Blacktail Rut in SW Washington

[AKBowman]

Just moved here from Alaska. I've hunted Sitka Blacktails on Kodiak twice in the rut which resides around the second week of November. I hunted Skookumchuk last year during the late archery season on a stand for five afternoons. Saw decent amounts of does but no bucks. The locals told me that the deer around those parts rut during the gun season around the week of Halloween.

Is this true? If so is this true for all blacktails in SW Washington? Any tips from experienced SW Washington BT bowhunters out there? So frustrated, anything would help, thanks in advance. Willing to trade Goat/Dall sheep hunting in AK info.

[Houndhunter]

ill trade you a guided balcktail hunt here, for a guided dall hunt over there

they rut hard early to mid november, i cant say i know the deer in skookumchuk area but they'll be still be in the rut

[Dadbear]

I've found that SW WA blacktail rut anytime from late October on, depending on weather, etc. Rut times may even vary between different local deer populations as well.  Hope that helps.

[WAPITIHUNTER]

I live in and hunt the Mashel unit extensively for elk and blacktails. Yes they are rutting right now and yes the rut does fluctuate from year to year and area to area. Sunday afternoon right at dusk had a nice three pt stand and stare at me for about a minute. Guess I should have bought a rifle tag cause he would have been in  the freezer.

Will be out in the morning looking for him or one of the other bigger ones i have been seeing.

[bucklucky]

Its definately on the big down swing in the Skookumchuck. Not a whole lot of rut activity right now. It was super hot that last week of october and first week of november which is normally the peak here. Higher elevations tend to have a later peak to the rut though, thats just my opinion.

[blacktail luv]

I live in the west klickitat unit and my wife shot her buck on around the 21st or so and when he entered the clearing he was grunting and chasing does, we almost didn't get him because he wouldn't stop chasing.  This is always the case for the last few days of rifle season.  However they have been rutting ever since, on friday I saw three bucks chasing a doe who was obviously in heat one nice 4 by and a couple smaller 3 points.   I muzzle hunt and it is pretty much dead by then december 1.  The bucks are tired but they are still after the does that did not get bread the first time around.  Hope this all helps.

[AKBowman]

So it looks like most the SW WA Deer rut from last week of Oct through the second week of Nov. and then may continue through late Nov depending on the doe population and who got bred and who didnt. I appreciate the help, I think I may be hunting the Modern Firearm season next year with my archery equipment.

By the way I dont think it really makes much sense that the modern season falls in the peak of the rut, does WDFW need to weed the population or something? In the areas I hunt I think theres plenty of browse and cover to hold 100 X more deer. Anyone agree with me?