Weather vs peak rut

[vandeman17]

We are heading to Western Montana to hunt mountain white tails and maybe some mule deer. With my current work load, I am trying to be as efficient as possible as far as time away goes but am flexible when to use those does. Original plan was to head over and start hunting this coming Saturday and stay until Thanksgiving or so. About 10 days ago we decided to move it forward to leaving this coming Wednesday night so we could hunt Thursday through Monday. The current forecast is showing snow moving in Sunday afternoon and then off and on all the following week. In years past, we have had much better luck hunting the area when there is snow on the ground but given the timing of the expected snow, the mule deer will most likely be deep into post rut and white tails in post rut. Trying to decide what 5 or so days we should go... 

[DOUBLELUNG]

Both species should still be rutting, but post peak.  Bucks will be tired but still seeking unbred does. 

For mule deer, I prefer stable weather as the does are more likely to stay in a small local area, whereas 6" or more snow will move them closer to their wintering area.  If there is already that much snow, you will likely find the does close to their wintering areas.  Dominant bucks will usually be spending more time tending individual does that haven't bred yet, they can be pretty easy to find as late rut they often have several subordinate bucks satellite around them and the hot doe.  It's a good time to find as many does - singles and groups - as you can glass up with minimal effort, use your truck as much as you can to find does you can watch from the truck, and then short walks to glassing vantages where you can look at more with minimal effort.  If you see rutty young bucks hanging in an area, start glassing as unless it's breeding time, that buck is likely to be bedded with or very close to the doe coming into estrus.

Mature whitetails tend to be really slavish to their scrape lines, whereas yearling and two year old bucks will be all over the place.  Unlike mule deer does, which tend to be stationary unless moved by snow or disturbance (hunters, predators), whitetail does when ready to breed will tend to move to active scrape areas to meet breeder bucks.  You are most likely to find adult whitetail bucks either actively chasing a hot doe, or making a circuit of their scrapes.  Look for rub lines to advertise scrape locations, find active scrapes and then setup downwind as far as possible and watch those bottoms.  Typically you will look for linear dense brush features, so draws, creek bottoms, ditch lines, closed road edges, swamps and transmission corridors are all good areas to look for scrapes.  Snow is your friend, as the bucks will be pretty active at keeping their scrapes tended with urine and preorbital scent on the lick branches above.  Any whitetail does hanging near an active scrape is a sign to hang out there too.  Any single running whitetail doe is worth a long look to see if a buck is following.

All of the late rut is a good time to go hunt, whatever best fits your travel needs and schedule at home to give you the most hunting time is the time to go.  Based on what you wrote, I'd head over Wednesday before the snow flies.

[vandeman17]

much appreciated on the response! That is some great knowledge not only in this scenario but for many years to come. 

[boneaddict]

I agree with everything he said except maybe his first sentence and that might be because I am misunderstanding him, or misinterpreting your dates.   That is, post peak for whitetails.  You should be landing there about peak.   It is my opinion the whitetail rut has barely getting started

[buckcanyonlodge]

I agree with everything he said except maybe his first sentence and that might be because I am misunderstanding him, or misinterpreting your dates.   That is, post peak for whitetails.  You should be landing there about peak.   It is my opinion the whitetail rut has barely getting started

That is what I am seeing...

[vandeman17]

I agree with everything he said except maybe his first sentence and that might be because I am misunderstanding him, or misinterpreting your dates.   That is, post peak for whitetails.  You should be landing there about peak.   It is my opinion the whitetail rut has barely getting started

That is what I am hoping. A buddy was there last week and there was no sign of the rut at that point in time

[Bluemoon]

Don't know about the West side, i have been on the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky's since the first of September.  The Whitetail Rut just started last Monday the 11th. Had to come back to Washington on Friday. Shot a nice one but not the one I had been watching for the past month.  No one else can hunt the property so hopefully he will be passing on some good genes

[DOUBLELUNG]

I agree with everything he said except maybe his first sentence and that might be because I am misunderstanding him, or misinterpreting your dates.   That is, post peak for whitetails.  You should be landing there about peak.   It is my opinion the whitetail rut has barely getting started

Point well taken.  I tend to equate rut with breeding rather than buck activity.  My observation has been the majority of breeding for whitetails kicks off +/- 2 days from Veterans Day (11/9-13) with the bulk of breeding occurring within the following week and tapering off by the 20th give or take.  I figure a 5 day trip, either starting Wednesday or later, will mostly be after peak breeding.  Still lots of rut activity, but behavior changes from breeding frenzy to running scrape lines seeking unbred does.  If it has been a good year for fawn growth, there is often a second, smaller peak in December as 6 month old does will breed if they are large enough and not under nutrition stress.  If last year was a bad year for fawn growth, it's not uncommon to see yearling does not come into estrus until December also. 

[vandeman17]

Headed out in the morning to be there by mid day and get an evening hunt/see what is out and about in. We were going to leave tonight to be there in time for the morning hunt but lucky me, caught a cold so hoping another full night of sleep in my own bed will help clear the fog that is clouding my head.

[boneaddict]

I think I might be in the whitetail woods myself.   Goodluck!

[vandeman17]

I think I might be in the whitetail woods myself.   Goodluck!

You as well 

[WapitiTalk1]

For all the many years I lived and hunted in NW MT, the whitetail rut peak was the third week in NOV. We always saved our deer tags for that last week of season, ending right around Turkey day. I “may” head over to the spud state the end of next week and see about inviting a deer home for dinner.