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.