Blacktail Rut Tracking

[bow4elk]

Thought it might be good to keep tabs on the pre-rut/rut action as we get into the second half of October.

I'll start - seeing a lot more rubs this past week and some lightweight sparring.  Saw 7 does yesterday AM, no bucks with them.  It's early yet.  Saw a lone forky last week around 8:30 just wandering about.  Saw a doe this morning around 7:15 AM, all alone.

[257 Wby Mag]

The boy killed this buck saturday morning on his Skook D youth tag. Saw 5 other bucks, 3 were together, 1 goodun, 1 bout like this buck, and a dinker. The bioligist waiting at the gate with security said this buck was starting to "rut".Ie, stinking. and swelling??? He wasn't swelled or stinky. I see about 20 some odd does, mixed with button bucks every day by the house. Bout the 25th they'll start up again, 30th and 31st will be rockin, like always....

[Tony 270WSM]

Good to see the kid got a buck 

[bow4elk]

257 WM, stout little buck 

I'm watching tarsal glands on my trailcam pics and I'm not seeing any darkening yet...it's still early.  I agree that the last week in October should be good.

[257 Wby Mag]

He was stout, don't know if it was *censored*ty or good genetics. Judging from his face and double throat patch, I'm leaning on *censored*ty. To bad the boy ruined the cape, it wasn't bad.

Ya, bout another week, I'll start gettin in the groove.

[littlebuf]

i saw 7 does saturday in my deer spot, no bucks with them but one of the does kept looking back over her shoulder into the woods pretty often. ive seen them do this when theres bucks following them. i never saw a buck come out but i didnt want to spend a ton of time around the deer i intend to hunt so i backed out of there.

[billythekidrock]

Last Saturday I filmed a spike going head to head with a doe. After she moved on the spike went head to head with a small two point. After some gentle bumping the spike moved on.

[bow4elk]

Saturday 10 AM to 10:30 (while driving only) saw 12 does and yearlings out in the rain feeding.  saw one spike alone feeding.  Two spikes, heads together pushing and shoving, spinning around playing tough guys.  They looked up at me, then went back to their shoving and spinning.

This morning driving to work - A fork horn running full speed chasing a doe, crashing through brush along the ditch at the road edge.  Mouth open panting.  This is the chase phase now, so the pre-rut is underway for sure.

Haven't been out yet, but this weekend and next week should be key in bigger deer getting into the game.

Those who've killed bucks - how were the tarsal glands looking?  Darkening and stinky?

[croix]

Buddy shot a fork horn blackie on Saturday. No stink, no swelling, tarsal not yet dark. We saw no evidence of rut. Of course he was a pretty young deer and may not have known he was supposed to be in rut 

[elkaholic_74]

The town that I live in has quite a few "urbanized" deer due to the fact that they cant be hunted. Ive come to realize from years past that they begin to show the signs of rut about 5-7 days earlier than the "regular" deer in the surrounding areas I hunt. That being said Since Sunday morning these deer have been grouped up (5 does and a real nice 3 point with a small 2 point hanging nearby) The 3 point has had his nose up doe butt and peeing all over himself so I think we are VERY close!!

[Martinhunter]

Thursday evening the 15th I had a doe in my back yard and while I was watching her feed on my lawn all the sudden a spike come walking out of the woods speed walking with his head pointed straight out while stareing at the doe. When he reached her he put his head in her butt and she took off running to the trees and he took off running right behind her. So ya this tells me were getting real close. I wish archery season was this time of year because all I can do is sit here and listen to story's.

[bow4elk]

Thursday evening the 15th I had a doe in my back yard and while I was watching her feed on my lawn all the sudden a spike come walking out of the woods speed walking with his head pointed straight out while stareing at the doe. When he reached her he put his head in her butt and she took off running to the trees and he took off running right behind her. So ya this tells me were getting real close. I wish archery season was this time of year because all I can do is sit here and listen to story's.

I bought my first rifle tag since college this year...bowhunting the rifle dates for better rut timing.  I hope it pays off.  I'm holding off my areas until the last week in October.  If I don't tag a buck then, I'll hunt the short late hunt in an area I got a few bucks funneling through last year during those same dates.

[NWBREW]

A buddy of mine named fishyrick killed a blacktail on sunday. This buck was big....had a swollen neck and stunk  like it was in mid rut. Now I know the rut doesn't usually kick in for another week and a half or so but damn if it didn't seem like he was starting to rut up. Just got back from the butcher and it went 160 butcher wieght. No head,hide or legs.....big deer. Shot in skagit county.

[bow4elk]

A buddy of mine named fishyrick killed a blacktail on sunday. This buck was big....had a swollen neck and stunk  like it was in mid rut. Now I know the rut doesn't usually kick in for another week and a half or so but damn if it didn't seem like he was starting to rut up. Just got back from the butcher and it went 160 butcher wieght. No head,hide or legs.....big deer. Shot in skagit county.

Tasty!  Need to see a photo of this beast!   

[elkaholic_74]

Bow4elk I think you made the right call, Nothing beats the last few days before Halloween to me for blacktails and from what I'm seeing and hearing its about to get good maybe even a little earlier than normal. Good luck and be sure to share your story.