasher bucks. One 8x10 that I would donate a left nut for. A couple other real chunky big 4's and also just some plain nice shooter bucks. Not sure if the moon played a roll but it was definitely out in force. Cold and clear sunny skies during the day not sure how that helped either. Anyway one step closer hopefully to figuring these suckers out.
MS

You going to make it back over for another hunt?

[Ridgeratt]

DB you going to be wandering around up there this weekend?
I have been requested to get Grannies Lights up on the house.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

DB you going to be wandering around up there this weekend?
I have been requested to get Grannies Lights up on the house.

Unless I fill my tag I will be up here this weekend. Starting Saturday I will probably shoot the first 130+ buck that comes my way if I can capture good video.

[MuleySniper]

Just got back last night and my experience sounded just like Seabass's. Driving to my stand in the morning it was 11 degrees and averaged about 25 degrees during the day and was about 18 degrees when I would get out of my stand at dark. I had little activity during the day. A handful of does, mostly with fawns and a handful of small bucks. My trail camera on the other hand would tease me each morning as it was loaded with smasher bucks. One 8x10 that I would donate a left nut for. A couple other real chunky big 4's and also just some plain nice shooter bucks. Not sure if the moon played a roll but it was definitely out in force. Cold and clear sunny skies during the day not sure how that helped either. Anyway one step closer hopefully to figuring these suckers out.
MS

You going to make it back over for another hunt?

Man I'd love to if it wasn't a 6 hour drive for me to our cabin then another 45 minutes to our stands. If I wasn't so busy at work right now I'd still be there. Originally my dad and I had almost a week planned for it. Especially since we came a week early to set stands and bait piles. We'll see.... I might get a wild hair and an opportunity to head back over.
MS

[MuleySniper]

Also last year when I hunted the same spot this time there were a lot more deer cruising and bucks grunting. Hardly heard any grunting this time. What does that normally say about the rut? My dad and I wish we could have been there on the opener a couple days earlier but with Thanksgiving and all... Next year Turkey Day better be later in the month My dad and I are new at this whitetail thing but so far we have a pretty good spot locked down now just need some luck.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Just got back last night and my experience sounded just like Seabass's. Driving to my stand in the morning it was 11 degrees and averaged about 25 degrees during the day and was about 18 degrees when I would get out of my stand at dark. I had little activity during the day. A handful of does, mostly with fawns and a handful of small bucks. My trail camera on the other hand would tease me each morning as it was loaded with smasher bucks. One 8x10 that I would donate a left nut for. A couple other real chunky big 4's and also just some plain nice shooter bucks. Not sure if the moon played a roll but it was definitely out in force. Cold and clear sunny skies during the day not sure how that helped either. Anyway one step closer hopefully to figuring these suckers out.
MS

You going to make it back over for another hunt?

Man I'd love to if it wasn't a 6 hour drive for me to our cabin then another 45 minutes to our stands. If I wasn't so busy at work right now I'd still be there. Originally my dad and I had almost a week planned for it. Especially since we came a week early to set stands and bait piles. We'll see.... I might get a wild hair and an opportunity to head back over.
MS

Good luck on your hunt for the big one. Hopefully you can make it back over and stick an arrow in him. The last week of the season should provide some good opportunities.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Also last year when I hunted the same spot this time there were a lot more deer cruising and bucks grunting. Hardly heard any grunting this time. What does that normally say about the rut? My dad and I wish we could have been there on the opener a couple days earlier but with Thanksgiving and all... Next year Turkey Day better be later in the month My dad and I are new at this whitetail thing but so far we have a pretty good spot locked down now just need some luck.

This year I had the most daylight mature buck movement between 10-20 Nov with 13-19 being the best seven day period.

Glad you are discovering these Washington Whitetail. We have it good here.

[MuleySniper]

Cool that's what I kind of figured following this thread. Pretty nice to have this luxury for planning and preparing.
Thanks
MS

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Cool that's what I kind of figured following this thread. Pretty nice to have this luxury for planning and preparing.
Thanks
MS

yeah...I started this thread when Dan-O and I were having a discussion regarding the rut.. I was pleasantly surprised that it has received as much attention as it has. Hunt-wa is definitely a great resource for stuff like this. I will have to remember to start another one next season.

[gjbruny]

looks like the tail end of the rut is starting to really kick in at our place with the bigger bucks trolling and competing/fighting for does vs. tending like they were 7-10 days ago. last few days i have seen a few of our 4 year olds trolling aimlessly. had one of the big 4pts hit the stubble at 10:30 this morning with his mouth wide open. he lip curled several times. definitely a shorter but much more intense rut than last year. lots and lots of bucks trolling this year and/or bedded with does in the wide open. has been fun to watch.

[antlerman]

Seen a 120's buck with its nose to the ground and hot on a does a## today.  I thought I was going to get a front row seat how the doe was acting.

[Machias Bowhunter]

Going to head over to the Colville Kettle Falls are the last weekend of hunting the 7,8.9 th of December. Any advice on how to hunt that time of year? Will scents still work or just hunt the food sources? Will the bucks go nocturnal or what. I do know where to hunt I usually hunt the early season just havent hunted this late into the season. Any help would be great, takin my 16 yr daughter over and hoping to get her 1st deer with a bow, has already got one with a rifle when she could hunt the youth hunt, now that is over for her so she hunts with a bow now with me

Thanks

[Doublelunger]

Going to head over to the Colville Kettle Falls are the last weekend of hunting the 7,8.9 th of December. Any advice on how to hunt that time of year? Will scents still work or just hunt the food sources? Will the bucks go nocturnal or what. I do know where to hunt I usually hunt the early season just havent hunted this late into the season. Any help would be great, takin my 16 yr daughter over and hoping to get her 1st deer with a bow, has already got one with a rifle when she could hunt the youth hunt, now that is over for her so she hunts with a bow now with me

Thanks

Im hoping the second rut will be going strong the last week.  Usually hunting over bait late season is a good move.  The deer are usually tired and hungry from chasing tail non stop and are looking to re-fuel. 

[jnevs23]

Everyday I go either seems to be duck hunting weather or sun tanning weather and the woods are dead.  I did get day light pics of the buck I've been looking for all year 3 times last week. Also have day light pics of a young 4 pt with a swollen up neck this last week

[Seabass]

I'm not seeing any rut activity where I am hunting but some of my buddy's are still seeing quite a bit of rut activity as recent as last night. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some nasty weather.