2nd Season Rutting Activity ???

Founder · Mar 30, 2021

With that 2nd season mule deer hunt now taking place during the first week of November, how many of you would expect to be hunting rutting bucks on that hunt?

If they’re not rutting, are the later dates still better than in the past? Maybe a slight increase in the likelihood of snow?

If you expect bucks to be rutting during that 2nd, and they’ll for sure be rutting during the 3rd, will they be thinned out so much that the 4th season may not be all that good compared to a 3rd?

Maybe Tag Soup with Turkey dinner????

Whatcha think?

Anyone dreaming of a 35-incher?

gfontela · Mar 30, 2021

I have a lot less experience than a lot of guys on here, but from everything I have read the likelihood of getting rutting activity during that second season, even with the later dates, is very low. I still think that the second season will be a very tough hunt unless there is some snow leading up to it, which of course becomes a bit more likely with the late dates.

3rd season should be magical.

huntin50 · Mar 30, 2021

No one knows?
I have seen some rutting behavior the first week in Nov in CO.
We had snow and cold, I wouldn't count on it, but possible.
I would guess 5-10% chance. This year will put a hurt on mature bucks in CO would be a safe bet.

stilltrying · Mar 30, 2021

I am betting on it, put my points into a 2nd season hunt given the late dates. (Roll the dice, if nothing else you are hunting).

DW · Mar 30, 2021

huntin50 said:
No one knows?
I have seen some rutting behavior the first week in Nov in CO.
We had snow and cold, I wouldn't count on it, but possible.
I would guess 5-10% chance. This year will put a hurt on mature bucks in CO would be a safe bet.

And to tack on to that, there have been plenty of years were I've said if we just had another week, on the last day of 4th. Guess we'll see.

muleyslayerwa · Mar 30, 2021

During the 2nd I think only a small percentage of the does will come in to heat. The dates are still just a touch to early to get good rut activity. Colorado rut is later than states like Idaho in my opinion. If we don’t get weather it will definitely not be anything special.

BeanMan · Mar 30, 2021

I very much doubt there will be rut activity that early.

HiMtnHntr · Mar 30, 2021

Depends on how the weather shakes out. Could be good, could suck... I've seen decent action right around Nov 1 in the past, but more years than not it's slow.

treedagain · Mar 30, 2021

I killed a good buck last year on the 29th of Oct that was rutting a bunch.

The_Coloradoboy · Mar 30, 2021

Predicting how a week of Colorado Mule Deer is going to shake out is like trying to figure out what the ol lady means by when she says “nothing, I’m fine”

Coloradoboy

JakeH · Mar 30, 2021

My 2019 2nd season buck killed on Oct 27th was acting pretty rutted up, he was not with does but he was cruising like he was on the search.

I think that could be better then them actually holed up with a herd of does, that period of time pre rut that they spend more time during the day cruising and looking makes them more vulnerable in my opinion.

DW · Mar 30, 2021

JakeH said:
My 2019 2nd season buck killed on Oct 27th was acting pretty rutted up, he was not with does but he was cruising like he was on the search.

I think that could be better then them actually holed up with a herd of does, that period of time pre rut that they spend more time during the day cruising and looking makes them more vulnerable in my opinion.

Lettin em behind the curtain Jake. I completely agree.

Elkhunter96 · Mar 30, 2021

It could be bad, could be good, could be great... my best guess would be a few bucks starting early the last few days of the hunt. Mostly pre-rut and the old timers will still be hiding pretty good. But I’ll take pre-rut with a few roaming over no rut any day...

JC · Mar 31, 2021

couldnt help to get in on this!!later always better!! also when she says im fine!! you know when the day is going to get worse if thats after the question how do i look in these pants? lol ...yes later..

sourkraut · Mar 31, 2021

I hunted Colorado 3rd. season last year and saw no rutting activity in the Gunnison Basin. The local warden said he couldn't explain why nothing happening even with early snow. I then hunted mid November in Eastern Montana and saw no rutting activity. I heard Western Montana was just the opposite. So, ?????

Focoelkman · Mar 31, 2021

It’s different every year. The last ten years have been weird, especially last year. That said, I’d agree and say later is better for sure. Used to be mid Novemberish was prime time.

HIcountryman · Apr 4, 2021

I saw wide 3 pt buck while elk hunting 3rd season last yr pretty rutted up. I agree with Jake that the pre rut is often good for finding bucks cruising around looking for does instead of attached to a group of doe.
I have heard, and agree, that photo period (amount of daylight) is what triggers rutting activity in deer- regardless of weather... Some years seem weird but I generally think this holds true. This being said, I would expect a little cruising activity at least in 2021 2nd season

Sparks Shooter · Apr 4, 2021

I think the rut is a toss up but the deer in the units I hunt will be migrating for sure. They typically start really moving during the first part of the old 3rd season. The later second season should include some major migratory action this year in my area anyway. ---SS

oljc · Apr 4, 2021

Hello,been out to NW Colorado 35+ years straight for 2nd season and even with the later dates you are not going to see any true rut activity even though you might see a lip curl or two or a push here and there it will all be all pre rut. I've seen them lip curl on October 20th but it aint the rut!!!!!!! If a 20'' 4X4 looking for girls is for you then you might find what your looking for but any true Rut is going to be later.

Chesterwyo · Apr 4, 2021

The weather will be more of a factor than the date on the calendar.

HIcountryman · Apr 5, 2021

i don't think weather makes deer breed.... we'll have to agree to disagree! time will tell

nripepi · Apr 5, 2021

HIcountryman said:
i don't think weather makes deer breed.... we'll have to agree to disagree! time will tell

I think he meant weather will have more of an impact on the quality of the hunt versus whether the deer are rutting or not. Photoperiod dictates when breeding will occur not weather, but weather plays a big role in daytime activity. If they both come together, you have the perfect storm (pun intended)!

HIcountryman · Apr 6, 2021

For deer, do y'all think photo period is the main motivator for migration ? Or is migration more weather-dependent?

nripepi · Apr 6, 2021

HIcountryman said:
For deer, do y'all think photo period is the main motivator for migration ? Or is migration more weather-dependent?

That's a good question, I am not a biologist, but would think weather and the ability to find food is the primary motivator to migrate. If the does and bucks have migrated to different elevations then photoperiod could bring the bucks down to the does.

JakeH · Apr 6, 2021

HIcountryman said:
For deer, do y'all think photo period is the main motivator for migration ? Or is migration more weather-dependent?

from the studies I have seen, they have proven that the migration starts about the same time every year, is it photoperiod that triggers that???? maybe?

I think the migration starts the same time every year, but they could be more motivated to move faster if the weather hits, so more weather could mean they make it to there destination faster.

But also every herd is different. I know the deer in the Bookcliffs unit in Utah start moving to the lower country super early no matter what the weather is doing, Mid September its like a switch is flipped and they head for the lower country.

jims · Apr 6, 2021

Muleys in Colo generally move and change their habits several times from early to late fall/winter. The first big move tends to be be after they shed their velvet. Older age class bucks tend to almost disappear at this time and are a lot tougher to locate. Timberline muley bucks often move down into the trees and aren't nearly as visible. They often dramatically change routines at this time. Generally speaking mature bucks in October are pretty secretive and tough to find.

The next move tends to be with snow. Some of the posts above mention that weather has an impact but deep snow generally moves high alpine bucks to lower elevation and bucks in other areas towards their winter grounds. In years with little snow bucks are scattered across a larger areas. In years with deep snow bucks tend to get pushed into more concentrated areas.

I used game cameras this winter for work. I've been monitoring deer activity on a daily basis since November and have learned a great deal about mule deer in my area. Even in the middle of winter after all hunting seasons are over I have noticed that deer are on the move and feeding during some of the worse weather and conditions. On balmy days they hardly move and feed. I thought that was a bit odd because you would think they would hole up and not move when conditions are harsh and conserve their energy reserves and feed/move on balmy days. That is not the case! On warm, sunny days I hardly get any photos!

With that said, mule deer in my area here in Colo are a lot more active when weather is cold and miserable. I was also able to pattern their movements and feeding at particular times during the day. There were windows of time during the each day that they tended to move/feed a lot more than others.

Your guess is as good as mine when snow will hit the hills in Colo in 2021. Some years there is a blizzard during the 2nd season and some years there is 0 snow through almost all hunting seasons. It could be snowy and super cold during the 2nd season and then warm up for the 3rd and 4th seasons. That would make it tough during the 3rd and 4th seasons even if photo period for estrous is better later.

Obviously photo period can get more does into heat. In dry falls with warm weather the deer will likely still be relatively inactive even though photo period may be ideal. Does likely will remain bedded and rutty bucks will be fairly frustrated since deer activity is low to non-existent.

There are VERY FEW years when all the stars align! Some years 1 or 2 stars align. Once tags are drawn the best hunters tend to harvest bucks regardless of conditions. They get out their and hunt their butts off to pull odds in their favor!