2025 blacktail rut thread

[Buckhunter28]

I did call in a buck today to 40 yards, he was grunting and stomping and came in hot but would not cross out of the thicket he was concealed by in the timber patch I was hunting. I think he was wanting me to expose myself and make the next move. He trotted off after about 30 seconds of back and forth grunts, I never actually got to see him but he had a good size track.
Then an hour later I heard the unmistakable sound of two bucks locked up sparring. I covered as much ground as I could during the loud parts of their fight and made it to about 80 yards of them, as I was about to crest the knob and get a view of them, the wind completely swirled and did a 180 and blew my sent right into them, and I heard them disperse. Never got to lay eyes on them either. A super fun day to close out regular season and I look forward to late buck. All the modern elk hunters please report back here with all the big bucks you see while hunting and send their coordinates my way

[kodiak06]

Watched a spike and forky this morning. The forky was on the go, covering about 600 yards in about 5min. Looking for girls I think. Rattled a bit with no joy

[jamesjett]

I did not see a deer all morning in the 460.  It started to rain about 15:00 and then at 16:15 saw two solo does and watched them a bit…no bucks.  Poked until dark and saw a total of 11 does this evening and did not see any sign of a buck.  The does seemed relaxed and feeding and didnt seem to be pushed by any buck…maybe not happening yet?

[dilleytech]

Bucks were in full rut mode the last couple of days in my area. Had multiple 2 points come by at 10 yards not caring at all about me one was called in with doe bleats. Had one good buck in my sights at 215 yards at first light on Thursday but it pushed all it’s does into the trees before I could confirm points never to be seen again.. 2 points were cruising around pretty carelessly. I think the bigger bucks around me had their does picked out and cornered in safe spots.

[trophyhunt]

All my luck must go towards elk, cause these blacktails can kiss my rear end!!  I’m seeing rubs, tracks, I’ve sat, I’ve mostly walked real slow and quiet…. Haven’t seen a deer in two days, not even a doe!  I feel like an amateur, half day left, just ate my sandwich, we’ll see.

You’re not alone, except my luck didn’t go towards elk this year this comment made me feel better though, I’ve struggled this year but also have had limited time to hunt with a new baby at home! I am optimistic for late buck

Congrats on the new baby!!!  Yeah, let’s hope the rut is still kicking during late deer, only 12 days away!

[Pete112288]

Saw these guys along my folk's driveway at about 5 this morning. A 3x3 and a 2x3. Each had a doe that they would not leave. The 3x3 didnt even care about me. Just left with the doe when she finally hopped the fence.

[JakeLand]

I was up high and found Does without buck’s except a spike

[Rob Allen]

West  Klickitat  all season no bucks whatsoever..  been  hunting 10 years on all that  time I've seen two legal  bucks and one of those  was in Montana.. im going to hunt Mulies for a week next fall on the Grand Ronde. If i don't  see legal buck next year I give up, it's  a complete waste of the best steelhead fishing month.
The first few years it was exciting. I felt  like anything could happen  at any time..  now it pretty much just seems  impossible.

[Antlershed]

They were out and moving yesterday of course.

[elkboy]

Benton Co., Oregon:  blacktails were very active, given the ramp-up in the rut and the significant rainstorm we had middle of the day Saturday.  I spotted a doe right behind the gate, feeding in a partial harvest unit among Oregon oak and Douglas-fir.  At the other end of the unit, I jumped a little forkie buck, who didn't wait around to be examined through binoculars.  I got off into the timber thereafter, and glassed my way slowly for a while in the pouring rain. I stopped in an area with rubs and rattled a few times, but moved again after an hour.  The rain and wind let up at this point.  A half mile up into the timber, I spotted a mature buck (4x4) feeding on hazel shoots, but he ghosted away, and I could not find him again with the binoculars.  The winds became swirly in the afternoon, and I started to hike back slowly to the truck.  I jumped a few does coming out to feed in a small patch cut, and they snorted and ran downhill into thick brush.  I decided to slow down and still hunt again.  I hadn't taken two steps when I heard the distinctive grunt of a buck.  Above me, coming down through the dense Douglas-fir and bigleaf maple stand, were a young buck and a doe.  The buck's antlers looked big enough to justify a harvest to the wife back at home, and so I leveled the rifle when the buck passed behind a tree.  Broadside at 30 yards was a straightforward shot, and the blacktail piled up 40 yards away after some spectacular bounds.   A buddy hiked up the mountain to help quarter and pack (no driving the forest roads on this property).  We packed the meat, hide, and antlers out to the hoots of great horned owls, under the light of a waxing first quarter moon. 

Overall, the blacktails seemed active most of the day, and bucks are grunting, rubbing, etc.  Rattling did not seem effective, but then I didn't spend a lot of time attempting it. 

Good luck to all of you out there! 

[dilleytech]

I have yet to rattle in a single buck though I try all the time. I’ll admit I don’t commit to it very long. Seeing how slow a buck came into doe sounds the other day that I watched the whole way I think I need to commit for longer stretches but I keep expecting something to come in charging.

[Kingofthemountain83]

I have yet to rattle in a single buck though I try all the time. I’ll admit I don’t commit to it very long. Seeing how slow a buck came into doe sounds the other day that I watched the whole way I think I need to commit for longer stretches but I keep expecting something to come in charging.

When I rattle or call I'll sit up to an hour at times... Usually 20-30 minutes... If I'm rattling a cut I'll sit for 20 minutes and glass the edge of the cut well... If I'rattling in timber I may sit 30-40 minutes... Glass through the timber... Then only move 400 yards and try again... I mix in grunts too... Sometimes I only bleat call with two different bleats... Or I'll do rattling sequence wait a few while grunting and do another rattle... I mix it up... I see deer occasionally... If there's no deer that can hear it they won't come in... If they can hear it it's a crap shoot if they come in or not where you can see them... Some have rushed in... Some get way down wind and you never know... I'm betting I've called in way more deer then I'll ever know... I've shot 6 or 7 blackies I've called in over 30 years of trying...    It's not the most effective... But it does work sometimes... I've shot more deer, muley and blackies road hunting... lol But it's fun when you see them while calling...

 I watched a video of two guys rattling Texas brush country whitetails the other night... I forget how many sets but the guy sitting down wind 60-70 yards saw 48 bucks... The guy rattling saw 1...

[blackveltbowhunter]

  Whats everyone seeing for rubs? 

 It seems like an odd year for me and the areas i have been in seeing plenty of bucks but the typical sign I have associated with strong rut has been missing. Although activity during the weather systems was up.

The 12th seen a couple 3 points hanging out together like summer buddies still, one a large mature buck and the other was a younger lighter framed  buck. No observable rutting action and they were feeding well after daylight.

 A week later seen really young bucks sniffing around, and 2 fork horns lightly sparring with a large group of does with fawns.  A few small rubs found in the buck holes. Nothing angry.
  A couple days later seen a pile of deer including 1 2 point who seemed "cruisy" but the rest of the deer were young bucks and does with fawns still tight.

The 23rd turned up a rub line from a mature buck, bigger trees, but still seemed like not overly agressive shredding. One doe pods in area with fawns and no sign of buck in sight. The 24th, deer activity seemed down just prior to the storm. Turned up a 2 point tight on a doe, and a spike. Following the track of the buck I killed he was observing and checking does, not locked in with them. His neck was not swollen, his tarsals just barely open and he was not acting dumb.

After the kid swung a blindside desire to hunt on me, I took her out midweek last week and seen a couple spikes and 2 2 points. Only one was near a doe. And hardly any new rubs or tracks.
Halloween the bro in law killed a handsome 3x4 late in the afternoon.  The 3rd buck of the day and the 5th deer. Every deer we saw was bedded and holding tight.

Basically, normally I see new rubs showing up, more rubs in general in the areas I know have bucks, alot more singled out does and fawns, and more sighting of mature bucks in yards and nights. Crossing fingers the early late buck dates will turn up a buck for the kid to shoot at.

[Birdguy]

Definitely activity picking up. I was mowing this morning (mulching all the leaves the wind and rain knocked down) and from the back of our place I see deer coming at me, heads down, moving! The doe trotted within 10 yards of me, with a buck right on her tail. They had already jumped two fences to get where they were, they cleared the 60" livestock panel with ease as kept going. I was not quick enough to get a picture of them with my phone, but the game camera picked up another buck within 15 minutes taking the same line. Certainly, rutting time or real close here on the Kitsap peninsula.

[lazydrifter]

This guy popped up in the back yard a few days back. We live in town.   I haven't seen much activity up in the Port Angeles area.  Hunted most of the week.  Saw a few does but nothing bigger than a spike in the wild.