Blacktail rut?

[irishevox]

Does anyone know when the Blacktail rut is?? I am west of the cascades 

[bobcat]

First half of November. Basically, after the general rifle season ends, and before the late rifle season begins. Coincidence? Not!

[irishevox]

got ya... i will have to get off the island to shoot rifle... i will be back late nov early dec 

[throttlejocky20]

If you can draw a tag to hunt them during the rifle elk season the bucks are pretty dumb!

[bmccalister]

I have experienced the rut as early as the last week of October, but usually it happens after the general modern firearm season. However, I have even experienced the rut occurring at different times in different areas and even at different elevations.

[cvandervort]

As far as elevation goes, what have you guys experienced? I will be hunting a unit this year that should be blacktail-heavy. I have no experience hunting them specifically...lowland swamps for the rut? Deep dark woods? Didn't mean to jack the thread.

[Skyvalhunter]

As Bob said first part of Nov, there is a reason why some of the Blacktail special permits are around Nov 17th-21st and that is to catch them in the rut.

[westside bull]

Seen it start late oct to late nov but I think they rut the hardest first of nov.

[irishevox]

When does it usually end?
and don;t they usually bed down after the rut for a while?

[bobcat]

Basically, the rut is over when most of the does have been bred. And I believe that would be no later than the end of the second week of November.

Any does that did not get bred the first time will come into heat a second time 28 days later, which of course will probably fall during the first week of December. So you could see another flurry of buck activity at that time as well.

But yes, the rut is very exhausting for these bucks because they don't rest, or eat much, while they're busy chasing does. So when it's over the bucks are probably going to hole up somewhere and you will have a very hard time finding them.

[FLIZZ]

Call me Crazy but I feel like the hottest days of the rut are the last 3 days of modern rifle in western WA. Then of course late buck you'll have a good chance as well.

[PolarBear]

4 days before Halloween and 4 days after.   

[irishevox]

looks like i will be missing the rut i won;t be back till at least late nov early dec 

[Skyvalhunter]

yep you will miss the first rut maybe you can catch the second

[3nails]

4 days before Halloween and 4 days after.   

This has been my experience also. During the last 4-5 days of modern the rut is in full swing.

[BOWHUNTER45]

I have experienced the rut as early as the last week of October, but usually it happens after the general modern firearm season. However, I have even experienced the rut occurring at different times in different areas and even at different elevations.

[snowpack]

My observations have been that I start seeing them more in daylight and looking for does about the 1st of November, then around 5/6 they are really into it for about a week and then a week of 'clean-up' duty.  Basically the mid-point between the end of general mod season and the late mod season.   Sometimes a few are earlier and a few run later, but this is just what I've seen over the years.

[lokidog]

4 days before Halloween and 4 days after.   

This would be my experience here on the island.  Though they seem to have an extended rut out here since we see fawns from May into July.  I would guess this is because we have no selective pressure by predators to all drop their fawns in a short time period.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Yeah ..only if I could hunt Nov1st thru the 10th ...I would show ya some true wall hangers 

[bobcat]

I'd day this picture is proof that the peak of the blacktail rut is November 10:
(taken in south Thurston County)

[madmack76]

I agree first part of November its on. I have seen more monster bucks during elk season its just crazy.

[3nails]

Okay, so if we are talking the breeding phase of the rut then yes, first 2 weeks of November. The search/chase phase (best phase to hunt imo) begins in late October.

[3nails]

 Thanks for the close-up bobcat. 

[Old Man Yager]

I've shot 3 of my best Blacktails during late buck general rifle season. All still had swollen necks, and were shot between 10am-12. 2 of them had thier nose in a doe's behind.

[ctwiggs1]

wow you really zoomed in and everything on that one... interesting..

I never noticed this I guess but even archery and ML get *censored*d out of the rut don't they?

[lokidog]

I've shot a lot of bucks during general rifle that I had not seen around the property during the summer, my guess is they were cruising looking for does.  Might not be full in the rut, but when they start cruising, they are vulnerable, and they definitely cruise during rifle season.

[FLIZZ]

I'd day this picture is proof that the peak of the blacktail rut is November 10:
(taken in south Thurston County)

How do you know they're even breeding? looks to me like he could just have a hurt leg and she's helping him get around.  ... .... . ....

[Old Man Yager]

wow you really zoomed in and everything on that one... interesting..

I never noticed this I guess but even archery and ML get *censored*d out of the rut don't they?

Don't archery and ML get a longer season? And seasons later in the year where snow might make some animals migrate and be on the move?

[FLIZZ]

Seriously though, no BS, I shot a big 2x3 in 07 on the 20th of October, monster neck, with a doe, and I missed him 5 times with a shotgun before I connected so he was definitely not on his A-game. Couple years back on  Oct,26 a had a nice 2pt walk through a clearcut directly towards me, tail strait out, grunting the entire way until I desk popped him at 15 yards with my shotgun. So here's my point, if you get serious and spend time in the woods, you will find a bog buck anywhere from mid/late October all the way to late buck. Its that simple. BTW, it has nothing to do with weather WHAT SO EVER, its the length of the day that gets them going.

[Dhoey07]

Prime blacktain rut is during westside modern elk

[sanjuankelso]

I've been hunting the elusive grey ghost seriously since the mid 90's from my treestand. Archery, muzzle loader, modern depending on my schedule. I pattern them by trail cam from August through January. My experience has been that rut activity usually starts pretty seriously around the mid-last week in October and continues through most of November and even early December. My best rut hunts usually take place very close to Halloween and Typically everybody is in full swing. Most does are bread in the first cycle and the action falls off around the late rifle hunt/Thanksgiving time frame but there are still swollen up bucks running around after unbread does into December although not as hot and heavy. They are usually into a feeding pattern and fairly nocturnal buy the late archery/muzzy season. Pre-rut tactics, rattling/grunting work very well during the early muzzle loader and modern season early mornings/late  evening and it just gets better as the season progresses. Isolated timber stands with soft wood borders especially near feeding areas where does are regularly present see a lot of pass through traffic and make the big boys hard to pattern during this time so patience is a virtue.