Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: aorams on December 01, 2014, 09:18:37 AM
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Hi Forum,
I set some trail cameras out right after the late rifle season in anticipation of the Blacktail 2nd Rut. I don't want to disturb the area until it's all over so I am asking if anyone has advice on when is the earliest I should go back in to check them. At this point I was thinking December 16th. Any advice?
Thank you!
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My book - The Blacktail Deer of Western Washington, put out by Washington State Game Dept. in 1961 says that 93% of breeding is done by around the 25th of November, 98% by December 10th, and by Christmas, about 99.5% of the breeding activity is complete.
These dates are based on a study of the dates for which fawning occurred for over 1400 fawns, and an assumed gestation period of 203 days.
None of this information helped me kill a deer this year (yet) :'(
I'd guess based on those numbers that anytime after the 10th, you'd be pretty lucky to see any rutting activity. I know the bucks quit coming into my back yard around the 12th of Nov. Nothing on my cam but does and fawns since.
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Most of the buck activity I catch on my cameras begins about October 25th and ends about November 14th.
Since does that aren't bred the first time come into heat again 28 days later, if you're wanting to catch the "second rut," I'd give it a couple more weeks.
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I check mine every 4 days or so does not hurt to have your scent there and them used to it but I am no pro.
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This is my 1st year putting a trail cam in the woods ..never had any desire but I can tell you one thing I have learned a lot ..What I am finding out is a lot of the activity I now see in late archery season has made me open my eyes ...I had pictures of bucks up till now and everyone has been after dark .. I placed them in areas that are so horned up that you sure would think I would get a photo during daylight :dunno: I have seen to bucks since late season started and maybe 20 doe ..I have been sitting and sitting and they are not coming by ..So I placed another camera in a whole different area and the same story ...Moving at night ..I am pretty much beat up on this deal and spent 7 hours in one stand today but I did see 5 doe ..and the sucker did horn a tree right where I sit :dunno: :bash: :bash: Keep trying until its over :yeah:
