Rut has started

[mistermystery]

I just got back from west central Colorado 2nd season and definitely noticed some rut activity but it wasn’t everywhere in the unit.

One particular hillside seemed to have bucks chasing does more so than others. I witnessed a rut crazed forky aggressively chase a doe around the hillside for 5 mins. I’ve never heard much for mule deer vocals before but I could clearly hear the doe bleating and the forky grunting which was pretty neat. Another interesting thing is there was a mature buck right on the edge of the opening that never even paid attention to the doe. He could definitely hear the commotion but wasn’t interested at all.

 

[AHayes111]

I am seeing new bucks on the river bottoms nearly every day now. Still a week or so away till real rutting activity.

 

[wytx]

The very reason we hunt the last week in Oct every year here in Wyoming, pre rut is going hard. Bucks staging with doe groups, chasing and sparring.
Watched several bucks check out doe groups, found my buck after watching a big 3 chase a young doe.

Our fawn crop was better this year and it looks like some younger doe were starting to come into heat last week.
Mature doe not quite yet, they had no interest in the bucks. Young doe were getting chased hard.

 

[mt terry d]

South-central MT
Saw a couple little bucks sniffing around the does the other day
I don't think the big boys are wasting their energy yet.

 

[5MilesBack]

The last many years along the Front Range here, things really get going Thanksgiving week. This year I haven't seen any bucks around the does yet. But come Thanksgiving they'll be all over them.