blacktail rut

[big J]

not to get you rifle guys all fired up but the rut could be early this year a few days ago I watched a 4 point sniffin ass on a doe for about 5 minutes maybe its just a little pre rut thing but I don't remember seeing them do this so early before. hope it gets full swing for you guys.

[bigcountry]

Good to hear big J!  I was thinking it could be early and this weekend could be good.  Was 35 degrees at my place this morning and I live close to I-5.  Last few years have been 70 and lows in the 50's during October.  Counting the hours........

[patton1]

Saw a nice 4x3 this morning taking my son to school.  He looked liked he was on a mission and his neck looked to be a couple sizes too big for his body.  My first thought was "rut this early?"

[bobcat]

I hear this rumor of an "early rut" EVERY year.   

[croix]

I hear this rumor of an "early rut" EVERY year.   

 

[patton1]

I hear this rumor of an "early rut" EVERY year.   

It's not just in WA either.  I saw this buck earlier in the year almost daily.  I haven't seen him for a couple of months until today.  He just seemed oblivious to everything that was going on around him.  It's probably just my mind playing tricks on me. 

[NWWABOWHNTR]

Patton.... the bucks are starting to move during the daylight again.... pre-rut?  I watched a 4 pt following a doe around the field by my house yesterday,  last year they didn't really start that that I seen until the last week of OCT.....

[big J]

i'm not sayin they are in full rut but I have not seen any bucks for a few weeks and then we started seeing them a few days ago and they are sniffin, not chasin them around or nothin, just sniffin some butt and following them so hopefully this keeps up and you guys have a good rifle season. 

[pips4bucks]

I saw 5 bucks earlier in the week, everyone of 'em a spike of various sizes...  They were'nt nearly as spooky as they have been earlier in the season.  I'm not sure if this behavior could be due to an early rut or not because I usually hunt archery and never get to see rutting bucks.  Just a bit of info, hope it helps...

[patton1]

NWWABOWHNTR- I replied to your message the other day about where I was hunting.  I never heard back.  So is that the same area you were thinking of?

[billythekidrock]

I hear this rumor of an "early rut" EVERY year.   

 

It's early. It's late.

The rut happens about the same time every year. Some just notice it earlier or happen to see a buck that they think is "rutty". Some don't see a buck early so the rut "must be late".

Cracks me up every year.

[bucklucky]

I hear this rumor of an "early rut" EVERY year.   

 

It's early. It's late.

The rut happens about the same time every year. Some just notice it earlier or happen to see a buck that they think is "rutty". Some don't see a buck early so the rut "must be late".

Cracks me up every year.

I was about to type the same thing  Looks like they are right on schedule to me 

[elkaholic_74]

I hear this rumor of an "early rut" EVERY year.  

 

It's early. It's late.

The rut happens about the same time every year. Some just notice it earlier or happen to see a buck that they think is "rutty". Some don't see a buck early so the rut "must be late".

Cracks me up every year.

its unanimous, the experts have spoken, no early rut this year!!

[big J]

and who are the experts? the guys that pretty much say i'm an idiot for posting what i saw and wishing the rifle guys a good season.

[bow4elk]

The rut starts the day the velvet comes off.  The rut has several distinct phases where you will notice different types of behavior.  Everything people are seeing is just as it should be for mid-October.  I'm not seeing near what I usually see by now, but that doesn't mean it isn't happening  

Blacktails are just deer - they rut about the same time every year give or take a few days for peak breeding.  Normally during this part of the pre-rut phase, you'll see younger bucks harassing does, even chasing them at full speed.  That doesn't mean they are ready to be bred.  Think of it like teenagers at a strip club  .

[TheHunt]

All I know is that the closer the hunting is to the 31st the better the hunting because the bucks are moving. It has been that way for as long as I have been hunting.  But what do I know...   

[NWWABOWHNTR]

I agree with the end of OCT they seem to be at the peak.... every year I see bucks start roaming around during the day following does about the 15th or so,  normally they are pretty nocturnal.  Gonna try some rattling for fun later....

Patton.. no that area is about 2 miles from me. 

[elkaholic_74]

 I've seen it very often where in certain areas deer start showing pre rut tendencies when other areas sometimes even in the same county it doesnt seem anything is heating up yet. Every year I see the local urban deer in the town I live in start gathering does and acting rutty and like clockwork the area i hunt about 30 minutes away they do the same about 7 - 10 days later. I agree with the statement that it happens about the same time every year but that "time" can and does vary from area to area or so it seems to me.

[bobcat]

The difference in apparent rut activity could have something to do with differences in buck to doe ratios in different areas.

[elkaholic_74]

If you hunt an area exclusively and become familiar with the does in it take note of the does you see with yearlings. If all of a sudden you start seeing these does without there yearlings it means that the doe has more than likely ran it out of the nest. (or perhaps a cougar has killed it  ) Its my understanding that before a doe goes into estrus they boot out the youngins and if they dont boot them out they most likely wont estrus that year. Seems to hold true in my experience and its a great time to use doe bleats and fawn in distress calls.

[Mark B]

Every deer in camp that my party got this year seemed to be a little bit more Musky than usual, and  the necks were already swollen up..