This is my second year late season Archery hunting and I've heard mix info on the Rut. Some people are telling me it was over a couple weeks ago and others are telling me its just really turning on. I hunt an area that does not have a high deer population this time of year, I guess they move. 2 weeks ago I spotted a buck and its herem of deer in private property so I was confident it was still happening. The last two days the only deer that came my way were 3 lonesome does one at around 8:00 and the other 2 around 2-4. No bucks around. I've also been using Estrus and Urines, apple scents and ...... You name it I have it hanging. I havn't been very impressed. Am I hunting wrong because the rut is over, or not using the right products?
I have til the end of the month so I still have time left. I just want to know your thoughts.
Thanks in advance.

I'll let you know tomorrow....I'm hunting this afternoon.

you know ive been calling, rattling, puting sent everyhwere. and i have only had one doe come in.

i really dont know when the rutt starts or ends around here. but usually it should be after the first big cold stap around middle novembver, and go through mid december. with the peak being the last and first weeks of december.

thats according to some biologist i was talking to.

Saw a lot of bucks early to mid-November. The buck I shot on 11/16/06 in unit 407 was definately in the rut. His antlers were full of bark from rubbing, he was clueless that he walked right over the top of me, and his scent glands were covered in musk. I'm still seeing bucks here & there so it may depend on the area as to whether or not they are coming or going on their rut cycle. I'm no scientist but I've always heard that the rut is triggered by the lunar cycles and how much light enters the photo receptors in the deer's eyes. Not sure of the scientific term for that but I've heard it a few times.

The Blacktail rut is usually in its peak in the first week of November....usually when the rifle Elk hunt begins. Its still usually somewhat going by Modern rifle "Late Buck" which is usually the last 4 days of the week before Thanksgiving but they are beginning to tail out of it......Les

This year the rut was over before late riffle where I hunt. Started about the last week of October. I have seen them rut well into December but every year is different and every area is different. Depends on the does sometimes there are some hot does around later on which extends the rut.

I work alot of nights most of the year and drive 90% of my shift. See different things happening at different times in dirrerent areas. Sometimes an area 2 or three miles away from another may be hot and heavy into the rut when the other area hasnt even started yet or is already over.

As far as grunting and bleats go I dont think it ever hurts. They are deer sounds and it intrests them never seems it spook them.

This year I hunted well after the rut and used my grunt tube every time I was out. I covered alot of ground grunted here and there. I saw some bucks and shot one. Seems like the grunting got their attention and they were very interested in me. Seems to me it takes the spook out of em and rather than being scared of you they are wondering what the heck you are making their sounds. Most of the deer I saw, saw me as well and seemed to be waiting for me to see what I was.

from what you guys are saying. i must have been really mis informed. unless i just got the months mixed up. which could be, its happened before and sure to happen again :p

so with what you guys are saying, it would seem that the best time to hunt would be early muzzleloader season?

come on you guy's. Blacktail deer will be in the rut clear throu december.And this is a fact. i hunt muzzleloader and we see lots of bucks every year in throu december that are still in the rut for sure. The deer are in the rut for more than a couple weeks. they are actually just starting to rut around thanksgiving. And if you want to know more about the blacktail rut. call kelly mcallister at the game department he's a biolagist. and knows the blacktail deer very well. the number is 1-360-902-2200. happy hunting to you all.And deer slayer if you need any info on this you can send me an email with your number and i will get back to you.

The rut seemed a couple weeks earlier than normal here this year.They are usually rutting hard during late buck.Thats why I hunt it so much harder than regular season.Ive never seen a buck in rut during early m/l season.
Seems to me its usually mid Nov.

Blacktails in this area will typically start the pre-rut towards the end of Oct. Mature bucks are the first to do so. Once a doe is ready to be bred she will stay in heat for about 24 hrs. If she is not bred and as many as 40% aren't she will come back into heat in 27-28 days later for a second rut. The bucks in my area were going crazy the last weekend of elk season, and then had cooled off by late buck.

that kelly guy is who i was tlaking to about the blacktail rut. he is related to my friend somehow.

see i knew i thought i knew what i was talking about. it must have been my fisherman instinct. lol