2020 Whitetail Watch- pre-rut/rut activity

[Machias]

Not a whole lot of activity in my area yet.  Wife killed her first deer on the 15th, little 3x3, really fat young buck.  I have a couple of big boys on camera, but still mostly night time and I have seen none of the does on camera being chased. I think it is about to ramp up.  I'm off until the 30th. 

[hughjorgan]

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.

Same observations as you. We also hunted 121 the last 4 days.

[johnhart84]

I agree with others in regards to unit 121 with slight pre-rut action. It will ramp up soon enough once the does come into estrous and are more receptive. Usually see the big boys show up around the 28th of November till December 5th every year like clock work. I live in this unit and haven't seen much other than a new younger buck starting to feel his loins. Yearlings are still with does. No new night cruisers on the cams, which I usually have by now. Rut will be here soon enough and should be perfect timing for archery hunters.

For what its worth I'm at approximately 2000ft in elevation.

[buckfvr]

Couple of the dinks chasing hard but no cooperation from does, havent seen the older bucks but also havent checked the cams.  Am seeing yearlings by their lonesome though.  I do believe most of the activity is happening under the cloak of darkness.  Neighbors seeing same as me, elevation range is from 2k to 3k and a handfull of us always watching, even post season.

[carpsniperg2]

Anyone seeing much going on still in Idaho?

[cbond3318]

Anyone seeing much going on still in Idaho?

I had a doe pull a mature 4 point right past me yesterday, ended up seeing a total of 3 older bucks within 2 hrs, all trailing hard, oblivious to the outside world. 

[fishngamereaper]

We are heading back to Idaho this weekend to try and fill a couple more tags. Hopefully they are still chasing.

[carpsniperg2]

Good deal glad to hear they are still going over there,this thread thread slowed down so wanted to bring it back up.

[elkboy]

I took a buddy of mine over to Idaho (unit 6) for two days over the weekend.  We got into does and spikes pretty regularly, but the bucks were not taking the rattling bait like I had hoped.

[Rutnbuxnbulls]

I hunted Unit 5 Idaho yesterday afternoon/evening hunt with my daughter.  We didn't get any action rattling/grunting near bedding areas.  We set up a decoy in the field for the last 2 hours of light and had a couple does come in.  I shot the biggest doe.  About 5-10 minutes after that a smaller 3 point chased a doe at the corner of the field, no shot opportunity for my daughter.  Long story short, seems like the more mature bucks might still be just about to start cruising more so I'm thinking next weekend should be good (or mid week if you can do it).  On to late WA archery my favorite time to be in the stand.  I've always been able to rattle in larger bucks during the late bow season, November 25th-30th.

[Mossy]

I’m in 8A right now. No responses to rattling/calling for me. Found a fresh scrape in the snow yesterday but no fresh tracks today. One lonesome doe wandered in to me within 10 feet, head bobbed for a couple minutes then continued on.
Deep snow with a layer of the crunchy stuff makes for a rough go. 4-6 inches of new today. I’m not seeing much in rutting activity and I’ll assume my last day tomorrow will be no different 

[Bango skank]

2 days ago finally had a big one roll through in unit 1.  He was a man on a mission.  In and out of my life in seconds.  Couldnt turn him around, no shot opportunity.  Here in wa on the drive home that night had a good 5x5 cross flowery trail in front if ne, and a couple good bucks on marble vslley basin.  One was doing the flehmwn thing, about to jump on a doe by the looks of it.  Its go time right now.

[Mossy]

My Idaho season ended today and without seeing much. 1530 “called in” a spike to 10 yards but that was the only deer that seemed to react to my rattling/grunting. Didn’t see any running around no matter the time of day. Good luck to the rest!

[huntnnw]

Rut still going strong around me. Almost 0 shooter bucks at any of my cams. Lots of scrapes.

[Rutnbuxnbulls]

Rut still going strong around me. Almost 0 shooter bucks at any of my cams. Lots of scrapes.

Heading out this morning for opener late bow season! If those bucks aren’t at your place they must be hanging near my tree stand 
Bringing rattle horns, grunt tube, and high hopes! Thanks for all the reports so far.