blacktail deer pre-rut

[Turner89]

Those look very easily a buck rub ! Get squared up way before daylight and stay until after dark

I found a rub similar to that in my area a few years back that a buck did get up on his back legs a bit. You could see where is back hooves were really planted into the ground. I dont have pictures of the buck at that rub, but I believe the tree killer is on my wall right now. 
I've never seen an elk in that area.
I hope you get him....that tree didn't deserve that

[fishnfur]

Well, considering the size of the bucks you shoot Jakeland, I could imagine a rub extending above a normal buck rub.  The rare BT buck with near mule deer sized antlers could likely scar up a tree up to head level.   

I had to dig a bit through last years hunting pics.  Found the one with buck rub down low and bull rub up high, verified by hair ID.  Often the two rubs are connected.  Classic.

[Skyvalhunter]

Ethan which buck would that be?

[fishnfur]

Despite the forecast for rain, the temperatures are apparently going to stay pretty mild in the lowlands through the weekend.  High of 63, low of 46.  Generally between 50 and 60 degrees throughout.   Somewhere around an inch of rain is expected (down here) over the next four days.  Hopefully it is enough to get the deer up and moving during heavier showers.

[180-GRAIN]

Seen 8 deer at around 6pm last night. One spike in the group. It was dead last night according to my cameras. Only 2 spikes and a couple does around the property. Only thin this am was a doe and fawn

[RadSav]

Despite the forecast for rain, the temperatures are apparently going to stay pretty mild in the lowlands through the weekend.  High of 63, low of 46.  Generally between 50 and 60 degrees throughout.   Somewhere around an inch of rain is expected (down here) over the next four days.  Hopefully it is enough to get the deer up and moving during heavier showers.

Not ideal, but as long as the green leaves are falling, there is moisture and the cover is thick enough to severely block out the moon...should be enough.

[D-Rock425]

Taking daughter for a blacktail walk this evening.

[fishnfur]

Despite the forecast for rain, the temperatures are apparently going to stay pretty mild in the lowlands through the weekend.  High of 63, low of 46.  Generally between 50 and 60 degrees throughout.   Somewhere around an inch of rain is expected (down here) over the next four days.  Hopefully it is enough to get the deer up and moving during heavier showers.

Not ideal, but as long as the green leaves are falling, there is moisture and the cover is thick enough to severely block out the moon...should be enough.

Alright, you've peaked my interest.  You've mentioned green leaves falling twice.  I'm curious what this signifies in your finely tuned hunter brain (that I am quite obviously oblivious to) (?).  Do you have a moment (or an hour- depending on the length of the answer) to elucidate? 

[7mmfan]

Despite the forecast for rain, the temperatures are apparently going to stay pretty mild in the lowlands through the weekend.  High of 63, low of 46.  Generally between 50 and 60 degrees throughout.   Somewhere around an inch of rain is expected (down here) over the next four days.  Hopefully it is enough to get the deer up and moving during heavier showers.

Not ideal, but as long as the green leaves are falling, there is moisture and the cover is thick enough to severely block out the moon...should be enough.

Alright, you've peaked my interest.  You've mentioned green leaves falling twice.  I'm curious what this signifies in your finely tuned hunter brain (that I am quite obviously oblivious to) (?).  Do you have a moment (or an hour- depending on the length of the answer) to elucidate?

Wind and heavy rain knock green leaves down...

[fishnfur]

Ahhh.  I feel so stupid!   

[RadSav]

Does congregate toward meaty alder leaves from reasonably mature trees.  Not ones that have turned color and no longer contain essential nutrients, but full thick meaty ones.  Usually this takes a freeze, wind and rain to get them off the trees in good enough shape for the does to feed on them in good numbers.  These green leaves tend to pull the does (and rutting bucks) out of the rabbit holes and into open areas.  I assume it is coincidence that it happens at the same time the does hit estrus.  But it always makes me wonder if she needs something those leaves possess during her cycle.  Not sure I have ever killed an early rut blacktail that wasn't 75-80% full on green leaves.

[7mmfan]

Does congregate toward meaty alder leaves from reasonably mature trees.  Not ones that have turned color and no longer contain essential nutrients, but full thick meaty ones.  Usually this takes a freeze, wind and rain to get them off the trees in good enough shape for the does to feed on them in good numbers.  These green leaves tend to pull the does (and rutting bucks) out of the rabbit holes and into open areas.  I assume it is coincidence that it happens at the same time the does hit estrus.  But it always makes me wonder if she needs something those leaves possess during her cycle.  Not sure I have ever killed an early rut blacktail that wasn't 75-80% full on green leaves.

That is a tidbit of information worth a lot. Thanks for sharing Rad.

[savagehunter]

If that is the case it is very valuable info. I thought the green was just grass but realize that it did not have a grassy consistancy. Hmm literally food for thought

[flyfishWA]

my brother rattled in a 7 inch spike this morning

[fishnfur]

Does congregate toward meaty alder leaves from reasonably mature trees.  Not ones that have turned color and no longer contain essential nutrients, but full thick meaty ones.  Usually this takes a freeze, wind and rain to get them off the trees in good enough shape for the does to feed on them in good numbers.  These green leaves tend to pull the does (and rutting bucks) out of the rabbit holes and into open areas.  I assume it is coincidence that it happens at the same time the does hit estrus.  But it always makes me wonder if she needs something those leaves possess during her cycle.  Not sure I have ever killed an early rut blacktail that wasn't 75-80% full on green leaves.

That makes total sense.  I thought that Big Leaf Maple leaves were one of the big draws for them in the fall.  They don't come off green though, and they are pretty well down and brown or all yellow at this time of the season.  It makes sense that green Alder leaves would be preferable.  Very likely a higher protein content.  Someday I'll look that up.

Regarding the dietary needs of a doe at that time, you might be on to something.  I wonder though, Alder is not available in all areas throughout the range of BTs.  Perhaps some other local browse makes up for the lack of whatever magic might be in Alder?  I know for certain that come November, BT and Elk suddenly begin browsing Cedar again, after laying off it sometime in the previous May.  Western Red Cedar is very high in Calcium, which is obviously in high demand in females carrying developing fetuses, so it seems to make sense that they use it more during the gestation period.  Then again, it may be that it is just the best tasting green stuff around to eat in the winter.  Once some other better tasting plant comes green in the spring, they move on from the Cedar.

Thanks for the schooling RS.