blacktail rut

[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..