2020 Blacktail rut/pre-rut and post rut thread

[fishngamereaper]

That's a wrap for us..
Didn't cut a single fresh track today. After that heavy rain I was counting on the mid morning movement to be promising..nada... nothing moving at all. And warm, it was 50 by noon.
9 days hunted on the kids tag, not a single deer seen while legally hunting. I'll be out for late buck, I doubt he's going to be in the mood for it. He wants to get back to normal life, girls, truck's, skateboarding and basketball.

Next year we are going East and probably to Idaho.

[7mmfan]

I have to say, I've known several guys that have had quality BT permits in the last 5 or so years, and most of them remark that it absolutely not a slam dunk, and that they often have to hunt harder than they do during the last week of the general season. I think when blacktail get into full rut mode, and they lockdown on does, it's extremely difficult to find them. They need to be moving, and the most movement happens pre rut, and post rut.

[fishnfur]

100% agree.  That's the main reason I stopped applying for that tag, which often takes 10+ years just to get selected for an opportunity to hunt during the (sometimes) most difficult days of the season.  I'd rather not! 

Post peak-of-the-rut deer are pretty lazy now.  Getting a small buck scent checking every other day, always at night.  Doe feeding at 11:00 AM and last light.  I'm interested to see if we get another burst of activity around the 19/20th like we did last year, which isn't typical.   All in all, the back yard cam show has been the slowest (that I can remember) in ten years of monitoring rut activities.

[Pacific Ghost]

I think it could be pretty good in my area later this week. The biggest buck on the cam came through the 9th & 12th. Not following does either time. Saw one in person on the 14th that was the biggest I've seen in a long, long time. Also without a doe. Hoping to show you a close up of him a week from today, after I help him with his posture.

[TheStovePipeKid]

I think it could be pretty good in my area later this week. The biggest buck on the cam came through the 9th & 12th. Not following does either time. Saw one in person on the 14th that was the biggest I've seen in a long, long time. Also without a doe. Hoping to show you a close up of him a week from today, after I help him with his posture.

We had our biggest show up on the 8th and the 12th on my cams. Also without a doe. I too am hoping to provide him with some corrective assistance.

[Sundance]

Pulled a stand and two cameras on Sunday, a few good pictures of cruising bucks this last week. This rub was 10 yards from my stand... wasn't there on October 31st when I was sitting there.

[WapitiTalk1]

Nice "shredding" 

Oh, I mentioned I was gonna gear up and hike in to one of my near BT spots yesterday morning (switch a card, dump some apples, see if my ground blind had blown away, check sign, etc), after a two week absence from the spot and provide an update to you cats.   

Well...…. the blind was intact although a bit cock-eyed from some pretty serious wind; re-did it a bit.  Quite a bit of traffic by/through the snack site/trails, some obvious buck tracks along with does.  Was darn anxious to check the cam card from the two weeks except, well..... the cam was upside down  .  It appears my local black bear (who had plagued this site all darn year) had decided it would be a hoot to flip my camera upside down on 2 NOV.  He's just full of jokes, that guy...…. I'll be on the spot this coming weekend at least one day to see who comes around.   

[WoolyRunner]

Thats good to hear. Man the b line and couple other east hwy gates were always jammed with rid..Have you gotten your Elk this year? If not, you hunting late season?

I personally have not. My dad did on the 13th in 658.

[Trigger05-11]

This pic is horrible, but I got this guy on cam on Saturday. 8:16 in the morning and out cruising.  SW Washington

[fishnfur]

I caught a great vid of a house cat pestering a buck from the ground.  He then jumped up in a tree next to him and looked ready to pounce on his back.  I screwed up and deleted the file before copying it.    Otherwise, things remain pretty relaxed.  Last buck chasing was several days ago.  Bucks and Doe seem to be concentrating on eating again, mostly at night. Even the 5 point made a second showing, apparently just to grab some grits.

[Forestskunk72]

Final report for my quality deer for 663. I had posted a week ago that I hadn't seen any activity after several days of hunting hard. I got back at it and the action picked up considerably. Started seeing more does, one nice looking buck trying to breed a doe, and a small forky. Didn't get any shots off, but at least I saw animals. Saw lots of deer over the last weekend but no rutting activity.  Sunday night sat on a doe for 2 hours and no buck came for her. I was out until the last minute of light in very snotty weather today and it wasn't meant to be. Its now time for the late hunt, so still time to get it done, albeit with more company.

Every day when that alarm went off early and the rain was hitting the roof and the bed was warm, my wife said why do you keep going out when you aren't seeing anything.  Easy answer. Because that day could always be the day. But it most certainly won't ever be if I hit snooze. Cliche, I know. but so very true.Tough not to fill the quality permit but I learned a lot more about the country and it was time in the woods. Happy hunting to you all. Best of luck late season.

[SeatoSummit88]

Skunk, if I had a dollar every time my wife said that, I'd be a rich man...So annoying. But you are correct, just gotta keep going, cause you never know.

Sitting here at the gate since 415. Bike and trailer loaded, ready to go! Crossing my fingers that no one else shows up. Rain hasn't showed up yet...Wind is coming outta the SW @ 10...39 degrees...man, I hope I can put one down today!!! Best of luck to everybody.

[7mmfan]

Keep at it boys, your wives will learn    I'm lucky that my wife is my highschool sweetheart and she has never known anything other than me leaving the house at ridiculous hours into horrendous weather for a fleeting chance at success. Hell, I'm a catch and release winter steelhead fisherman, that should explain a lot about my mental condition.

[Skyvalhunter]

Ohh wait until she finds out there is guys who are whipped and stay home. You could be on your way out 

[fishnfur]

Keep at it boys, your wives will learn    I'm lucky that my wife is my highschool sweetheart and she has never known anything other than me leaving the house at ridiculous hours into horrendous weather for a fleeting chance at success. Hell, I'm a catch and release winter steelhead fisherman, that should explain a lot about my mental condition.

Love it!  Reel 'em in and let 'em go. I'm all over that, unless the wife is complaining that I never catch anything.  (though I have no problem killing a weak fighting hatchery fish.  Keep them out of the gene pool). 

Nothin' moved today.  Where'd the deer go?