2025 blacktail rut thread

[Griiz]

The deer still do most of their movement at night, but odds are still up to catch them moving and making mistakes in open areas during daylight compared to other times of year. If you’re really lucky a hot doe will be around where your hunting and the bucks can be rather nutty and vulnerable.

[Buck Rub Jr]

Yesterday was our last day for my dad’s quality blacktail tag. Had the one at 100 yards briefly before he slipped over the top of the knob never to be seen again. Big heavy 4. Saw a handful of spikes, basket 3 pt and a big 2. Tag will go unfilled but my old man and I had a blast chasing blacktails in the rut with minimal pressure and most importantly got another hunt together. Bucks were rutty.

[Antlershed]

This guy didn’t seem to care too much on Sunday.

[Pete112288]

The deer still do most of their movement at night, but odds are still up to catch them moving and making mistakes in open areas during daylight compared to other times of year. If you’re really lucky a hot doe will be around where your hunting and the bucks can be rather nutty and vulnerable.

Yup, my best buck had a fresh 12 gauge slug hole through his neck (flesh wound, not my proudest moment) and I caught up to him 20 minutes later still dogging his doe. Bluebird sky, sunny 1:30 pm. He dang near let me walk up to 10 yards to put another one in him in the vitals. Bleeding out the neck and was still after that doe. I coulda tracked those two by smell alone, that brush was more stinky then an elk herd in Sept

[Mulie87]

Headed to South Whidbey Island for the late season. Anyone gave a rut activity report? Looks like s lot of rain this weekend, but that doesn’t mean much when it comes to Blacktails.

[lazydrifter]

Had 2 does in the back yard last night and just before dark a big 3 point showed up.  He wasn't 20 ft from me and I could smell him. He took a couple sniffs of the does and then left.  He was a buck we hadn't seen before.  This was in Port Angeles.

[Mulie87]

That’s a good sign. Hopefully the bucks are getting restless and show during the day.

[Mulie87]

After sitting for three hours in the blind with no action this guy showed up at 1030 this morning and got the Savage 220 20ga slug gun medicine. He was alone but definitely smelled like he was rutty. This is South Whidbey Island.

[Kingofthemountain83]

Hung 5 cams on the 4th... 2 on a ridge on what appeared to be well used trails... 3 in another gmu 10 miles away on road crossings... Totally new area to us... The 2 didn't get a single pic of anything but me and my dad... Pulled them... Seems like a dead zone this time of year for some reason... Went to check the others and ran into a fellow who jumped a small buck but couldn't get a shot... Nice guy... Get to first cam... No animals... Pull it... Second cam... Bingo! 4 different bucks! Nothing huge but 2 big 2x, 1 mid 2x and 1 small 2x... Seems like it may be a thing in this area... They passed the cam often but all after dark... Most 10p-3a... The little guy made an appearance at 8a today... Was probably the deer the guy saw... Third cam had one deer at 1030p yesterday... Couldn't tell a buck or doe... Tried calling a few sets didn't see or hear anything... Reset one cam on another crossing that was tore up with fresh tracks... Going to try and figure out if getting above this area is possible tomorrow and hopefully find some places to set the 2 cams...

[trophyhunt]

Let a small 2 point go this AM, he was busy eating berry bush, no does or other bucks seen today. 

[Mulie87]

Hung 5 cams on the 4th... 2 on a ridge on what appeared to be well used trails... 3 in another gmu 10 miles away on road crossings... Totally new area to us... The 2 didn't get a single pic of anything but me and my dad... Pulled them... Seems like a dead zone this time of year for some reason... Went to check the others and ran into a fellow who jumped a small buck but couldn't get a shot... Nice guy... Get to first cam... No animals... Pull it... Second cam... Bingo! 4 different bucks! Nothing huge but 2 big 2x, 1 mid 2x and 1 small 2x... Seems like it may be a thing in this area... They passed the cam often but all after dark... Most 10p-3a... The little guy made an appearance at 8a today... Was probably the deer the guy saw... Third cam had one deer at 1030p yesterday... Couldn't tell a buck or doe... Tried calling a few sets didn't see or hear anything... Reset one cam on another crossing that was tore up with fresh tracks... Going to try and figure out if getting above this area is possible tomorrow and hopefully find some places to set the 2 cams...

Nice. At least you have a place to start now.

[highside74]

Put up a camera Saturday on a chunck of timber behind my buddies. Normally he and his neighbor and their kids hunt it but this year they were in Montana for deer so I figured I'd see whats back there for late season. I had 3 does and 6 bucks 2 solid shooters, 2 up and comers and 2 spikes on the camera every day since Saturday afternoon. Not all everyday but saw all of them more than once except one of the shooters. He was only on camera once. We were pumped for this morning. We didn't see a deer and sat from 7am to 5pm. They were hot and heavy from Saturday late through Tuesday. Less yesterday but one of the up and comers was dogging a doe. So we still had high hopes. We will be back in the morning.

[Kingofthemountain83]

Hung 5 cams on the 4th... 2 on a ridge on what appeared to be well used trails... 3 in another gmu 10 miles away on road crossings... Totally new area to us... The 2 didn't get a single pic of anything but me and my dad... Pulled them... Seems like a dead zone this time of year for some reason... Went to check the others and ran into a fellow who jumped a small buck but couldn't get a shot... Nice guy... Get to first cam... No animals... Pull it... Second cam... Bingo! 4 different bucks! Nothing huge but 2 big 2x, 1 mid 2x and 1 small 2x... Seems like it may be a thing in this area... They passed the cam often but all after dark... Most 10p-3a... The little guy made an appearance at 8a today... Was probably the deer the guy saw... Third cam had one deer at 1030p yesterday... Couldn't tell a buck or doe... Tried calling a few sets didn't see or hear anything... Reset one cam on another crossing that was tore up with fresh tracks... Going to try and figure out if getting above this area is possible tomorrow and hopefully find some places to set the 2 cams...

Nice. At least you have a place to start now.

Yeah I'm pretty optimistic... My Dad has a modern tag and I have muzzy... So hunting for him and scouting for me...

[Kingofthemountain83]

Put up a camera Saturday on a chunck of timber behind my buddies. Normally he and his neighbor and their kids hunt it but this year they were in Montana for deer so I figured I'd see whats back there for late season. I had 3 does and 6 bucks 2 solid shooters, 2 up and comers and 2 spikes on the camera every day since Saturday afternoon. Not all everyday but saw all of them more than once except one of the shooters. He was only on camera once. We were pumped for this morning. We didn't see a deer and sat from 7am to 5pm. They were hot and heavy from Saturday late through Tuesday. Less yesterday but one of the up and comers was dogging a doe. So we still had high hopes. We will be back in the morning.

I'd stick with that... Good luck!

[fowl smacker]

Saw 25-30 does today, two of which were being chased by tiny spikes.  My daughter killed a nice buck that was bedded down with a doe.  He was rutted up and STINKY though.  Saw 1 other good buck on the move.