Blacktail Rut?

[JDHasty]

I'm praying that this relative lack of activity means a late rut, and some good action during archery season! Fingers are crossed.

I'm glad you said "I'm praying" and not, "I'm figuring."  This Season has been different enough that the best I can come up with so far this Season is:  "I am making an educated guess and hoping...."   

[deerhunter_98520]

Well about 5 Min ago my buddy just punched his tag....heard a crunch and a doe came running out watching her back trail and I think it's a 2 pt came on her trail...now the hard work starts

[WSU]

I saw a little buck yesterday around 3 pm that was following a doe.  It was in a field close to town.  I also saw 2 dead bucks this morning between Olympia and Montesano.  They are definitely rutting, it's just a question of finding one out in the daylight.

[krapmit]

Ive got a buck on camera and he's still nocturnal.  coming out hour or so after the does who are still coming out to feed 15 min before dark.. This is in pierce county.

[JDHasty]

Ive got a buck on camera and he's still nocturnal.  coming out hour or so after the does who are still coming out to feed 15 min before dark.. This is in pierce county.

They are in their winter coat and I don't think they can take much of this weather at all.  I was pheasant shooting on JBLM on Saturday and was in a t-shirt and moved from shadow to shadow just to be somewhat comfortable.   I took my dogs to the lake and wet and watered them after a half hour and their tongues were still hanging out. 

[JimmyHoffa]

Ive got a buck on camera and he's still nocturnal.  coming out hour or so after the does who are still coming out to feed 15 min before dark.. This is in pierce county.

They are in their winter coat and I don't think they can take much of this weather at all.  I was pheasant shooting on JBLM on Saturday and was in a t-shirt and moved from shadow to shadow just to be somewhat comfortable.   I took my dogs to the lake and wet and watered them after a half hour and their tongues were still hanging out.

probably laying in the ferns in the alders.  Now that the leaves are falling, they can get a little cooler in there.

[MuleySniper]

Sunny but chilly this morning, I watched and photo'd a nice B&C quality blacktail running a doe hard. I've payed good attention over the years to when the big boys make their appearances and from what I gather I have about a 5-7 day window where they are peak stupid and catch a look during daylight . Otherwise I only typically  see the big boys late nights on the trailcams. I'm referring to 6 year old and older mature bucks.

[kodiak 907]

They’re chasing the does but mostly at night and first light.

This last week of warm sunny weather is saving a lot of bucks.

Next week is calling for lows in the 20-30 and clouds.  Tough luck for all the rifle guys.

[JimmyHoffa]

They’re chasing the does but mostly at night and first light.

This last week of warm sunny weather is saving a lot of bucks.

Next week is calling for lows in the 20-30 and clouds.  Tough luck for all the rifle guys.

yeah, saw that.  Supposed to be cold with rain and snow for the elk opener....which usually overlaps BT rut and have to see bucks charging around all day anyways.   

[SteelheadTed]

It is somewhat comforting to hear I am not the only one who struggled over the weekend.  This time last year I was bumping deer every 30 minutes.  This year I didn't see a single critter nor any fresh sign.  It was a beautiful day though on Saturday and a Northern Pygmy Owl serenaded me to end the day, that was cool.

[PolarBear]

Well hell.  I took the day off from hunting partly out of frustration and partly to get a few chores done.  I have a MS I permit and am hot in a huge rush yet.   5:45 this evening I was fixing an eldery friends fence and gate. The elk had knocked it down. As I was sitting on the ground banging on a hinge with a wrench I lookex up and about 80 yards away was a big 4 point staring me down. He stood broadside while I continued to work on the gate for close to 10 minutes. I almost packed my rifle with me but didn’t.     I have accidentally rattled up a buck with an arrow on my riser but never with a wrench and a gate hinge. 

[JDHasty]

Well hell.  I took the day off from hunting partly out of frustration and partly to get a few chores done.  I have a MS I permit and am hot in a huge rush yet.   5:45 this evening I was fixing an eldery friends fence and gate. The elk had knocked it down. As I was sitting on the ground banging on a hinge with a wrench I lookex up and about 80 yards away was a big 4 point staring me down. He stood broadside while I continued to work on the gate for close to 10 minutes. I almost packed my rifle with me but didn’t.     I have accidentally rattled up a buck with an arrow on my riser but never with a wrench and a gate hinge. 

My buddy says that starting a fire and burning slash always brings them around, as does brush trimming and firewood cutting. 

[PolarBear]

We burned a huge pile the other night. All we attracted was coyotes. 

[fishnfur]

Man, I take my rifle, knife, and hunter orange almost everywhere with me this time of year.  I've had bucks come and go while my rifle was 25 yards away.  Not again if I can help it. 

Sorry for your bad luck PolarBear - you've been waiting for a shot on a big buck for a long time.

[fish vacuum]

I agree that this is a slow year. I've seen some deer, but not near as many as years past. Last year was the best year I can remember. The low rub activity kind of bothers me. That just tells me there isn't as many bucks this year.
 We'll see what happens in the best 2 days of the season. Hopefully not fighting the fog.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

I had more bucks on camera this summer than ever before. It's like all the deer have disappeared in the last month. Zero pics on the camera. No fresh tracks anywhere. It's a head scratcher. Even the ridges that always seem to have fresh sign show absolutely nothing.