Is the BT rut over?

[fishnfur]

Not unexpectedly, a buck and a doe came into the yard last night.  There's no way of telling if she's hot, but I don't think they'd be wasting time together if she'd already been bred.  Presumably, her first estrus was on or about Halloween. 

Really weird year - this is fully 10 days later than I've ever seen rutting activity in the yard.  Especially so, considering that every year there are more fences and houses in the area restricting travel etc.  In general, deer traffic is probably 30 - 50% of what it used to be.

[Mallardmasher]

Not where I am hunting, just getting good.... Shaping up like last year.

[Twispriver]

It seems to be over where I'm at

[fishnfur]

Nice monster bucks there!  The little three point was sniffing around again last night after the doe and fawn left.  He ate two leaves but passed on the apples.  Fully nocturnal again for sure.

[fishnfur]

It must still be trickling along - some low level of estrus scent in the air.  This dude made his third showing of the season - spent just over a minute in the yard last night.  Scent checked and may have had a quick bite to eat.  He's tiny compared to that monster Twispriver posted - I'm thinking three y/o.

[fishnfur]

I think we can stick a fork in it.  It's essentially done.  I'm back to multiple nights with no deer on cam, even with apples still on the trees and all over the ground.

- If this relatively warm weather continues, we should have superb winter survival rates on the westside. 

- Nine months till opening day of Archery! 

 

[fishnfur]

...and just to prove me wrong:

[boneaddict]

cant speak to blacktails but will add my    for muleys.   The younger bucks are starting to group up.   The three biggest bucks I saw were rutting with receptive doe.  Now did I only see them becasue they were rutting..... or......   Anyways, certainly about to stick a fork in it. 

[blackveltbowhunter]

Agreed! It's on  right now. Buddy put down a great 4 point. Nice job on the rattling polar, any pics of the buck?

[WapitiTalk1]

As always, it’s pre rut. Peak is on the way . . .

[trophyhunt]

 Did someone say rut? I spent the last two days burning fuel in Hancock on the Kapowsin side, saw one doe on Wednesday nothing at all yesterday not even a deer.

[trophyhunt]

Did see a blue few grouse though, had to shoot one.

[Okanagan]

IMO/E the rut as defined by actual breeding has not yet peaked for blacktails.  The rut as defined by deer activity in daytime seems to me to be greater in the lead up (pre-rut?) when eager bucks are running around looking for a receptive doe while most of the does are not quite ready.  During the peak of actual breeding, visible activity seems to go down IME as more deer are finding receptive mates rather than chasing around all day looking.

What has happened is that the sunny west side weather and high pressure system seems to reduce open activity.  I did some calling for a friend in a high population deer area day before yesterday and we did not see nor even hear a single deer moving.  Fawns will be born next spring whether or not there is a lot of visible rut activity now.

[banishd]

This thread is from mid November last year.  Think we're still have plenty of time left.  I rattled in my buck a day or two before Thanksgiving last year on the archery opener

[Crunchy]

The hancock/kapowsin bucks havent really even started from what I have seen.  Some fresh rubs is all I have seen.  So the late rifle and muzzy season should be good.