Blacktail Rut?

[shadowless_nite]

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.

I had a nice 4x4 coming to my camera and bait daily till after the 1st week of October. This is on a private tree farm surrounded with other properties so they don't stray far from safety. He would only show up after 9pm. Then right when I checked my cameras after muzzy elk season was over I found he had disappeared. It wasn't until last weeks crap storm had rolled through that he resurfaced and in good health. Caught him mid morning following a doe. And he later showed up on a camera on the other end of the property where I had never got him before.

I feared someone shot him muzzy deer season, but suspected pre rut had got him to start changing patterns and begin cruising different routes. This last week of awkwardly warm weather, clear evenings and fuller moon phases hasn't helped anyone and he has disappeared again since last weekend. My best guess is the rut is going to be a bit later, kinda like the fishing   this year running 1 week or 2 later than usual.

[BLH69]

Good luck everybody!  Halloween and fairly cold, make it happen.

[JDHasty]

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.

35 years ago I used to work on Fort Lewis.  One morning I had to call my boss and tell him I wouldn't be in.  I had shot a pretty decent four-point buck right at the junction of the Dupont/Steilacoom Rd & East Dr.  I used to just keep a shotgun in my 1971 Mach 1 back in those days.  He wouldn't go into the trunk so a GI and I seat belted him in the passenger seat.   

[pygmy1985]

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.

35 years ago I used to work on Fort Lewis.  One morning I had to call my boss and tell him I wouldn't be in.  I had shot a pretty decent four-point buck right at the junction of the Dupont/Steilacoom Rd & East Dr.  I used to just keep a shotgun in my 1971 Mach 1 back in those days.  He wouldn't go into the trunk so a GI and I seat belted him in the passenger seat.   

So, the deer rode shotgun!

[SteelheadTed]

slow clap 

[WSU]

I saw two little bucks this morning.  One hot a doe's tail at about 8:30 and one cruising a field at about 10.  Unfortunately, the first one was too quick for me and the other made it back in the swamp before I could get close enough for a shot.  The deer seemed to be moving all morning.

[2MANY]

Many a doe will get bred tonight.

Happy Halloween.

[kodiak 907]

Seeking phase is happening. It’s definitely a little late and the last week of nice weather really screwed the rifle guys.

More bucks for us archery guys now! Come on 11/22.

[redi]

Watched three different bucks follow does around today and rub trees. They are starting to stink too.

[HunterofWA]

Seeking phase is happening. It’s definitely a little late and the last week of nice weather really screwed the rifle guys.

More bucks for us archery guys now! Come on 11/22.

Yes! I need this guy:

[DaveMonti]

While I was out hunting at 7:30 AM about 5 miles behind the gate, I got an alert on my home security camera system.  I pulled up the video and a buck was chasing a doe around my property.  A little 3 point, but more than I saw today. 

[fishnfur]

There's still no action down here.  It died a week ago.  Hunted first light to last light in gated and private little used cuts.  Saw a doe with a fawn at 0830 and a doe by herself crossing a good saddle where reprod meets forest.  That was it all day.  Dead quiet for the most part.  Heard four shots this am and only a single shot a half-hour before last light.  I've never experience such a slow last day of the general season.   The ghosts, goblins, and ghouls are keeping the bucks in hiding I guess.

[fishngamereaper]

Had a spike in my yard today at 10am....he watched me pack for idaho knowing full well I didn't have time to deal with him...

[SteelheadTed]

Seeking phase is happening. It’s definitely a little late and the last week of nice weather really screwed the rifle guys.

More bucks for us archery guys now! Come on 11/22.

Not so fast, we still have 4 days of late rifle!

[highside74]

Didn't get to hunt the last to days but as I was pulling in the driveway right at dusk a 2x2 was cruising the edge of the neighbors place. First buck I've see in the neighborhood this year. We saw 2 bucks and 10 Doe in 1 cut on Sunday but they weren't together at all. To far for my son and my brother missed a moving shot. 2 doe still had fawns with them.