They always start here in the SE about the 20th. At least the bucks are ready. That is why I can't understand why they WA fish and game have the rifle season so late. Mule deer should only be hunted during the rut with a limited entry tag in my own opinion.
We are definitely not in the rut right now, if you are talking about the 20th of October. Their necks are getting a little puffy, and they are sniffing, but nowhere near real rutting. Mid November they will be rutting heavily.
Pathfinder, you are correct, the rut does not officially start for another couple weeks, at least for the does. One thing is for sure, the young bucks, many of which are 3 points are ready and their testosterone is rising. I definitely saw a 3 year old buck rutting yesterday. He was with about 20 does running around sniffing a$$. There were vehicles less than a mile a way glassing other herds but heading his direction. Hopefully the landowner say no, otherwise he is probably dead. That's to bad because he was a tall and wide 3 point, bigger than most deer on this site, and would have been a decent buck next year.
Just because the does aren't rutting doesn't mean the bucks aren't starting. It is just like the human race isn't it. And yes they moved the season to a week later starting last year. Should be the first two week of oct if it was up to me.
