2020 Blacktail rut/pre-rut and post rut thread

[JimmyHoffa]

I saw a nice 3x3 yard buck running around today.  Nose out, lip curled and walking like he was on a leash.  In 624.

[fishngamereaper]

Took the kid out this afternoon for his Mason any deer tag. didn't see a thing. Couple new rubs but nothing was moving.  Figured after all the wind and rain they would be up and around today... Nope ..

[fishnfur]

That stinks.  Hope you/he fill that tag.

[fishngamereaper]

That stinks.  Hope you/he fill that tag.

Working on it.
Haven't seen a deer all season in our usual spots. See them all the time on our property, coming and going to spots, neighboring properties, in town.....

Oh blacktails. Love to hate ya.

[b0bbyg]

Had a buck do a loop around the 1 acre or so the house and garden sit on which is fenced. Saw him come in from below looped around through the neighbors property and exit the same way he came in.  stopping and smelling the air often just looking for company.   564 unit

First rutty activity I have noticed this year, other than the spike who just lives in the neighbors yard I don't count him.

[highside74]

Brother had a big 4x4 tending a doe across the street from his work in the yelm area just a few minutes ago.

[fishngamereaper]

Slow again today.
A few track's from last night. Crossed paths with a definite musty buck odor along some thick reprod but no way to hunt it. Did a couple rattling set's and nothing. Most of the doe tracks don't have buck track's following then..Weird year.

Kid is pretty disappointed.  Will keep at it.

[fishnfur]

Good luck.  Things should start popping soon - perhaps tomorrow.  Just prior to the peak of the rut should be the best, which by my count often seems to happen around 12 Nov. =/-.  Hope you and your son find a great one.

[WSU]

My friend sent me a video of a nice buck chasing today in the middle of the afternoon.

[JimmyHoffa]

Saw a big spike and a 2x2 running after does today.  In both cases the does would turn back around and chase them back off to about 30 yds.  Then they would inch their way back close to the doe until she'd push them away.

[fishnfur]

Saw a big spike and a 2x2 running after does today.  In both cases the does would turn back around and chase them back off to about 30 yds.  Then they would inch their way back close to the doe until she'd push them away.

That's not very encouraging.   

[fishngamereaper]

I knew it was an off day when I got up and we had sustained winds of 30 and wind chills down to 28. Guess if I had the option I would of probably laid down all day to.
Didn't last to the evening but oh well.

Back at it tomorrow.

[fishnfur]

The good news is that it can only get better.   "Endeavor to persevere" (from Outlaw Josey Wales)

I'm not sure what's happening down here.  I get a doe eating apples or a small buck coming through scent checking every day or so, but this season is way outside the norm, at least in Stella.  Normally, there'd be five, six, or more different animals per night at this time of the season up till the 12th or so.  It has been incredibly slow all season. 
      I keep getting this sinking feeling that some "neighbors" are poaching bucks and perhaps even killing off the doe population.  Every year I have at least one killer buck coming around for several weeks during the rut and they always disappear in the next season or two.  Hunting is not allowed in the city limits, but I'm just outside that and I'm thinking the back yard bucks are getting picked off even after the season is over.      They can't all be roadkill.    On the other hand, I've had cams in four different GMUs this season and have no bucks that I would ever put on a hit list.  Just plain weird.....

[swanderek]

I think poachers get more game than hunters...

[Alan K]

Who knows, but maybe you had a cat move in? I've seen individual areas crash pretty fast once they move in.