Early Rutting Activity

NV380 · Oct 14, 2021

Just curious, anyone been seeing any early rutting activity?

BroadHead · Oct 14, 2021

None so far in the area I was just in the past few days. Had a decent snowstorm as well but it wasn't enough to change their habits or movements.

Troubadour · Oct 14, 2021

I went up for a hike today. Did not see any yet.

Buckbrush · Oct 14, 2021

Week of Thanksgiving, that's when!

maddog58 · Oct 14, 2021

Little early still

hawkbill · Oct 14, 2021

The Elk are rutting late, so are the Moose. We just got our first snow a few days ago, I don’t think I will see a rutting Buck until 3rd season Colorado

Killcarp2 · Oct 22, 2021

Just wanted to bump this thread and see if anybody has seen pre rut activity. Leaving in a week for my late rifle tag hoping they are starting to cruise a little.

iowacity · Oct 22, 2021

I hunted last weekend and the bucks were still in bachelor groups. 1 was just shedding his velvet!

mevertsen · Oct 22, 2021

Not sure what area you are headed, but I was on the Idaho border from Sunday to Wednesday and we saw 75 plus deer. Only 2 little bucks with one group of does. No other bucks at all with does.

Bluehair · Oct 23, 2021

Two days ago…

HiDesertHunter5 · Oct 25, 2021

Seems sporadic. I had a friend kill a buck last week that was super rutty. Other places not a bit of rut action. Hopefully these storms will get the deer moving to help get the rut going. Maybe cold stormy weather has less to do with it than i think and its all about how much light is hitting the eyes. Youd think storms this time of year would help with that too. I think the mature bucks moving around and pissin spreading some pheromones around would get the does jump started. It works with other animals, so why not haha, guess just have fingers crossed for this next weekend when we are out there.

Killcarp2 · Oct 25, 2021

Well I leave Friday, I’ll be hunting around the middle of the state. They normally don’t kick off till the first week of November but I’m hoping with all these clouds and not having any moon next week will help.

bucktags · Oct 26, 2021

good luck with that! should be getting close.

maddog58 · Oct 26, 2021

I would think closer to the 2nd week in November, hasn’t really been very cold yet

Troubadour · Oct 26, 2021

I head out for my tag next Wednesday. Central NV as well. I’m in western NV right now. Been hiking about 2-3 days a week. Haven’t seen any activity yet. But sometimes is turns on like a switch.

doz · Oct 26, 2021

maddog58 said:
I would think closer to the 2nd week in November, hasn’t really been very cold yet

I mean define cold? I was up in 13 a week ago and at 8000' it was 22 degrees. Night before that it was 28 and snowing a bit after sunset.

It's been cooler for sure compared to the first weekend I was up there when the high was still 70 degrees @ 8000' at sunset.

eelgrass · Oct 26, 2021

Bluehair said:
Two days ago…View attachment 56081

That's not rut, that's a brawl.....

maddog58 · Oct 26, 2021

Shorter days is the main reason to start the rut.

maddog58 · Oct 26, 2021

Guarantee it’s not starting yet. Wishful thinking at best

BroadHead · Oct 26, 2021

I was out last week and saw a 3x3 walking lazily behind a group of does. It quickly lost interest and went back into the thick stuff.

yotebuster17 · Oct 26, 2021

maddog58 said:
Guarantee it’s not starting yet. Wishful thinking at best

This ^ contrary to popular opinion, cold weather has no bearing on the rut. Might make deer move more or start a migration but it won’t make does come into heat.

Troubadour · Oct 26, 2021

I’ll take anything other than total nocturnal.

Killcarp2 · Oct 27, 2021

Yeah weather has very little to do with it, but clouds for a few days in a row can definitely help as there is less light which triggers the does. Plus there will be no moon next week. It’s a high hope but a hope nonetheless