Rut activity

[Pauly]

So I was out scouting the other day and bumped one bigger and one smaller whitetail buck with a few does out in the wide open last place I expected for that to happen. I’m thinking it’s the lack of snow deer are not confined to the timber in these conditions. This particular spot was low on deer sign all year yet the rut showed up and so have the deer. Kinda wished I hadn’t filled that last whitetail tag. Mule deer are going strong lots of buck sightings at a distance in rough country.
does any one else think the whitetail rut goes a week longer than the mule deer rut?

[HarryToolips]

I think it usually starts a little later, generally for the whitetails...I witnessed while shooting a whitetail buck end of October, 2 other bucks sparing so I guess pre rut activity can start by about then?

[Pauly]

I think it usually starts a little later, generally for the whitetails...I witnessed while shooting a whitetail buck end of October, 2 other bucks sparing so I guess pre rut activity can start by about then?

Yeah I’m not sure most years it seems to me the whitetail rut goes latter into the year. Or missed does come back in 28 days latter if they were missed?? Secondary rut? You wouldn’t think they’d be that far apart mule deer and whitetail. They seem to fawn about the same time. I just wonder if the whitetail bucks get wound up more than mulie bucks and maybe it takes longer to get the urge out of their system. It’s interesting that’s for sure

[Redthies]

I’m no expert, but I’m pretty sure WT rut later than MD every year. I haven’t filled my WT tags, so if you’d care to send me the gps coordinates of those bucks... I promise I’ll only take the smaller one so you can have the big guy next year...

[Wild one]

WT are still very much in the rut. The activity we observe as hunters vary depending on the number of does in estrus, deer density, buck vs doe ratios, and age classes. Simply put its all about competition and this is what drives the buck behaviour during the rut. This is why you can experience vary different results on rut activity and even rut tactics for hunting in different areas

The actual rut is longer then most hunters think

[joshbazz]

This is good news, getting out there early next week..

[Wild one]

This is good news, getting out there early next week..

Do you have a scrape line scouted out yet? Natural funnels they travel through? An area with high doe numbers that stay consistent do to low pressure?

If you want to capitalize on the rut it’s about knowing the right locations to capitalize on the bucks habits. I invest my time scouting through out the year to capitalize on the month of Nov when it comes to whitetail. This way I have a number of locations that I can switch between according to the wind/conditions and spread my hunting pressure. Hunters underestimate how their presents in an area can change whitetail behaviour

Just somethings to think about well chasing these deer.

[joshbazz]

Do you have a scrape line scouted out yet? Natural funnels they travel through? An area with high doe numbers that stay consistent do to low pressure?

If you want to capitalize on the rut it’s about knowing the right locations to capitalize on the bucks habits. I invest my time scouting through out the year to capitalize on the month of Nov when it comes to whitetail. This way I have a number of locations that I can switch between according to the wind/conditions and spread my hunting pressure. Hunters underestimate how their presents in an area can change whitetail behaviour

Just somethings to think about well chasing these deer.

I have a couple ideas, places where WT have been spotted, but nothing hard and concrete. It is likely that I’ll be doing a daily scouting routine.

My plan is drive to some areas where I know WT have been spotted and look for sign. If I run into bear, I have a tag for that as well. I might grab a cougar tag while I’m at it on the rare off-chance I get an encounter.

I just haven’t had the time off I wanted this season. So going to hit it after dropping my child off at school, hit the mountains/woods until afternoon, then back to school for pickup. Basically 8:30am - 1pm Mon- Thurs.

That’s all I got

[338win mag]

Do you have a scrape line scouted out yet? Natural funnels they travel through? An area with high doe numbers that stay consistent do to low pressure?

If you want to capitalize on the rut it’s about knowing the right locations to capitalize on the bucks habits. I invest my time scouting through out the year to capitalize on the month of Nov when it comes to whitetail. This way I have a number of locations that I can switch between according to the wind/conditions and spread my hunting pressure. Hunters underestimate how their presents in an area can change whitetail behaviour

Just somethings to think about well chasing these deer.

Good advice wild one^^^^^^
I have hunted and consistently shot Whitetails on the same series of ridges since I started hunting. I park my truck in the same spot because the wind is almost always right.
I have only shot one wt buck in a different place in over 40 years whitetailing, I just like going to the same spot because of the scrape activity at this time of year.
I have shot 4-5 bucks standing near the same scrape which they make every year, even after the area was logged...must be the scent from previous bucks that makes them re-create the scrape.

Scrape hunting for me is the most exciting way to hunt Whitetail bucks.

Mule deer rut? the bucks are really going now...saw a nice 4 point yesterday that wouldn't leave the area as the does were hanging out there and another 4 point went walking by me just the other day. I already filled my Mule deer tag , but good to see them running around.

[Pauly]

Good advice wild one^^^^^^
I have hunted and consistently shot Whitetails on the same series of ridges since I started hunting. I park my truck in the same spot because the wind is almost always right.
I have only shot one wt buck in a different place in over 40 years whitetailing, I just like going to the same spot because of the scrape activity at this time of year.
I have shot 4-5 bucks standing near the same scrape which they make every year, even after the area was logged...must be the scent from previous bucks that makes them re-create the scrape.

Scrape hunting for me is the most exciting way to hunt Whitetail bucks.

Mule deer rut? the bucks are really going now...saw a nice 4 point yesterday that wouldn't leave the area as the does were hanging out there and another 4 point went walking by me just the other day. I already filled my Mule deer tag , but good to see them running around.

I love hunting whitetail in the poplars with heavy snow bush cover . Draws and saddles. One spot I’ve shot a pile of whitetail in is a draw that runs up a steep mountain and over the top and down the other side. The perfect short cut for deer full of cover and feed and each end of the draw is a doe group bedding area so the bucks are always using it to cruise