blacktail deer pre-rut

[deerhunter_98520]

Seen 6 does being pushed around by a spike last night.

[PolarBear]

Been seeing rubs but they are all pencil sized alders and just the bark rubbed off.  No bigger trees or gouge marks.  It tells me that the little guys are warming up.

[fishnfur]

Seen 6 does being pushed around by a spike last night.

Today's the day!!!!       

0940:  Just heard someone pop off a shot a ways up above our house in town.  Backyard buck takes a dirt nap!

[BigGoonTuna]

haven't seen much movement anywhere.  saw my first deer of the season yesterday(a doe) for 4 mornings of hunting so far.  this dry, crispy, still weather sucks, and now fog!

[h20hunter]

Nice 2x2 seen today just past noon. Right at the hey 9 and 2 junction. 30 yards off the road roaming.

[PolarBear]

I have a couple of buddies that shot smaller bucks today that were not swollen up but had their noses to the ground and following does.  They didn't have a care in the world

[deerhunter_98520]

Seen 6 does being pushed around by a spike last night.

Today's the day!!!!       

0940:  Just heard someone pop off a shot a ways up above our house in town.  Backyard buck takes a dirt nap!

My buddy got a spike today does that count   

[fishnfur]

So what you're sayin' is that I'm not getting my hands on that 65 cents, huh?   

Are you getting your family and friends all tagged out first again this year?  I could use a few friends like you.  Looking forward to your success photo soon.

[Mallardmasher]

Both my buddies kids tagged out today, on stinky bucks, lots of grunting and fighting and pushing does today, Buck movement all day. Starting to s e some big rubs to go with it. Good luck to all

[deerhunter_98520]

So what you're sayin' is that I'm not getting my hands on that 65 cents, huh?   

Are you getting your family and friends all tagged out first again this year?  I could use a few friends like you.  Looking forward to your success photo soon.

Yeah trying to...got the 2 rookies their spikes...hope we get some more deer movement it's been slloooww

[fishnfur]

You're a good man 98520!

Both my buddies kids tagged out today, on stinky bucks, lots of grunting and fighting and pushing does today, Buck movement all day. Starting to s e some big rubs to go with it. Good luck to all

There's a good report.  Must be a doe or two poppin' out eggs in your woods.  Yesterday was essentially a perfect three weeks till the expected peak of the rut - right in line with the expected 19 - 22 days prior to the second (and normally successful mating) estrus.   

Where are those masher four-points?

[PolarBear]

4 of my buddies tagged out yesterday.  2 spikes, one forky and a small 2x3.  All bucks were before 9 am, none were swollen and all had their noses to the ground searching.

[fishnfur]

These positive reports may be like the proverbial "should have been there yesterday" fishing report.  There's often seems to be a burst of activity around the 18th - 22nd, then it slows again for another week.  Hopefully that's not the case this year.  Maybe it will just keep ramping up.

[lokidog]

Friend's daughter tagged her first buck yesterday afternoon. He was eating pears, not chasing, but you could sure smell him when we walked up on him.

[RadSav]

Started seeing rubs yesterday.  None down by the rabbit holes yet, but definitely popping up on the ridge cruiser trails.  Biggest positive was seeing the green leaves falling and signs the does are working toward the alder flats.  Even with the fog it's just barely cool enough.  Add in the bright moon and it's just not spilling into daytime for us yet.  But does seem to be enough to get the ball rolling a little. 

We weren't lucky enough to see any bucks.  But we were seeing buck tracks with about half the does tracks headed for the breeding grounds.  If I was a guy looking for a buck this year I'd start Monday telling the boss I feel like I'm getting sick.  If rain comes Wednesday or Thursday - "Sorry, I can't make it in today!"

If you are wanting broadheads or peep sights shipped on Thursday...you're going to be SOL!  We'll be hunting!