2023 Blacktail Rut Thread

[Spuddieselwwu]

Someone had to start it.

[fishngamereaper]

Pre rut is going for now
Could die off...could keep going..
Couple bucks showing activity.
Mature buck whacked by a car couple days ago chasing a doe..
Got word another buck was killed by a buck while fighting...

[Sundance]

I was cutting a trail into a spot this Tuesday, swinging my handsaw on ferns to cut them back (making quite a racket). I heard ferns crashing and accidentally called in a small basket 3x3 to 10 yards. We stared at each other and he split, I’ve had him on camera everyday since working the same ridge. Today I went in to move some cameras, walked up on a basket buck at 50 yards in big timber but didn’t get a great look at him (2x2 or 3x3). The past week I’ve noticed a big uptick in daylight movement, I’ve yet to see a mature buck though.

[Platensek-po]

A lot of young deer have been kicked out by mom recently. I’ve seen a lot of dead young deer by the roadside and out in the woods too. Seems the does know what’s coming

[mboyle0828]

Got a nice buck on cam today. 6pm - earliest I’ve seen him out so far

[Born2late]

Yesterday morning my brother got up for work early and went into the bathroom, was getting ready and heard and felt a big crash. Went out back in the dark and his heavy fish cleaning table with granite on top of it was nocked over. He took a flashlight and went out and looked at it and there was deer hair laying on the ground and on the edge of the table. Two bucks must have been fighting and slammed into it. He checked his trail camera back there and had a 3 point on it.this is out by kayak point-warm beach area.
The solar calendar says high animal movement the next 3 to 4 days. Should be a good opening weekend.

[Buzzsaw461]

Have had a 4 point a 2x3 and several spikes along with a few does in our backyard and the bucks are not interested in the does at all. Usually don’t see them interested until early November

[Sundance]

Driving to a spot this morning (10am) to check a camera and two mature does ran across the road in-front of me. I waited for a minute but nothing popped out trailing them. Saw a doe with a small fawn feeding on a bench, then bumped a deer (didn’t see it) in big timber w/ ferns while checking on a treestand placement. Still good activity for this early, we’ll see what happens on the weekend.

[Twispriver]

Shaping up to be a near perfect opening day weather wise.

[Bigshooter]

Saw a small 3pt rubbing a tree Friday night. 

[WapitiTalk1]

Yes… some sniffing going in.

[spin05]

nothing at my house. The big boys dont show up until about a week before halloween thou.

[IslandHunter]

Seeing more buck movement in daylight hrs over on Whidbey over the past few days. I don't think it's quite the pre-rut. Maybe pre-pre-rut but should be heating up soon. Seems to be a little earlier than years past. Looking forward to the end of the month.

[blackymaster20]

These guys are still just hanging together. No rut activity yet.

[dylanb]

seeing lots of does and fawns in the woods looking for a buck. been seeing lots of small buck rubs and my neighbors arborvitae got destroyed by a buck last night. haven’t seen any bucks chasing but still seems like something’s going on earlier then usual