WHITETAIL RUT

[FALCON]

I have a late tag permit for whiteails in GMU 204 in Washington.
This will be my first whitetail hunt. The season runs Nov1-18.
Question. What time of the year is the peak of the rut, and what would be some good hunting methods this time of year?

Thanks!

 

[Colville]

Usually, even out to the 18th you're still talking Pre-rut. 3 years ago on the 20th of Nov my buddy and I got bucks in Colville area and rut was deffinately on. Unless we have unseasonable dark and cold weather for the month preceeding you'll probably still be in pre-rut.

I'd scout for rubs and scrapes and look for bucks that are still making their ciruit. Once rut hits they give up those routes of rub lines and scrapes to chase wherever the does are. Unless you see signs (bucks hot ot the trail of does) that rut is on, I'd not pattern does to find bucks. I'd go looking for sings of bucks and hunt threir routine. If it's pre rut, in-heat scents can work but probably only going to fool young bucks. Either way you should have a great hunt, good luck.

 

[ridgerunner]

Whitetails rut late, I don't think they really get going till the 19th or 20th, rattling might work, best way though is to get a tree stand set up.

 

[Colville]

ridge, just bought a summit viper for my whitetail hunts this year. I'm still hoping for my high hunt but my buddy is looking sketchy, bummer. So I might get axed out of that one this year. I'm not really inclined to do a solo just yet, that and my wife'd kill me if I did.

 

[boneaddict]

Pretty good advice. You might get into it a little if its raining from about the 15th on. Most of my photography is the week after. Then they are apenuts. I figured out why most of the guys back east use tree stands....cause if you are on the ground they will run your ass over.

 

[Hoosierbuck]

If you were hunting those dates in Indiana, I'd tell you that's prime time, pre-rut and into the rut good. The deer are chasing does looking for the first receptive ones and still fighting with each other. Toward that end, treestands with grunt calls work best for me. Maybe an estrous doe bleat toward the end of your hunt period. I use real subtle grunt for the most part, and usually only on bucks that I can see, but want to bring in. I only use it if it doesn't look like they are going to give me a shot unless I do something. Make sure you have a shot between where the buck is and where he would catch your wind if you are going to call. Whiteys are pretty patterned and predictable...until the rut, then all bets are off.
Good luck and have fun. If you're hunting from a tree I can't stress enough to wear a full body saftey harness. Either use the harness or sit your butt on the ground.
HB

 

[FALCON]

Thanks guy for the tips. I'm hoping the rut will kick in a couple of days early this year. I have 7 days to hunt, and I'll give it a good look once before the season. Its about a 6 hour drive away, so I have to make my time count.
Thanks, again!