Free: Contests & Raffles.
Last 5 days of October, and Late Buck. That will put you right in it.
As the late season is only four days, and, coincides with a weekend, you are really only taking two vacations days (THU 14 and FRI 15 NOV), yes? That said, you could schedule the rest of your deer hunting vacation time to cover pretty much the last two weeks of OCT. As a general rule, the bucks will be tweaking pretty hard the last week of OCT through mid NOV. It's all a good time to be in the black tail woods.
I would love to have the last 5 or 6 full days of October off to just hunt BT's. Man it can be good.
I agree with the last 5 days of the October season. I usually get get mine in October so I can’t speak too much for the late buck hunt. The earliest I’ve ever shot a rutting blacktail buck chasing does was on Oct 20th, also happens to be my biggest too at around 130”
No better time of the year for a good time hunting the rut! Good Luck, N7XW.Doug
I would also vote for the last week of October as peak rut for end of west side OTC rifle season.Not sure what drives the rut timing, ie if moon or weather affects it. I once shot an apparently rutting blacktail the first week of October in the Oregon cascades. Was shocked he was rutting that early. Shortest and easiest hunt of my life. First thing in morning, I'd hiked midway up a ridge and had stopped for a bit to listen....heard a bunch of bouncing and grunting noises coming down the hill right towards me. Past goes the doe, who thankfully didn't see or smell me. Then right behind her came the 4x4 buck grunting up a storm. He is broadside at 40 yards and sees me and freezes. Neck all swollen up and everything Pure dumb luck on my part of being in right place at right time and they just came right past my position (granted I had scouted and seen bucks in there every year). But shocked he was rutting that early in the year. I have to assume it was just the end of pre-rut activity or something. Not complaining though.
