Northwest (Montana) Hunting Mountain Whitetails in the Rut

[Tuffcrk14]

I’m not sure if many guys/gals on here hunt mountain whitetails, but I’m curious how those that do go about it this time of year (pre-rut, peak rut, post rut). Yesterday I rattled/grunted in a good area, but there wasn’t much action. I walked up a logging road and set up for 30-45 minutes primarily rattling with some grunting every 15 minutes and then would move up until I felt like I was calling to an area that didn’t hear my prior setup. Saw some deer and a 90ish” 4x4, but he showed no visible signs of rut activity. There were, however, fresh scrapes. I grew up hunting river bottom whitetail and I never found a scrape that had poop in it like each one of these did. One way to leave a calling card I suppose! My hunt plan moving forward is to grunt/rattle a ways up the timbered south slope in the morning as they move up to bed and maybe focus on the meadow as a late afternoon/evening strategy. The wind here doesn’t seem to lend itself to sitting in a tree stand over a scrape all day, otherwise I’d probably go that route. It’s been fun learning the ins and outs of these critters so far!

[Tigger]

No mountains here, but plenty of whitetails. The chase phase of the rut is just starting here.

[Tuffcrk14]

The rut seems to be a slow burn this fall. There are 3-4 times the amount of scrapes around than the week before, but nothing chasing and bucks are more active at night based on my cameras. I know just out of the mountains there are bucks chasing, so it’s got to be picking up soon. Hoping for some colder weather in the next week and snow. With no receptiveness to them coming to a call, it seems like a fools errand being out there unless you can set up somewhere in the timber with a good view all around and close to their bedding zone. I caught several small bucks up and feeding at various parts of the day, but no Mr. Big.


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[WapitiTalk1]

Well, best of luck to you sir. If you’re hunting NW MT this time of year, make sure you hunt the coming week. Contrary to popular belief in some cases the peak of the rut happens at the same exact time every year, serious business . Go get some this next week.

[Tuffcrk14]

Well, best of luck to you sir. If you’re hunting NW MT this time of year, make sure you hunt the coming week. Contrary to popular belief in some cases the peak of the rut happens at the same exact time every year, serious business . Go get some this next week.

Thanks, WapitiTalk1! These big whitetails know how to keep a guy up at night. Rattling and grunting hasn’t worked at all yet, but I know I just need to keep at it. Hoping to sneak away Thanksgiving morning or that weekend to try one last time.


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