CO rutting activity?

cohntr6 · Nov 1, 2004

LAST EDITED ON Nov-02-04 AT 00:24AM (MST)[p]Hey I'm looking for any info on rutting activity of bucks most specifically for ther middle park/Kremmling area but any info will be good. I enjoyed the jackalope/hunt4life post and the swollen neck on that bugger! I am heading to the Kremmling area with a 4th rifle tag in a few days and am very excited! I was able to scout 1 specific area and saw LOTS of does and small bucks in a short amount of time. I know in general this time of year and the next week or 2 bucks will be looking and showing interest. I guess i am just looking for stories/details.......COGRIZ are you out there?
Jeff

Oats · Nov 1, 2004

I just came back from my 3rd season hunt on the western slope. A lot of doe's and smaller to medium sized bucks are already migrating out of the high country and were in the lower aspens and sage brush areas. I did notice a few smaller bucks chasing doe's but this is just the beginning of the rut. I was able to connect on a heavy 3x4 30 1/2 and hope to post some pics soon.

DeerKing · Nov 2, 2004

It's starting. Got a few bad pics of some bigger bucks sparring, lip curling and nosing does.

Congrats on the great buck Oats.

AntlerQuest Hunt Consulting

DougW · Nov 2, 2004

For what it's worth...this past Sunday I saw some big bucks posturing big time...and the dominant one getting aggressive with the other mature bucks. There were does all around. But this on the eastern slope in a no-hunting area.

Looks to me like things are coming along a bit earlier this year overall. And the moon phase will help (no moon by the 11th or so, I think).

D

cohntr6 · Nov 2, 2004

Thanks. Oats I read your post and responded before I saw what you said here. What part of the state were you in roughly? Thanks Jeff an Doug. Only 3 more days! I should be focusing on my wifes deer tag this week though!
Jeff

BUCKSPY · Nov 3, 2004

Small and medium bucks are rutty but I haven't personally seen any big bucks in hard-hunted public land getting at all serious this early. The buck I killed on Monday had ZERO rut smell and his hocks were clean and his bases were NOT packed with bark like a rutting buck would be. It might take another substantial storm to really get them going and realistically another week of time. Does wont being going into estrus for atleast 10-15 days and that is what really puts them over the edge. This years Colorado season structure is earlier than the past few years and next year it will ratchet forward a week.

elkhuntr · Nov 3, 2004

Buckspy, What caliber of deer did you take?Lets see some pics if possible.
Thanks Elkhuntr

BUCKSPY · Nov 6, 2004

I killed a .300 Ultra Mag caliber of deer. 26"er with nice forks all the way around and a 198 gross with one inline extra, 194 main frame without using a rubber tape measure. Very pretty buck.

4th season could be a real bust this year with warm temps and what little snow that is left is crusting up every night. I feel bad for the fellas that saved their points and used them this year and the weather isn't cooperating very well for a 5 day hunt. I don't mean to be overly pessimistic but its just my opinion that the conditions are a little on the poor side. The 4th season is a gamble for using points.

BUCKSPY · Nov 6, 2004

Also same buck condition on my hunting partners 210 gross buck with a 32" spread as in ZERO rut smell, clean hocks and just dark brown antlers with no bark packed in them, and that was a November 3rd kill. Big bucks don't get big and old by rutting prematurely on heavily hunted public land.

jims · Nov 6, 2004

I saw a 180 class buck mount a doe yesterday so the does must be starting to go into estrous! They were in an area not open to hunting. I'm not sure if that would affect the date a doe goes into estrous? Keep watching the does and good luck on your hunt!

elkhuntr · Nov 6, 2004

Buckspy,Any pictures????
Elkhuntr

TheKnack · Nov 6, 2004

The rut is starting on private, public non-hunting areas and on some public huntable land that see's less hunting pressure.
Within a week it will be going full tilt everywhere from my past experience's.
Saying no bucks go into rut the first week of November on any hunting land is bunk.
Bucks are looking for does and are easier to find and is one of the reasons so many big buck baggers hunt so late every year.
Best,
Jerry

COGriz · Nov 10, 2004

Man, I expected to hear more about the 'early rut' this year. I took a nice Middle Park 4x4 on the 3rd season opener (Sat, 10/31). He was bedded down at almost dark w/ a single doe (already tired from courting and staying close to a mature doe?). I saw another big buck pushing does around 10:30am earlier in the day. Big bucks w/ does on Oct 31!

Theodore Roosevelt once said, "The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation, INCREASED and NOT IMPAIRED in value."

cohntr6 · Nov 10, 2004

The buck I killed yesterday was as smelly as could be! I'm not sure how some of these bucks could rut with how much they were pushed around and shot at! lol. I did not expect the pressure where I was going to hunt and had to go across the road where you had to do some more walking to shoot mine on my last day of hunting. I saw one buck taken out of the area that would gross 185ish as well as a big 3x4 (170's) that both were ruttin pretty good. I'm sure the storm going through yesterday and today will really get them going. I'll post pictures tomorrow. Jeff