2020 Blacktail rut/pre-rut and post rut thread

[Igottanewknee]

Our last day in the Green River unit on Friday was pretty good. Saw about 10 deer and 3 were bucks. The bucks were just standing around keeping an eye on the doe with them. Paid no attention to us.

[fishnfur]

Timber seemed overly quiet today.  No signs of any chasing going on that I could find. Saw/heard/killed nothing.  Lots of shots from 10 - 1130 in the hills around me, but some of that had to be bored hunters switching over to target practice. 

[fishngamereaper]

Road kills are on the rise for mature bucks so they are definitely on the prowl.

[fishnfur]

copy and paste from Sitka Blacktail on another thread.  Seemed appropriate here.  Berate me Siitka BT - I deserve it!

The rut is definitely starting here on the coast of Washington.  Was out at Ocean Shores Yesterday and saw two big fork horns tending a couple does and running off the other 6 bucks that were right there. Curiously there was another doe there that all the bucks were ignoring. Leading me to believe the rut is just getting going. Saw quite a few other does in the area that weren't getting any attention from the bucks.  The biggest of the bucks was guarding a hot doe and may have already bred her as when we showed up he was breathing very hard and had slobber hanging from his chin.  The doe he was tending had bedded between a house and a Rhodadenderon bush. He pushed his way in and was standing over her making sure nobody else got near. If I can get the photos off my phone I'll post one or two.

[fishnfur]

Moved N to Mason this PM.  Ate a quick dinner and got out 30 minutes before last light.  One mature doe in the center of the cut with no fawns in tow.  Appeared that she might be waiting for a buck, but her body language wasn't quite right.  Seems slow here too.

[TheStovePipeKid]

Had a doe and two fawns ten minutes before last light. Doe didn't appear it be in estrus. Also in Mason county.

[BLH69]

Same thing i ran into out there today. Watched one mature doe for 45 minutes. No luck. Doesn't seem to be going as hard as i would expect by now.

[fishnfur]

Ran into the same doe this morning (I think it was her).  This time she had a forkie in tow.  She looked annoyed.  I let him walk, since I had a backpack sprayer on my back and my slug gun was 100 yards away in my rig.  He wasn't going anywhere fast but I figured I'd get a shot on a 3 point before the season was over, so I got some work done instead. I saw a young doe off standing by herself in the far corner of the cut earlier in the morning.  She was really agitated that I had noticed her and tore off to hide.  I'm thinking that this might be one of the Doe's fawns that she left alone while she went out on a date.  Not sure though.  That other doe with the buck on her tail was still not hot.

[h20hunter]

Taking this Thursday and Friday off...hunting close to home.  No legal buck is safe if a shot is there!

[WapitiTalk1]

Taking this Thursday and Friday off...hunting close to home.  No legal buck is safe if a shot is there!

Sound wisdom; beat the weekend rush  .  I may do the same.   

[Wolfdog2314]

Got my blacktail this morning. Good buck, hot on the trail of a doe. Swollen neck and stinky. I’ve always said the last week of general is better than late buck. In my opinion. SW WA.

[WapitiTalk1]

Co-worker knocked a decent 3-point down this morning.  Said he was hot to trot...…

[Viking360]

Got a thick 3x2 on cam in front of my stand. I’ll be trying to get him every day after work. He has been following a doe with 2 fawns. Damn clear nights and moon have been keeping them nocturnal.

[TheStovePipeKid]

What kind of sound do bucks make when they are fighting in the woods? Is it distinct?

[BLH69]

 7 does in 2 groups that didn't know i was there. watched them for about an hour and a half combined. No buck showed. Mason.