Are blacktail still in rut?

[6.5swede]

Up where I work there are a few blacktail running around and it appears they are still rutting.  I walk a trail up there and have noticed new rubs every week for about 3 weeks now, and this morning I saw a nice buck running around with a doe.  I haven't even seen a fresh rub up here until late December.  We are at about 1500' elevation.  Late rut?  Why else would they be marking trees this late?

[180-GRAIN]

I have heard and read that they rub pretty heavy just before shedding antlers. Could be whats going on with the marking.

[SkookumHntr]

I seen two bucks fighting last week! There was a doe with them too!

[boneaddict]

I seen some rutting action with some muledeer(benchlegs) last week.   Its very late.  Not normal.

[boneaddict]

of course its been 60 degrees the last two days in Yakima, so that's not normal either.

[jackmaster]

if a doe is late and comes into heat a buck will tend to her, alot of the new rubs this time of year is do to the fact that the bucks are trying to rid themselves of their head gear for awhile, i know its mid january now, but a guy i knew, he is gone now, but he hunted late musket in the bear river unit every year, he didnt even bother going out until late december, and man i tell you what, some of the hog blackies that he whacked in late december were unreal and they were in full on swelled up, black tarsal glands rut. so maybe it is just a little late this year

[singleshot12]

Twice I've seen new born fawns in late Sept.early Oct.  I think some doe's come into heat at odd times of the year. I also remember seeing a spike blacktail chasing a doe in the summer nose to the ground and grunting.

[jackmaster]

singleshot brings up another thing to, i have heard that alot of times this is how weaker genetics are passed around, the dominant bucks are off recovering from late oct,nov and dec rut so the young kull bucks are left to tend the late doe that come in to heat, it sounds like a good theory

[Old Man Yager]

Guys,  they are just like us,  Horny all the time!!!

[jackmaster]

Guys,  they are just like us,  Horny all the time!!!

that does sound like a more sound theory for sure 

[boneaddict]

singleshot brings up another thing to, i have heard that alot of times this is how weaker genetics are passed around, the dominant bucks are off recovering from late oct,nov and dec rut so the young kull bucks are left to tend the late doe that come in to heat, it sounds like a good theory

Younger bucks have the same genetics as the older.    The really only bad thing with the late late fawns is they have no survival the next winter.   One for the coyotes though.

[jackmaster]

singleshot brings up another thing to, i have heard that alot of times this is how weaker genetics are passed around, the dominant bucks are off recovering from late oct,nov and dec rut so the young kull bucks are left to tend the late doe that come in to heat, it sounds like a good theory

Younger bucks have the same genetics as the older.    The really only bad thing with the late late fawns is they have no survival the next winter.   One for the coyotes though.

makes sense, i was just thinkn about the bucks that generally wouldnt be allowed to tend a doe, do to the fact he would get his arse whipped by big daddy 

[Eli346]

 I've only seen it once but heard of it a few times of a buck breeding a doe in January. The buck we saw was a 3 pt blacktail right about this time many years ago.

[Hilltop123]

I have seen spotted elk calves at Oak Creek, in January....you do the math.......if the female is receptive, the male is always willing, it's gonna happen.....they don't read calenders.........as with all things about wildlife, rules are general in nature, nothings carved in stone.....

[Tight Spin]

If a doe is not bred when she comes in heat around Nov she will come back in a second time and a buck will breed her then.This is what you are seeing now. If a doe gets missed 2 years in a row she will not breed again