Rut has started

[Colorado Cowboy]

The rut has started here in SW Colorado. I was on my way to our local shooting club's monthly meeting yesterday evening. It was about an hour before dark and in my apple orchard were about 50 deer, as usual. What was different was there were about 10 bucks too. They were sparing with each other and sniffing around the does lookin for one in season. One was a shooter 4x4 about 160 to 180. Hard to tell without my binos. I'll try to get some pictures this evening.

 

[robby denning]

Thanks for the update!

S. Idaho guys are saying they're seeing same thing.

I saw one buck aggressively chasing on Oct 20 this year, but he was the only one (probably meaning she was the only one in heat.)

 

[TheViking]

Great to hear - heading to South Central Colorado for 3rd season mulies next week.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Great to hear - heading to South Central Colorado for 3rd season mulies next week.

Good time to hunt deer here, the bucks only have one thing on their mind!

 

[HunterGatherer]

Saw a buck in S Idaho pursuing a doe 2 nights ago. Looking forward to to the season !

 

[TheViking]

Good time to hunt deer here, the bucks only have one thing on their mind!

That’s typical of us males in general

 

[Customweld]

Can confirm West Idaho as well. Saw one really nice buck tending a doe on Monday and 2 others that were cruising.

 

[RockAndSage]

Thanks for the update!

S. Idaho guys are saying they're seeing same thing.

I saw one buck aggressively chasing on Oct 20 this year, but he was the only one (probably meaning she was the only one in heat.)

Robby, given how consistently you've hunted mule deer over the years...have you seen any patterns at all that seem tied to an earlier or later rut starting? Like, it being a sign of a hard-winter coming in, or just early cold, or anything?

 

[robby denning]

Robby, given how consistently you've hunted mule deer over the years...have you seen any patterns at all that seem tied to an earlier or later rut starting? Like, it being a sign of a hard-winter coming in, or just early cold, or anything?

yes, but I'm no expert with excel spreadsheets but this is what I think:

On years when the full moon lands around the 20th of October, you can look for an earlier rut (like starting 17th or so).

If full moon is earlier than that, it seems to set rut later, like 25th into early November.

in 2021 we had full moon on Oct 20th and the rut started right away and intensely and the next year, all the radio-collared does gave birth were a week earlier.

2022 full moon on the 9th and not much rutting activity until late Oct/early Nov and radio collared deer put fawns out on time.

2024, full moon Oct 17th and rut seemed to start early BUT I've not confirmed birth dates for 2025 on collared deer (it's on my to-do list)

2025 was early full moon (6th) but seems that rut is starting a little early with this thread.

I'm sure there's more to it, but that's what I think

@willfrye027 has had some interesting observations too, but I can't remember what he told me but it seemed in line with this (you there man? Can't remember our PM. Old man stuff, lol)

 

[ianpadron]

Saw over 70 does and 12 bucks yesterday in NW Montana, the lil guys are definitely starting to pester the does mid-mountain. The big fellas were still up top running ridges solo waiting for does to heat up. Next week should be

 

[JO.]

My wife has a tag through this weekend. Last weekend we saw some smaller bucks hanging with the does where we hunted. We watched two mature bucks sparring on some private in a field with a bunch of does. Hopefully this weekend it gets better!

 

[RockAndSage]

yes, but I'm no expert with excel spreadsheets but this is what I think:

On years when the full moon lands around the 20th of October, you can look for an earlier rut (like starting 17th or so).

If full moon is earlier than that, it seems to set rut later, like 25th into early November.

in 2021 we had full moon on Oct 20th and the rut started right away and intensely and the next year, all the radio-collared does gave birth were a week earlier.

2022 full moon on the 9th and not much rutting activity until late Oct/early Nov and radio collared deer put fawns out on time.

2024, full moon Oct 17th and rut seemed to start early BUT I've not confirmed birth dates for 2025 on collared deer (it's on my to-do list)

2025 was early full moon (6th) but seems that rut is starting a little early with this thread.

I'm sure there's more to it, but that's what I think

@willfrye027 has had some interesting observations too, but I can't remember what he told me but it seemed in line with this (you there man? Can't remember our PM. Old man stuff, lol)

Man, that is absolute gold. Thanks so much for sharing the details, it's genuinely appreciated.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

S Idaho, last week small/mediums chasing does. Big boys chasing does earlier this week.

 

[TheViking]

Just talked to a guy that’s been hunting 2nd season here and was successful in NW Colorado and said the rut has definitely begun as well.

 

[Captnky]

Good to hear! I’m headed to SW Colorado on a new to me unit for 3rd season. Hopefully they are moving good… though it’s looking a little warm!

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Good to hear! I’m headed to SW Colorado on a new to me unit for 3rd season. Hopefully they are moving good… though it’s looking a little warm!

I live near Dolores and it's been a lot colder the last week or so. Sunny and a little wind in the afternoons, high 60's and low at or just above freezing. What unit are you hunting? PM if your not comfortable, I've hunted a lot of them in SW Co.

 

[robby denning]

Man, that is absolute gold. Thanks so much for sharing the details, it's genuinely appreciated.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Tagging in in anticipation of our 3rd season hunt.

 

[Bulldawg]

If you don't mind maybe elaborate a little bit on what this translates to. so an earlier or later starting rut, are you meaning when we start to see young or older deer starting to chase does around? And if it is an earlier rut like some are starting to speculate/observe, how long does that go or start to change as seasons that are upcoming? It would be easy for someone to think that if the rut is earlier this year, and like you said saw a buck chasing on 10/20, that some of this will be over prior to the 3rd season in Colorado, or is it a slow ramp up and by that time there will be more widespread chasing/rut behavior?

yes, but I'm no expert with excel spreadsheets but this is what I think:

On years when the full moon lands around the 20th of October, you can look for an earlier rut (like starting 17th or so).

If full moon is earlier than that, it seems to set rut later, like 25th into early November.

in 2021 we had full moon on Oct 20th and the rut started right away and intensely and the next year, all the radio-collared does gave birth were a week earlier.

2022 full moon on the 9th and not much rutting activity until late Oct/early Nov and radio collared deer put fawns out on time.

2024, full moon Oct 17th and rut seemed to start early BUT I've not confirmed birth dates for 2025 on collared deer (it's on my to-do list)

2025 was early full moon (6th) but seems that rut is starting a little early with this thread.

I'm sure there's more to it, but that's what I think

@willfrye027 has had some interesting observations too, but I can't remember what he told me but it seemed in line with this (you there man? Can't remember our PM. Old man stuff, lol)

 

[crosey5]

If you don't mind maybe elaborate a little bit on what this translates to. so an earlier or later starting rut, are you meaning when we start to see young or older deer starting to chase does around? And if it is an earlier rut like some are starting to speculate/observe, how long does that go or start to change as seasons that are upcoming? It would be easy for someone to think that if the rut is earlier this year, and like you said saw a buck chasing on 10/20, that some of this will be over prior to the 3rd season in Colorado, or is it a slow ramp up and by that time there will be more widespread chasing/rut behavior?

I was going to ask this same exact question. I’ll be in SW Colorado for 3rd season.