Whitetail rut

[Jgarrigus]

After hunting the early modern firearm and seeing only does, this thread gets me excited to catch some of the rut in these NE units for late hunt. have never hunted a late deer since its first year hunting up this way.

[HotRod]

chasing whitetails for 30 years I have noticed the rut peaks a full week sooner in the far northern units with peak chasing around Nov 13-19 and the further south you go around spokane the rut seems to peak Nov 17-24.

I've hunted the NE corner for almost 20 years and what I've seen is also between Nov 13th - 19th as the peak of the rut with the majority of my kills coming on the 13th. My last 3 have all been on the 13th. Last years buck was tending a doe grunting up a storm when I took it on the 13th.

[Doublelunger]

chasing whitetails for 30 years I have noticed the rut peaks a full week sooner in the far northern units with peak chasing around Nov 13-19 and the further south you go around spokane the rut seems to peak Nov 17-24.

  If I had to pick one week to hunt the Northern units it would be the 13-19. I killed my biggest buck ever on the 11th and my second biggest on the 19th.

[TriggerMike]

I have been hearing the younger age class bucks are just starting so that should mean about 7-10 days until “peak”.

Do younger bucks start rutting earlier?

[vandeman17]

I have been hearing the younger age class bucks are just starting so that should mean about 7-10 days until “peak”.

Do younger bucks start rutting earlier?

I believe they all start the rut at the same time but the younger bucks start showing rut activity earlier. The older, more mature bucks are patient and wait for the prime time for when most the does reach peak estrus.

[Bobvernon2]

Just found some scrapes yesterday morning on a scouting mission.

[TommyH]

Lots of scrapes on the ground. A buddie grunted one in a few days ago.

[Bango skank]

I found a couple fresh scrapes yesterday, and made a few myself.

[Tradhunter]

Any chance a young whitetail buck could get confused with mule deer rutting and start scraping and getting all worked up early? I have been seeing scrapes for several days now but it just seems super early to me? I do agree that the more mature bucks will hold off until the doe are pretty much ready to breed from what I have seen but I have only been bowhunting whitetails for about 4 years now so I am still learning them. I shot my 143'' buck on the 18th last year and he was completely stuck to a doe. As a matter of fact, I saw him on the way to my stand and shot him on the ground and he just stood there staring at me haha. I wouldn't expect that to happen very often. I hope the rut is not early as my reservations are for the 15th to start hunting.

[vandeman17]

Any chance a young whitetail buck could get confused with mule deer rutting and start scraping and getting all worked up early? I have been seeing scrapes for several days now but it just seems super early to me? I do agree that the more mature bucks will hold off until the doe are pretty much ready to breed from what I have seen but I have only been bowhunting whitetails for about 4 years now so I am still learning them. I shot my 143'' buck on the 18th last year and he was completely stuck to a doe. As a matter of fact, I saw him on the way to my stand and shot him on the ground and he just stood there staring at me haha. I wouldn't expect that to happen very often. I hope the rut is not early as my reservations are for the 15th to start hunting.

15th is perfect. The rut lasts a few weeks and has multiple high and low points. You should be just fine

[ALLTERRAIN]

I’m no expert on whitetail but 90% of my wt  for the last 25 years have the 15th to the 19th. Heading north for the next week of fun. LOVE chasing whitetail!!!

[ALLTERRAIN]

Forgot to mention that that’s when I see the start of the more serious rut activity.

[Ghost Hunter]

On my way very soon.  See if I can confirm these statistics.  Been a few years since I've hunted late season WT.  Hoping to make a practice of it.

[jnevs23]

Shot my whitetail last year on Nov 15. He was chasing a doe

[PA BEN]

Bucks are definitely following does and scraping this morning.