2023 Blacktail Rut Thread

[redi]

Nice job fowl. Congrats

[spin05]

Finally starting to Rut on Camano island. This big boy showed up Wednsday at 4pm in afternoon

[Molon5labe]

Geeze, I haven't even seen a deer yet this season while hunting. Dead quiet last night and this morning so far.

[fishngamereaper]

Some movement but Im still seeing does with yearlings.

The full moon and sunny afternoons aren't ideal either..

[dilleytech]

Killed a bruiser yesterday that was tending its does mid day not a care in the world but the doe he was on. Had some war wounds from fighting all ready.  Same story with a 2 point that was in the same group. The rut was definitely on for this guy. 0n the way home saw a spike nose up a doe from behind along the road. Pics in the 2023 deer thread.

[Sundance]

Last 36 hours trail cameras have been going off. New buck, bucks trailing does, lots of daylight cruising.

[pd]

Last 36 hours trail cameras have been going off. New buck, bucks trailing does, lots of daylight cruising.

Nuttin.  Just nuttin.  Haven't seen a deer yet.

Congratulations to the successful hunters, especially the young ladies.  I am starting to feel a bit of pressure.   

[MADMAX]

Keep at it
Ive not been seeing much on legal ground
Plenty of yard deer or on posted
My old stomping grounds is now Rayonier and pay to play
State land is full of hikers, dog walkers ,mountain bikers and guys cracking off ARs
National forest has been an hour drive to deer hunt and not much seen
Got lucky to get a small buck

[Fidelk]

I can go all year and not see BT bucks......but the last week or so they are out and about in my yard.......not a worry in the world.

[highside74]

I have 2 does that are always around. One had fawns the other didn't. The one with twin fawns still has them with her.

[ljsommer]

Really quiet out in Aberdeen today.
Which raises a question: when some folks are seeing full on rut fest activity and other folks are seeing nothing, does that just mean the folks who are seeing nothing are hunting the wrong spots? The rut timing should be fair geographically consistent right?

[Buzzsaw461]

Really quiet out in Aberdeen today.
Which raises a question: when some folks are seeing full on rut fest activity and other folks are seeing nothing, does that just mean the folks who are seeing nothing are hunting the wrong spots? The rut timing should be fair geographically consistent right?

I’ve seen lots of Does and not a Buck in sight. They just aren’t active yet where I hunt. I will start seeing Bucks in a week or two.

[Dark2Dark]

Really quiet out in Aberdeen today.
Which raises a question: when some folks are seeing full on rut fest activity and other folks are seeing nothing, does that just mean the folks who are seeing nothing are hunting the wrong spots? The rut timing should be fair geographically consistent right?

I’ve seen rut activity vary by even a mile. One hot doe on a hillside and multiple bucks trying to find her. We hunted a bunch of surrounding area and did not see any rut activity other than that.

[BLH69]

They are full on pre rut here. Saw a doe with a buck behind her yesterday. No shot. First deer i saw this morning is now in the shop cooling down. His nose was on the ground hunting does.

[WoolyRunner]

Really quiet out in Aberdeen today.
Which raises a question: when some folks are seeing full on rut fest activity and other folks are seeing nothing, does that just mean the folks who are seeing nothing are hunting the wrong spots? The rut timing should be fair geographically consistent right?

I concur. I saw 3 Does today. Watched them for a good while until they fed into the thick stuff… nothing followed.