Blacktail Rut?

[Band]

I don't have enough experience in the blacktail woods to predict a specific date the rut kicks in but the big boy I got last year on 10/22 was so focused on trailing a doe that he walked past me at 20 yards and had no clue I was there.  From what I hear they usually start a little later than the 22nd but you just never know when a buck or two might start early.

[Old Man Yager]

Blacktails, tough to call it. I've killed em early season, middle, and during late buck, with swollen necks, so he'll if I know. 😆😆

[fishnfur]

Bucks "rutting" is a direct response to doe estrous.  It is the doe estrous cycles that drive the rut.  Here's the first study I opened after Googling: black-tailed deer early estrous.   This article states that the the estrous cycles start as early as mid-Oct., which agrees with virtually all other articles on the subject.  Reviewing the literature cited at the bottom will give a much better understanding of cervid breeding cycles.

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/b49.pdf

If you're not up to reading scientific journals, the main take-away should be that once a few does start estrous cycling, bucks will start responding by chasing etc.  It likely doesn't take more that just a handful of does in an area, and possibly just one doe near the immediate area that you're hunting for you to think that the rut is on.   And for that spot where you are standing and watching a buck nosing or chasing a doe, it is essentially on, at least for a few days or so.  For the region overall though, until enough does are entering estrous (say late October), the rutting behavior is a localized phenomenon.   Early to mid-November is when the majority of the successful breeding takes place.

[hillbillyhunting]

Hunting partner (who I trust whole heartedly) has been watching a buck chase a doe around this week at his work site.  I took the attached picture yesterday (its a screen shot to remove the risk of location tracking  ).  Doe wasn't quite having it yet, but he thought she smelled good and was chasing her around.

I guess this year I'm that guy that hopes we see some action early this year.  I am usually one who laughs at the rut threads and thinks it will be just like every other year, but its hard to not be hopeful when you have experiences like this.

[fishnfur]

   I could use some luck. 

That buck seems to be the Harvey Weinstein of the Blacktail world.  He's not taking no for an answer.

[steeleywhopper]

Taking off  November 16-19th... any chance I might get lucky making bleat calls? first timer here.

Use the Doe Bleat. I called in a 3x4 blacktail for a first time hunter in 2009, second week of general. I killed a nice mature 2x2 using a doe bleat with 20 minutes of light left on the last couple days of the late hunt a few years back.

[fishngamereaper]

Colder earlier this year. I'm guessing we are in for an early rut.

[deerhunter_98520]

Kid you not a buddy got a pic of this rutted up bad boy with 2 does last week. Look at his neck.  Buddy said he could have walked up and roped him.

I would have said prove it 


I seen a nice buck scent checking 3 does at the shop this last week...and have seen a few more bucks showing themselves in the last 4-5 days...there starting to move gentlemen....I'm ready for tomorrow

[PolarBear]

Hell, I killed one of my biggest blacktail bucks on opening day of modern.  He was in full rut and pushing does.

[TheFewTheProud]

I had one in my yard on October 11th chasing a doe already

[Whitenuckles]

 
 The biggest buck I have on camera was breeding a doe at 10:20am on Oct 17th.

[180-GRAIN]

Have a 2 point on camera dogging a doe last night.

[JimmyHoffa]

I saw a new buck in the neighborhood today, a nice little 5 pt.  Maybe someone can get him tomorrow.

I wish we could have the 1-10 nov to hunt the grey ghost.

have you looked at the special permits?  There are some blacktail permits that I think cover those dates.

[Martinhunter]

Saw 2 bucks this morning both with does.

[PolarBear]

My daughter and I chased 3 bucks, one spike, a big 2 and a monster 3x4. All 3 were pushing does and trying to push each other away from the does. Couldn't get a shot due to the thick brush and reprod.  The 3x4 was all swollen up.