2020 Whitetail Watch- pre-rut/rut activity

[huntnnw]

Up to 8 different bucks at 2 cams 1.5 miles apart all are 1-3 yr olds and all looking for does still. Sat in stand last night and did a series of tending grunts and a buck came in looking 5 min later.

[Rutnbuxnbulls]

Late season opener was slow, probably due to the wind and the rut phase. I think a lot of the deer were laying low most of the day. Weather looks better coming up. Good luck out there

[huntnnw]

Called another young buck to stand this am.

[buckfvr]

pulled 2 cards couple days ago and there was  very few random chase pics but by far the majority of chasing was in the dark.  Have not seen a single dominant mature buck, just 2 and 3 yr olds doing the most of the night time chasing.  Couple 8s a 9 and a 10 pretty regular with a half dozen or more spike/forks doing most of the day time pestering.  Still seeing solo yearlings.

[Rutnbuxnbulls]

From your guys input and my hunt yesterday I’m gonna guess the mature bucks in our region are locked down with the first wave of hot does. So theoretically they should be back cruising in a couple days.

[buckfvr]

Still active rut, but definitely on the back side of it.  However, some of the bucks will start showing on the bait piles within a few days.

[huntnnw]

Lotta activity , but bucks are starting to feed.

[buckfvr]

   Great pics !

[greenhead_killer]

we came out of unit 1yesterday and didnt see but one basket 4 in 7 days. for such great looking country, sure was a lack of sign and/or animals! headed back to unit 3 for a few days in the morning. hoping to get one of the late cruisers, or any action for that matter!

[Bango skank]

we came out of unit 1yesterday and didnt see but one basket 4 in 7 days. for such great looking country, sure was a lack of sign and/or animals! headed back to unit 3 for a few days in the morning. hoping to get one of the late cruisers, or any action for that matter!

Sounds similar to my experience hunting unit 1

[TommyH]

Walking along and Seen a buck ahead walking same direction we was heading, gave a couple grunts and had him coming in at 80 yards, some more grunting and here comes another buck from another direction. We watched these bucks grunting and snort wheezing and then full on battle! Fought for 2-3 minutes, got to record some of it, then when it was done I stopped the bigger one with a grunt, then gave a series of grunts and  brought him within 30 yards of us. He stared in our direction for what seemed like an hour, I kept waiting for my buddies  bow to go off...... in a almost open area... he had a couple lodge pole pines in his way and couldn’t see the buck.... 

[Machias]

Spoke to a biologist here in the Panhandle a couple of days ago.  Says deer numbers are WAY down, fewest scraps he has seen in 40 years.  I have three cameras out and have virtually no daytime activity on any of them.  Did see a buck chasing a doe for about 2 minutes the other day, but it was half hearted and she was not interested.  They were about 500 yards out and in low light, so I did not chance a shot.  Been pretty slow year for me.  Passed on three little bucks and a couple of does.

[Rutnbuxnbulls]

Hunted 127 today and had mule deer hanging out more than whitetail. Had a dink whitetail come in chasing a doe at last light. More sits are in my future. My buddy killed a sweet older buck this morning trailing a hot doe.

[huntnnw]

Saw 1 small buck tonight with nose to ground . And elk and it figures I bought a muzzy elk tag this year.

[Bango skank]

Forky with browtines is in my back yard right now grunting up a storm and messing with the does.  Focused on one doe in particular