Montana rut

[Mulie87]

The weather has hit Montana and the pics I’ve seen and reports from friends is the bucks re grouping does and sparing. I head over to SE MT on the 15th. If the rut is starting, how long will it last and should I still be in tbe rut when I start hunting in two weeks? Thanks in advance.

It’s killing me having to wait another two weeks to get over there.

[Wolfdog2314]

Following! Seen some bucks being dropped over there already. Heading over the 9th.

[Tbob]

I’m with you guys, I head over on the 15th as well.

[ffhoofer]

I was over there elk hunting last week. Didn’t notice any sign of the deer rut where I was at in sw Montana. Plenty cold though, -4 when we left Wednesday

[Mulie87]

Interesting. Guess depends on what area of the state you’re in.

[Stein]

I don't know about the deer, but the peak of the pumpkin is always the last week of the season.

[dvolmer]

I am by no means a rut expert.  With that said, the biologist explained to me that the big misconception is that the weather dictates the rut.  This is not true.  Moon fazes and other things are more of the factors.  I cant remember all that he told me (remember I said I was no rut expert) but I will always remember the part about the weather getting cold early or late is a very mild factor in when the rut starts or ends.  I've been deer hunting every year for the last 12 years in Montana.  We go roughly at the same time within a week or so every year.  I've been there when the weather was nice and the deer were rutting and when the weather was hell and the deer were not.  In my experience, the whitetail seem to go into the rut a little bit before the mule deer.  At least it has seemed the whitetail bucks are chasing the doe's more early.  But that is just what I have observed.  In my observation it seems that the mule deer rut is usually the third and forth week of November and the whitetail rut is the second and third week of November.  But it is hard to predict and I think it can be different in different regions and areas.  I have went to Montana and hunted when the deer were rutting big time.  When I got home I talked to a friend on the other end of the state that observed hardly no rutting at all.  Sorry, this post is probably no help at all.

[Hot Lunch]

I usually head to Montana around Veterans day and have always seEn bucks chasing does then. Rut goes til the end of the season.

[Pathfinder101]

I am by no means a rut expert.  With that said, the biologist explained to me that the big misconception is that the weather dictates the rut.  This is not true.  Moon fazes and other things are more of the factors.  I cant remember all that he told me (remember I said I was no rut expert) but I will always remember the part about the weather getting cold early or late is a very mild factor in when the rut starts or ends.  I've been deer hunting every year for the last 12 years in Montana.  We go roughly at the same time within a week or so every year.  I've been there when the weather was nice and the deer were rutting and when the weather was hell and the deer were not.  In my experience, the whitetail seem to go into the rut a little bit before the mule deer.  At least it has seemed the whitetail bucks are chasing the doe's more early.  But that is just what I have observed.  In my observation it seems that the mule deer rut is usually the third and forth week of November and the whitetail rut is the second and third week of November.  But it is hard to predict and I think it can be different in different regions and areas.  I have went to Montana and hunted when the deer were rutting big time.  When I got home I talked to a friend on the other end of the state that observed hardly no rutting at all.  Sorry, this post is probably no help at all.

I've noticed the same thing.  I agree that the rut is based on the amount of light available each day, not the weather.  Weather however affects deer movement.  If the rut is on, and the does are holed up, the bucks will be holed up with them.  We hunters will claim that the "rut isn't on", because we're not seeing any bucks.  If the does are up and feeding and on the move, the bucks will be moving as well and we will all proclaim "the rut is on!"  I think that's why you have good days and bad days "during the rut".  All the other factors that cause deer to be active (temperature, precip, incoming weather systems, moon, pressure, etc...) still apply, all I think the rut does is make those old, nocturnal bucks get up and move when the does are moving.  I'm not a rut expert either.  Just my 

[Birdshooter]

I dont know....I work in S.E. Montana and live in bonney lake.....work a week and off a week......look at the temps guys....next week its going to be in the 40's........rut is not on.........lots of bucks everywhere out there but not in the rut....i see hundreds of trucks with washington plates....i stop and try to talk to them ....my job requires me to drive 100 mile radius every day so i see lots of nice deer.....history has shown me....it takes a week of temps not above 20 for the rut to start...may be other factors i dont know about.....but it has to be cold......40 isnt going to get it going.....best bet is the weekend before thanksgiving....Good luck.....drop me a line if you want to chat!

[Stein]

I saw several mule bucks paired with does out in the open at noon last week.

We also saw a few cruising in the daylight nose to the ground.

The rut has at least warmed up.


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[greenhead_killer]

so youre saying that if it were to stay into the 50s through dec, the rut wont happen until january? hopefully the tags/seasons go that late or im screwed

[Skyvalhunter]

Come on guys we know shorter days and more darkness triggers when a doe goes into its estrus cycle

[huntnphool]

 The rut in the SE has started, bucks are chasing does.

[Wingin it]

Just got back from Eastern Montana and the whitetail rut is definitely going. The Mule deer rut was also starting but not heavy rut activity quite yet. Next couple weeks should be good for Mulies.