2020 Whitetail Watch- pre-rut/rut activity

[elkboy]

For a few different reasons, I ended my Idaho whitetail hunt early this year.  I grunted this 4x4 buck in to six yards (4:15 PM Saturday the 7th; in dense timber with small patches of wet meadow), and then took him at 15 yards when he began to walk off.  So, the younger bucks are responding to grunting and (possibly) rattling, since I did a little of both. 

[greenhead_killer]

great buck! we'll be over in 10 days. cant wait!

[walt]

My neighborhood bucks are getting restless.  I had a good one trot down the road at 12:30 yesterday afternoon looking for love.  GMU 130 ~2200'

[elkboy]

Thanks, Greenhead!  And Walt, exciting to hear!  Thanks for the detail.

And thanks to everyone for sharing their expertise.  I will continue to go out over the next 2-3 weeks to N Idaho.  I have a few good friends who I want to help get their bucks, and I am excited to continue the "experiments in rattling".  I'll share what I learn. 

[Stein]

Just got back from central MT, zippo going on in the WT world, bucks had zero interest in anything other than hiding and eating, not sniffing the air or wandering around at all as of Friday.

[huntnnw]

Almost non existent so far in 127. Bucks are moving more at night, but still preferring to eat than chase does. 0 mature ones on cam yet. I figure that will start changing by weekend

[Bango skank]

Bad news, no sign of rut activity yet where im hunting.  Good news, the young ones are always dumb, rut or not. 

[Slamadoo]

Thanks for all the great whitetail info everybody. I head to the 204 later this week. Looking for a nice buck.

[huntnnw]

had a buddy in unit 1 Idaho hunting all last week and said almost 0 whitetail activity.

[Gentrys]

Saw a young buck chasing a doe hard on Sunday in unit 124.

[buckfvr]

One of the regular spike/barely fork bucks came in with the does last night only this time he had a swollen right front knee and a tine thrashed rump.  Not feeling so cocky last night for sure.  Guess he pinned his ears back when he should have ducked.

[baldopepper]

Funny around here in 121. Mule deer seem to be very active, but not so much with the whitetails. Still seeing lots of does with no bucks around. Mulies  on the other hand are chasing does all over the place.

[buckfvr]

Last light tonight, stud buck (first time Ive seen this guy) shows @ 500+ yards knew he wasnt going to get to where I can shoot before it was too poor light conditions.  He dilly dallied, had some grass, stopped for a few rose hips, meandered in our direction but didnt drop in at normal spot.  He continued side hill into a blind draw.  Usually the matures go in there and hang out until dark and thats what I expected but he blew up out the other side and went after a doe, she took off, he curled around and stood broadside at 384 lip curling.  Does all around him but he ignored them as none appeared to smell right.  So, light wasnt good enough for the shot at 384 (chip shot), so that was it.  He will be back or one of the others will show soon enough.  As it got darker and shooting hours passed, he had made it down into the top of my pasture which is over grown buck brush and very wild, he checked the does, and was at the mock scrape last I saw (250 yards).  Wife is up first, but this particular buck wont get passed by me if I get the chance.  Stud.

[Shooter4]

Last light tonight, stud buck (first time Ive seen this guy) shows @ 500+ yards knew he wasnt going to get to where I can shoot before it was too poor light conditions.  He dilly dallied, had some grass, stopped for a few rose hips, meandered in our direction but didnt drop in at normal spot.  He continued side hill into a blind draw.  Usually the matures go in there and hang out until dark and thats what I expected but he blew up out the other side and went after a doe, she took off, he curled around and stood broadside at 384 lip curling.  Does all around him but he ignored them as none appeared to smell right.  So, light wasnt good enough for the shot at 384 (chip shot), so that was it.  He will be back or one of the others will show soon enough.  As it got darker and shooting hours passed, he had made it down into the top of my pasture which is over grown buck brush and very wild, he checked the does, and was at the mock scrape last I saw (250 yards).  Wife is up first, but this particular buck wont get passed by me if I get the chance.  Stud.

so your saying we’re real close to full swing like this weekend into next week?

[Rutnbuxnbulls]

My daughter and I hunted sorta hard Saturday in Unit 5 and saw three does, coulda smoked one but wanted her to get her first deer.  We set up and rattled/grunted a few sweet spots and had no takers.  I'm betting this next weekend is a little more prime.  Saw a nice buck along ID95 on my way to work this morning just after first light with nose down seeking.  Just takes the first doe to get hot and things are going to come together!