2025 blacktail rut thread

[ljsommer]

I was still-hunting this evening and snuck up on two does about 75 yards away. There was a buck some ways off to their right, I am estimating about 50 yards away from them, roughly 100 yards away from me (guessing based on sound and smell, though I never laid eyes on him). The buck never made any effort at all to go near those does. Either he'd already "known" then in the Biblical sense, or he just didn't care. Either way, not a lot of rutty behavior going on. I was really hoping that buck was going to make a move towards those does, and I was ready for it. The last shreds of light evaporated from the forest after two hours of hyper focused attention and extremely uncomfortable body conditioning. The buck never made his move.
Does that mean I am too late for the rut? Or too early? I keep seeing comments about how warm it was this season; does that mean estrus was pushed back further, or that it happened early and is all wrapped up? Sadly I didn't get many opportunities to hunt this season so I was really counting on late rifle to provide, and the woods were very quiet.

[blackveltbowhunter]

The rut certainly seemed to lack intensity across the board with sporadic localized action during the season. I killed a good buck on the 24th of October who was clearly cruising and with 3 does but weather and cover are what had him on his feet and he was deep from any clearcut. I spent the last 4 days of general out and about. Action was slow with a couple young cruisers spotted and seen a young fork get killed that was on a doe and slightly stinky.  The 31st my bro in law and I saw 4 bucks only one was with doe and he was bedded a young 2x3. Seen 2 young bucks bedded together no does in sight. He killed a handsome 3x4 nose to ground nearing last light again a long ways from a cut.  Neither his buck or mine  were showing much for physical changes. And neither stunk. 

The last 4 days I spent trying g to get my daughter her first buck and we spent every minute in the woods. Saw a handful of bucks, the largest was on a doe in expert level cover and she just couldn't get on him in time. That was 10 minutes into opening morning. Seen 2 spike bucks she elected to pass, and just couldn't get a branched buck to sit still long enough for a comfortable shot.  Saw double digit doe and fawns each day and never had a buck with em.

I think a combination of early storms timed right and a bit of cooler weather to get more first cycle does covered, combined with overcast high pressure the end of October and likely paying the piper for the last couple years of great rifle season rut timing lead to a more prolonged less intense scenario.  At least that was my experience.

In regards to quality tags the first 10 days in november still had the best buck movment across the board.  FWIW

[dilleytech]

I was still-hunting this evening and snuck up on two does about 75 yards away. There was a buck some ways off to their right, I am estimating about 50 yards away from them, roughly 100 yards away from me (guessing based on sound and smell, though I never laid eyes on him). The buck never made any effort at all to go near those does. Either he'd already "known" then in the Biblical sense, or he just didn't care. Either way, not a lot of rutty behavior going on. I was really hoping that buck was going to make a move towards those does, and I was ready for it. The last shreds of light evaporated from the forest after two hours of hyper focused attention and extremely uncomfortable body conditioning. The buck never made his move.
Does that mean I am too late for the rut? Or too early? I keep seeing comments about how warm it was this season; does that mean estrus was pushed back further, or that it happened early and is all wrapped up? Sadly I didn't get many opportunities to hunt this season so I was really counting on late rifle to provide, and the woods were very quiet.

We are in post rut territory now.

[WSU]

Activity was basically zero for me late season. I went from seeing does and bucks daily to seeing nothing.

[Pegasus]

Looks like the rut is over for us. Have not seen a buck for about a week. We tend to start early and finish early. When the rut was going strong we typically would see about three bucks a day passing through chasing the local does.. We know over the rut duration we saw about 11 different bucks this year. The best ones were several 3X3's and one 5X5(if you count brow tines). One 3X3 was a huge tank so swollen that he looked like he could explode any minute. Unfortunately I did not get a good picture of him. This year's Most Enthusiastic was a three inch spike that chased every doe. Strangely the large bucks if present while the youngster was pursuing the does tended to ignore him. Don't know if this was because they are possibly related or just not threatened by a buck that small. Here are a couple of the winners this year:

[lazydrifter]

We had a big spike in the yard last night chasing a doe all over.   

[Kingofthemountain83]

Went to check 3 cams and hang two today... First cam has 3 different buck on it... Big two, little two, and a tiny spike haven't seen before... All three made morning daylight appearances... Second cam got big 2, little 2, and our first doe in the area... Third cam nothing, pulled it... On the way out we could smell a buck in the timber and brush... Very strong, he was close but couldn't find him glassing the timber... Drive up and around ridge to another gate and hike up to find 3 spots for cams... Jumped a deer on downhill downwind side but couldn't spot it in the timber and ferns... I could hear it move around occasionally... Found three spots and hung the cams... See how active this area is... Hopefully it's good for late muzzy...

[trophyhunt]

Had a big 3x2 on video, he chased off another buck, and was paying attention to a doe that had a yearling w her.  She was kicking the yearling at one point.  Late archery is Wednesday, might be interesting.

[Mulie87]

Temps definitely dropped here in Puyallup. I was on the way to the gym at 0830 this morning and had a big 2pt standing in the middle of the road looking around…for does I’m guessing.

[highside74]

My buddy just sent me a 4 pic sequence of 2 mature bucks fighting 10 min ago in Lewis country logging country. Full on rumble. One of them has a busted of g2 at the main beam now. They were fighting for at least 5 minutes in front of the camera.

[Kingofthemountain83]

About to leave for late muzzy... Hope deer are still active... Good luck everyone!

[Kingofthemountain83]

Had to get back to do some things before turkey day.... But, I came close this am... Went up to the new spot at first light hoping for the best where we put 3 cams 5 days ago... Nothing on any of them, pulled them and thinking on places to go Friday afternoon to reset... Get to the other area with two cams after just 10 am and about 500 yards before the first cam I see a deer in the road facing away, maybe 60 yards... He's got dark antlers with a decent spread not sure on points but he put his head down and walked away down the road till he went out of site at 200+ yards never offering a shot except of his rear... I don't think he knew I was there... He didn't pass the cams today though... I think it's one of the big 2x... The cams only picked up one deer on each in 5 days though... So not near a core area... But I had a chance... If I was a little quicker I probably could've got a back of the neck shot when he was standing there looking around...

[Kingofthemountain83]

Boy was it crowded today! Got to the gate I have a couple cams down the road at 655a and there were 3 trucks there with 5 people getting ready... Bummer... Moved on and drove roads to another spot... Did see a nice buck but he hid and couldn't find him... Walked a few miles didn't see anything except some tracks... Came back down about 1230p with two trucks still at the gate... Hope my cams are still there! May bring the sxs tomorrow and cruise as far as I can...

[Kingofthemountain83]

I feel like I'm alone at this now...    Brought the sxs to check out a bunch of area today... Was going to hunt the morning and check my cams at the secret spot but there were 2 rigs at the gate... So we cruised 71 miles today... Saw one blue grouse on the road... Not many areas that you can't drive... Did find a skid road that's not heavily driven... Walked it for a little and saw a bear I could've shot... On the small side... (IMHO I think bear season should go till December 31st) Also found five rubs from this year... Can't make it back out till Tuesday so I think I'll go there and bring some cams in case I find a spot... Spend the day in that area and check out some other roads... 

[addicted1]

Been fairly quiet for me, have seen a few which is good for my area. But, the drier weather today made it hard to still hunt anything with the crunchy leafs. Lots of fresh tracks. Last year I found a hot doe at this time of year and every buck was battling for her, hope I can repeat that.