Another dorky newbie question - late season

[Clumber]

Ok, I have the WDFW rulebook in front of me and I see that Western Black-tail late season is Nov 13 - 16.

question #1 : it looks like that is for regular tag holders too...?  Not a special permit or drawing?  (Looking at page 19)

question #2 : since our weather has been odd this year, is it likely that the rut will just be starting off during that time frame?

Saw 2 deer today, my first time ever hunting deer, but unfortunately 1 was across the highway and was wasted meat, and the other was a buck in someone's truck - GOOD JOB!  Also saw two [expletive] Ruffed Grouse which I would have been delighted to take home with me but I figured that .270 Win was a bit too much gun for Grouse.  Not in good enough condition to carry 2 long guns... I swear they know somehow...

Will be out again tomorrow, but unfortunately only the 2nd half of the day, since we have some late-morning appts for our dogs at the vet for annual clearances and we are planning to breed the girls next season, so kinda gotta' keep the appts.

TIA and good luck everyone!

~ tracy

[EastWaViking]

late buck if for everybody, and yes, the rut should just be peaking then.

good luck!

[billythekidrock]

1. Yes. Open to all modern firearm tag holders that have not already harvested a deer.
2. Contrary to popular belief our "strange" weather will not delay the rut. The coastal bt's will start pre rutting in the next couple weeks with the peak of the rut typically just before the late buck hunt.

[bow4elk]

2. Contrary to popular belief our "strange" weather will not delay the rut. The coastal bt's will start pre rutting in the next couple weeks with the peak of the rut typically just before the late buck hunt.

+1

[Clumber]

Apologies for the pathetic lack of knowledge... but there's a "pre-rut" too?  What marks a pre-rut?  Do the bucks start sparring or do the does get cranky?

~ tracy, moron but I do try to learn quickly  I'll have to do a post soon showing off my dogs, then I'll by proxy be harder to be annoyed with... lol

[bow4elk]

Western Washington blacktails like to get started with the breeding cycle just after they shed velvet.  But they really don't show much "rutting" behavior until what's known as the pre-rut.  They will start about the 2nd or 3rd week in October crusing trails, scent checking feeding areas, rubbing A LOT, and begin to stray from normal routine a bit.  By the end of October bucks will be cruising for does big time.  Often extending out of their home ranges in search of does.  By about the end of the first week in November to about the 15th is the peak of the rut or breeding activity.  Your best chances to call in bucks are just prior to the peak of the rut.  Rattling, doe bleats, fawn bawls, and buck grunts can all draw bucks to your location.  Stand hunting along known doe trails is another great tactic. Daylight till dark in a treestand is deadly if you can handle it.  Of coarse, season dates have changed in recent years.

Unfortunately, WA's late bow season doesn't start up again until November 20th and by then the rut is winding down pretty good.  A second rut will occur approx 28 days later when any unbred does or even yearling does will come back into estrous.  I've rattled in bucks in the last week of December and tagged three deer on 12/31 - the last day of bow season for the year.

This is GENERAL and will vary a bit.  Hope it helps.

[bow4elk]

And by the way, I captured these buck in the last few days.  Just pulled these off on of my trailcams this afternoon.  My camera was here for 7 days and I captured one small fork.  Now in the last week I have all these guys, so I'm guessing the pre-rut is starting to warm up.  It isn't enough to have them on camera on this trail because they are here well before or after legal shooting light, especially once November 20th rolls around.  So I've got to keep working on them to figure out how to intercept them in shooting light.  Yes, it's a tough proposition 

[300rum]

I watched a buck breed a doe multiple times the Monday before Thanksgiving 2 years ago during the late archery opener.  Looking back at my notes, around Halloween (day or two either way) is when the big spooks start to slip, coming out a little earlier in the evening.

[PolarBear]

I watched a buck breed a doe multiple times the Monday before Thanksgiving 2 years ago during the late archery opener.  Looking back at my notes, around Halloween (day or two either way) is when the big spooks start to slip, coming out a little earlier in the evening.

I've found Halloween to be the usual start of the rut and in full swing by late rifle.  I have seen blacktails rutting in December as well.

[billythekidrock]

Apologies for the pathetic lack of knowledge... but there's a "pre-rut" too?  What marks a pre-rut?  Do the bucks start sparring or do the does get cranky?

~ tracy, moron but I do try to learn quickly  I'll have to do a post soon showing off my dogs, then I'll by proxy be harder to be annoyed with... lol

No apologies needed and there very few "dorky" questions. Good luck.

[Clumber]

Thank you!  I already have that fri-sun off from work, and will be adding the thursday Monday morning!

late buck if for everybody, and yes, the rut should just be peaking then.

good luck!