Blacktail question

Salmon Stryker · 10-24-2002, 07:28 AM

I haven't been out in the woods for the last couple weeks but heard from a buddy who heard from another buddy that the deer are begining to rut already.
Can anyone confirm this???

Rip'N'Lips · 10-24-2002, 08:54 AM

I saw my first buck 2 nights ago and I think he may have been rutting... He ran out of the trees, then straight down the road for 75 yards before walking off to stand on the side of the road. Pretty stupid, although he was just a little fork. I am going to try and find him again tonight... might be time to tag a deer...

Rip'N'Lips

willametteriveroutlaw · 10-24-2002, 10:13 AM

If we get some weather this weekend we may get some pre-rut activity, but from what I have seen do far, there isn't too much rutting going on.

GutshotApe · 10-24-2002, 10:36 AM

According to a 1961 study, blacktail rutting season begins about October 23 and ends about January 11. The study found that 5% of does were bred Oct.23 - Oct.25; 18% were bred Oct.26 - Nov.10; 75% were bred Nov.11 - Nov.25; 5% were bred Nov.26 - Dec.10; 1% were bred Dec.11 - Dec.25; and 0.5% were bred from Dec.26 - Jan 11.

[ 10-24-2002, 11:38 AM: Message edited by: GutshotApe ]

Bait O' Eggs · 10-24-2002, 10:46 AM

I have been told the rutting season shouldnt change from year to year depending on weather etc.......

The rutting season has to happen when it has to happen to allow the fawn to be big enough when the following winter comes. The gestation period and rate of growth of the fawn are set.

If breeding was moved back by a month or so one year due to weather, the fawns wouldnt be big enough when winter came to survive.

Do most of you subscribe to this theory as being correct? It makes sense, but it sure seems like on a dry year the rut moves back to me.

Gut Shot Ape - Those 5% that get bred from Oct 23rd to Oct 25th wouldnt the girls that get around the woods, would they

[ 10-24-2002, 11:48 AM: Message edited by: Bait O' Eggs ]

montster303 · 10-24-2002, 03:02 PM

i was just out today....saw several fresh scrapes. is it true what they say about bigger the tree that is scraped bigger the buck scraping it? if so, i'm going to be looking hard for they boy that made these scrapes :grin:

GutshotApe · 10-24-2002, 11:02 PM

BOE - You're right, the timing of impregnation determines when the fawn is born and therefore its condition entering the following winter. Proof of this is reflected in what has happened in some eastern Oregon units where spike-only elk hunts have been in effect for a few years. Hunters are seeing more large bulls than ever and the spikes they are now shooting weigh 50 pounds more than spikes did before the spike-only rule because the big bulls breed cows a month earlier than used to be the case when spikes did much of the breeding.

As for the 1961 blacktail study, I suspect it was made over a single year or a couple of years but generally you're probably right about the dates not changing much year to year. I notice the totals add up to a little more than 100% :blush: but the general idea is sound.

Salmon Stryker · 10-25-2002, 07:25 AM

Thanks guys, I'm heading out Saturday to bag one in the Valsetz, Black rock area. I have a secret spot......

Gus Orviston · 10-25-2002, 07:52 AM

I had heard from a biologist that the rut is started based on the reduced hours/minutes of daylight on the deer/elk's pupil, essentially when it hits a specific (minimum amount) triggers the hormones to start rutting.

And thefore enables the right gestation period required for survival.

Crazy buck days are coming!

KingFisher85 · 10-25-2002, 07:25 PM

The bucks are just now starting to go into rut over my way.

Danderson · 10-25-2002, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Salmon Stryker:
Thanks guys, I'm heading out Saturday to bag one in the Valsetz, Black rock area. I have a secret spot......

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">When you go up park your rig at the Rickreall Cr. RD. just about 6.5 miles from fall city up blackrock RD. Walk the road 2.3 miles in and you will come to a nice clearcutt you have already passed a few but this is the one. I saw a fork bye spike, a three point, a very nice 4x3 and another that I couldn't identifie and many many does there a herd of elk in the first clear cut that no-one has seemed to bother too much yet because the lead bull is still around atleast he was tonight. I'am looking for the big bear I have spotted up there not for a deer but Ive been up there 5 times in the last two weeks all in the morning and have never seen a single person hunting and there is so much room for hunters to enjoy and make some good shots at some nice bucks. Ive got my eye on a big boy in the valley on private land so I will not shoot a deer up there but the bear is what I'am looking for he/she is nice one of the biggest blacks I've seen.

I would laugh if 30 people showed up there lol
But I doubt it hope that wasn't your secret spot lol

MountainLion84 · 10-27-2002, 09:40 AM

My cousin's daughter got 3-pt last night in Columbia County that was definately in rut.

WaterDog · 10-27-2002, 06:19 PM

Gotfish, LOL! :grin: You gotta get up pretty early in the AM to get in there on the weekend. There is always a rig there. Never been in there myself.

The old man and I got a few places up in that hood that we hunted today. 5 does was all we saw (no doe tags :depressed: ). No bucks following them as best we could tell. Not many rubs either at least where we were at. I wish warehauser would unlock a few of the gates to make for a short hop over to Valsetz Rd.

Bounty Hunter · 10-27-2002, 07:33 PM

Hey since you guys are sharing, any of you Blacktail experts have any advice for the McKenzie unit does/spikes?

I got blanked this weekend, but I've one more weekend to try. The elk and deer hunters ahead of us seem to have all the game spooked. (Not to mention someone sure busted open a lot of locked gates

). I only saw 1 grouse and move a heard of elk out in from of me that I never saw. I saw 1 deer at night next to the road, and pushed several out in front of me before I had a chance at them. Anyway it's been more challenging than I expected, so I thought I'd ask...