2020 Whitetail Watch- pre-rut/rut activity

[hunter399]

Wife almost got it done yesterday on a nice 4pt .It just wasn't gonna stand there a second longer even with a Doe there.
Would've been 3 for 3 on our tags.
I feel a little bad for her but sometimes it just doesn't work out even with the rut.
Getting them on game cam - to the back of the truck is easier said then done.

[Rutnbuxnbulls]

Wife almost got it done yesterday on a nice 4pt .It just wasn't gonna stand there a second longer even with a Doe there.
Would've been 3 for 3 on our tags.
I feel a little bad for her but sometimes it just doesn't work out even with the rut.
Getting them on game cam - to the back of the truck is easier said then done.

Very true statement! Nice buck though and maybe he’ll be around and bigger next year!

[blackveltbowhunter]

Got home last night from Montana and Idaho. Eastern Montana WT bucks were near does, but I saw only one evening of real chase activity, seemed like the does weren't quite there yet, but it was my first experience in that area so I could be way off.

N. Idaho found some rubs and a small scrape. Lots of does still with fawns close. Killed a young buck in perfect shape covered in fat and glands not stinky at all.   

[hunter399]

I will check cam in a few days ,let you all know if he made it through rifle season not sure if he did or not.

[huntnnw]

Rut at its peak now around me. Very few bucks on cam and lots yearlings without mom around.

[buckfvr]

Rut at its peak now around me. Very few bucks on cam and lots yearlings without mom around.

Exactly

[vandeman17]

Rut at its peak now around me. Very few bucks on cam and lots yearlings without mom around.

Exactly

I am hoping the same is true in Western Montana. Headed out after work and there for a week if needed.

[huntnnw]

The biggest bucks I have ever seen are the tail end of the rut. The 1-3 yr olds start feeding again and the mature ones are still looking . Nov 24-30th is the dates I have seen the biggest bucks of my life. It’s not the best time let’s say for overall buck activity.

[buckfvr]

Watched a monster breed on dec 3rd and saw two other huge studs with does dec 2nd, not all same year though.

[vandeman17]

any experience with how the rut "normally" lines up as far as western montana and NE wa? Around the same time? My experience is Montana is slightly later but I don't have complete confidence in that.

[buckfvr]

What I hear from the few guys I know who either live in and or hunt the Panhandle and nw mont., is that interpretation is as varied as here.  One guys idea is most times different than the next guys.

With rut activity and intensity having a lot to do with buck to doe ratio in any given area, and age class structure of bucks in the area, I think that is why observations tend to vary so much from one area to another that may not even be very far away.

[huntnnw]

I’ve watched over the years that high mountain bucks and units way up north versus units near Spokane seem to be a full week earlier

[huntnnw]

This guy is all rutted up. Walked by me at 30 yards while feeding goats

[jamesjett]

Spent the last four days in 121 and didn’t see any rut activity. Plenty of does still with yearlings feeding.  Zero rubs nor scrapes all in areas I usually see them this time of year. 

[JL]

Buck/NW, Swollen necks still or rutted out in appearance?