AZ Muley Rut

[mattazhunter]

Hello,

I've been hunting the desert (Unit 37A) for muleys going on 3 years and i seem to be getting closer year by year, but haven't stuck one yet. damn those deer are smart. I have been seeing plent of Does along the ridges and constantly moving. Last week I counted over 20, but not a single buck with them. The week before that seen about the same amount, but I did see two bucks with a heard of nine doe. They were just to far away. Last year I hunted in Jan 03 (same area) and I would see bucks with the does ,but they didn't seem very active, just sort of hanging behind them. When is the rut for the mule deer in az? I did manage to get a big 5x5 muley to stop and look in my direction when i called him with "the can" but only for a few minutes.I'm going out this week and everyweek until I get one. Hopefully! Any help I would really appreciate.

 

[CraigS]

It depends on where you are at... In that area it should be kicking in anytime. They say the rut his determined by the length of the day & although I believe that is true I also believe there are a few other factors. #1 Bucks don't determine the time of the rut it is the does'. Alot of time the same bucks will rut in the same area year after year, before the rut begins the bucks travel looking for does' to see if it is time. #2 is the Shape of the deer. If they are not healthy the does GENERALLY don't come into estrus until thier bodies are healthy.
The bucks in your area may just be checking but if you got does' the bucks will come!!! (If you find a lone buck, it sounds like it would be a good time to rattle & doe bleat.) Remeber different does' come in at different times. Bucks will breed, breed, breed until she is out of estrus, if she was the only one to come into estrus at the time he may go look for another herd but he'll come back to check the others.

Thanks,
Craig Steele
[email protected]

 

[Bura Nut]

Craig pretty much hit it. It depends on the area of the state, of course the Kaibab already had the rut going back in Nov. for the southern desert muley areas we are in prime time now. There is a little rut activity in 33, and the 36 units so you should watch the does and the bucks will be traveling looking for the estrus does.......... Thanks, Allen Taylor......

 

[Maverickcurs]

The bucks up here in northwest Az have been rutting well over a month.The buck I shot Dec 22nd was busted on his main beam and his g4 and had his hocks rubbed well with tarsal glands.I hunt in 40 and 44 and they are starting to rut real well down there.Saw a couple pigs in there over 30 wide and 190 plus.All the deer were hitting thw water holes there so sitting a water would net a buck.