Blacktail Rut Thread

[AKBowman]

Figured it needs to be done..ye ol Blacktail Rut Thread!

Still just running cams this weekend myself. Haven’t run them in a few years so pretty fun to get back at it in some new spots. Got several new spots with cams in year-over-year rubs on good sized trees.

It’s shocking how dry it is on the west side right now. Crispy! In 15 years hunting western WA I’ve never seen anything like this.

I would think they will bust loose about 3rd day of rain. Forecast looks good from the 21st through conclusion.

[SeaRun1]

Thursday I saw a dandy wide three by three attending two does in an apple orchard here in Kitsap County.  First buck I have seen in daylight this season.  Did not hunt this weekend due to the temps.

SR1

[Bareback]

I can think of three other years in the last 20 that were this dry. This year is not an anomaly.

As for bucks starting pre-rut, they are right on schedule.

[pd]

Oh, Ye Venerable Thread!

Yeah, no way I am hunting in this smoke.  And Potato Chip forest floors!

Next weekend promises to be much cooler, and wet.  I suspect the bucks will start moving once the smoke clears.  I will wait for the leaves to soften a bit with the rain.

Bet the farm on Halloween.

[BigredRusch]

I couldn’t resist opening morning! It was as expected, noisy sticks and leaves on the walk in to my stand and no movement during shooting light. I learned the things I need to clean up before the weather turns though, gonna do some quiet work during the peak afternoon heat today.

In the last week I have got 3 or 4 bucks running on camera in the early morning hours of 1-4 AM. Seems like they are out on pre rut nocturnal activity.

I am curious if folks have seen more bucks in shooting light during Halloween weekend or during the late season on the third weekend of November. With late weather this year, I am interested in late season.


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[highclimbersteve]

Hey all! Apologies if this is the wrong thread to post this. I'm hoping someone in GMU 448 area can help with a tracking dog? I arrowed a 5x4 yesterday evening and have been tracking all night. Blood was fair at first, but stopped. I believe this was a single lung hit, pass through, artery blood. If anyone can help point me in the right direction, I would be so grateful.

[hawks33]

I couldn’t resist opening morning! It was as expected, noisy sticks and leaves on the walk in to my stand and no movement during shooting light. I learned the things I need to clean up before the weather turns though, gonna do some quiet work during the peak afternoon heat today.

In the last week I have got 3 or 4 bucks running on camera in the early morning hours of 1-4 AM. Seems like they are out on pre rut nocturnal activity.

I am curious if folks have seen more bucks in shooting light during Halloween weekend or during the late season on the third weekend of November. With late weather this year, I am interested in late season.


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Big red, I'm seeing the same up in coupeville. There were 5-6 bucks coming into my hunting area right at sundown a week ago. Now I havent seen a shooter in the past 3 days. I think prerut kicked in and they're now splitting from the bachelor groups. Halloween is usually good on the island for the rut, just seems like everything is behind this year. Saw one good one yesterday checking bedding areas, but no shot. Everything has seemed to have gone nocturnal

[PolarBear]

The rut happens the same time every year. The weather has zero effect on it. It starts the last few days of October and runs into the second week of November. You may see rutting activity earlier, especially backyard/city bucks but the heart of it is within those couple of weeks.

[PolarBear]

Oh, Ye Venerable Thread!

Yeah, no way I am hunting in this smoke.  And Potato Chip forest floors!

Next weekend promises to be much cooler, and wet.  I suspect the bucks will start moving once the smoke clears.  I will wait for the leaves to soften a bit with the rain.

Bet the farm on Halloween.

I quit hunting the first couple of weeks of season a few years ago snd concentrate on the last 4 days of the month. My daughter and I have killed our last (and biggest) bucks during this period and all under 30 yards.  Our last 4 were shot on Halloween and came into calling so hard that we had to yell at them to stop long enough to get a shot. Last year’s 3 point died at my feet.

[buckfvr]

The rut happens the same time every year. The weather has zero effect on it. It starts the last few days of October and runs into the second week of November. You may see rutting activity earlier, especially backyard/city bucks but the heart of it is within those couple of weeks.

And once again, year after year, it has to be stated.   

[PolarBear]

The rut happens the same time every year. The weather has zero effect on it. It starts the last few days of October and runs into the second week of November. You may see rutting activity earlier, especially backyard/city bucks but the heart of it is within those couple of weeks.

And once again, year after year, it has to be stated.   

Yep and every year we hear late in the first week (“The rut’s on!!I saw a buck with a doe on my trail cam!!)
🤣

[BigredRusch]

I’m all for science and I believe the same thing. It’s still fun to talk about local activity…hunting community??


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[grundy53]

The Rut is the same every year but I think the weather does effect pre rut activity. I  also think it effects how much of the activity is done during day light.

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[TriggerMike]

The Rut is the same every year but I think the weather does effect pre rut activity. I  also think it effects how much of the activity is done during day light.

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100%. Rut is controlled by does going into estrus, and they go into estrus depending on the amount of daylight entering their eyes. Weather determines if the does are out in the open (usually hard rain) or moving around a lot (cold). Bucks move with the does during that time obviously. Bright moon provides more ability for the does to be up and feeding during the night and inversely a dark night with have them hunker down more at night and move more during the day. Minimal moon and a hard, cold rain on Halloween is a blacktail hunters dream.

But I agree that rut threads and speculating about rutting activity is still fun to do every year regardless

[fishnfur]

Oh, Ye Venerable Thread!

Yeah, no way I am hunting in this smoke.  And Potato Chip forest floors!

Next weekend promises to be much cooler, and wet.  I suspect the bucks will start moving once the smoke clears.  I will wait for the leaves to soften a bit with the rain.

Bet the farm on Halloween.

Hey Honey - Look what the cat dragged in.   Welcome back PD.

Took my son out of his first and second hunts this weekend in Mason.  Saw a nice forkie on the evening of the 14th but he morning of the opener only gave us does, fawns, and a small spike  -  I'd already conviced by boy to pass on any spikes this year but I think he had an itchy trigger finger.  Completely dead yesterday afternoon/evening and today.  No a thing moving.