Blacktails are moving, boys.

[FLIZZ]

Kind of guided my buddy who's somewhat new to muzzle loading yesterday and saw 6 in about a 4 hour still hunt period, not too shabby. Could have dumped a few but he's holding out for something better than a spike (which was one of the deer we spotted)  At about 6:45 this morning I drove right past a very good three point literally on the straight stretch as you crest the hill at the Lacey Cabelas, he was looking very frantic and strange as if he were rutting ( I Know, not possible) but he almost had that look going.

PS: Rivers West stalker pants are NOT Western WA waterproof, very disappointed and soaked yesterday, granted it was possible the wettest day I've ever hunted. My buddies herters stayed dry the whole time though.

[BOWHUNTER45]

I have a feeling its coming early this year but not quite this early 

[Eli346]

 This is one of the few years that the rut is supposed to happen during late buck in Washingon. Doesn't come about very often so this would be the year to hold out for that bruiser you've been waiting for.

[trophyhunt]

Wet or sweat inside the pants? I found hiking in rivers west is a bad mistake, they sweat very bad. Get some Kuiu gear, it rocks. Rivers west does work in a tree stand or still hunting.

[FLIZZ]

Wet or sweat inside the pants? I found hiking in rivers west is a bad mistake, they sweat very bad. Get some Kuiu gear, it rocks. Rivers west does work in a tree stand or still hunting.

No man, I know the difference. The material itself is waterproof, however the fly, leg vents, and leg zips are the problem, at one point I could literally feel water dripping inside the crotch area down my quads, I was real high on RW gear before this, could just be the model of pant though. I was actually very surprised at how cool I remained before they started leaking. If I do get sweaty, I know I'm hunting at way to fast of a pace 

[jackmaster]

Take them back. They are guaranteed not to leak. I have been in some wet nasty stuff like the last couple days in my rivers west pants . And jacket and I have had them for 6 years and they still don't leak.

[bobcat]

This is one of the few years that the rut is supposed to happen during late buck in Washingon. Doesn't come about very often so this would be the year to hold out for that bruiser you've been waiting for.

Where did you hear that? I'm thinking that could be right though, or at least it looks to me like the first couple days of the late season could catch the very tail end of the rut, because it's early this year (November 14th.)  Seems to me that the rut is completely over by about the 15th, and I know some years the late blacktail season starts as late as the 18th.

So I agree, this year could be really good. At least if you were to go at the first of the season, on Thursday and Friday.

[FLIZZ]

Take them back. They are guaranteed not to leak. I have been in some wet nasty stuff like the last couple days in my rivers west pants . And jacket and I have had them for 6 years and they still don't leak.

Unfortunately I ordered them through sportsmansguide, and looking on the site the only thing that falls under the warranty is the fabric itself, not the manufacturing design. I'll give it a try but they'll probably just replace them with the same thing, which does me no good.

[FLIZZ]

UPDATE! my same buddy just missed a monster 3 pt this evening 

[jackmaster]

That sucks was his powder wet or did he flat miss? From what I know about RW all you have to do is show them that they leak if it's a design flaw they will honor it

[wence5]

I was out scouting a new area yesterday, and noticed the same thing. Saw a VERY nice 4 point Blacktail buck just standing in a clearing about 75 yards off the road. stood there for about 30 seconds then just trotted off. Wishing I had a muzzy tag this year. 

[bankwalker]

Been seeing quite a few bucks chasing does around the last week. Shhhh 

[savagehunter]

take them to the rivers west home store they will get you some that will not leak its in renton or kent

[sirmissalot]

I hated the rivers west I had, like you said it leaked horrible in the pockets and zippers, not to mention the stuff doesn't breathe whatsoever and I would get soaked from sweat and condensation more than anything, rain or no rain. Customer service didn't help either, all they said was they felt the ventilation and water shedding ability was sufficient. I took mine back to cabelas 

I saw 13 deer yesterday and not a horn on one of them

[Smossy]

So the rut is durring ML season? Sucky.
Also to add to the clothing thing, Me and Elk247 were hiking some pretty thick stuff durring the last huge rain we had, I had some Kings Camo "Russell APXG2 L4 Gale Two Layer Soft Shell Pants".
They're pretty fricken bomb proof, The outer layer was wet but I was dry as a bone. Even with zippers on the side that run all the way up to the knees.
http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/2011/10/14/russell-outdoors-apxg2-in-kings-camo-is-here/

[BOWHUNTER45]

This is one of the few years that the rut is supposed to happen during late buck in Washingon. Doesn't come about very often so this would be the year to hold out for that bruiser you've been waiting for.

Where did you hear that? I'm thinking that could be right though, or at least it looks to me like the first couple days of the late season could catch the very tail end of the rut, because it's early this year (November 14th.)  Seems to me that the rut is completely over by about the 15th, and I know some years the late blacktail season starts as late as the 18th.

So I agree, this year could be really good. At least if you were to go at the first of the season, on Thursday and Friday.

Wonder how many know that a day or 2 makes all the difference in the world when it comes to blacktail ...I have hunted days and days in the same area and went back after not seeing many bucks and then Bam ...there they are 

[go4itlab]

1) I had a couple bucks in the backyard on Sunday night going at it, watched for about 1/2 hour as they put on a good show for a couple does that were in the field. Then it got dark. Pretty cool to watch with the family, wife and 2 kids have never seen a couple of bucks scrapping. I would say Whatcom County pre-rut is upon us. Charged up the batteries on the camcorder hoping to get some footage next time they come out to spar.

2) River west is great if you only plan on walking 50ft to a stand. Like wearing a suit for cutting weight if you plan to burn the boot leather. I sold most of mine. What I didn't sell works great for a little late winter steelhead fishing.

[bucksandbulls]

hey guys,    last week of October... and browning gore tex  cant go wrong .. just be out there the full week.  lets say from the 24th through the 31st it always happens in that time frame.     of course this weather will get them out feeding ... but they are not rutting ,,, just feeding.