Any idea when the rut is for whitetails and muledeer in central Saskatchewan? (Battleford area)

November. The best time to hunt Whitetails is the last 2 weeks in my books.

Mid-late november for whitetails and late october-mid november for mules. In areas where both species are common the mule deer will rut for about a month. They like the whitetail does and I've seen a number of hybrids.

Third week in November usually sees the most visible rutting activity.

Yeah, in this part of the country, if you only had 4 days to hunt whitetails, make it Nov 20-24. And if you've got more time, add to either side of that... as many days as the wife lets you have.

Thanks for the replies.

Winterkill is brutal this year.

quote:

Originally posted by Dogleg:
Winterkill is brutal this year.

It's not looking good in MB either...too much damn snow again. If we get another winter like this next year things could get serious. As in season closures, heck it was bad enough last year that MB residents were limited to one tag for archery/muzzle/rifle seasons. 5 years ago a guy could get 4 tags...

Winterkill in central Alberta is terrrible this year again too. Two years ago the mule deer poppulation dropped by 40%-50% judging by the size of the herd on our place. The population recovered some last year, but this winter looks particularily bad. The farmers are saying that even their cattle are losing condition badly no matter how much they are being fed. The snow came in mid October and is deep and badly crusted.

I've been waiting for a good year to use my pronghorn points. Looks like I'll be waiting some more.

Dean

The herds in SE Sask are taking a big hit as well. The snow keeps piling up with no end in sight. Some great bucks were taken around here last year but there are a lot of survivors from the hunting season (mulies and whitetails) that may not make it through the winter.

If I were a non resident looking to book a Saskatchewan whitetail hunt I'd be putting that plan on hold for a couple years.

quote:

Originally posted by Dogleg:
If I were a non resident looking to book a Saskatchewan whitetail hunt I'd be putting that plan on hold for a couple years.

I just gave that same advice to a buddy planning on coming out to hunt mulies with us.

Two things to consider before taking that advice though. I'd still take the trip if:

1) It was the only time I was likely to ever be able to.
-Or -
2) I expect to want and be able to return another time.

Dean

Or if a guy was already booked that would change things as well. Those that still have options might want to take their hunting holidays and dollars to somewhere more promiseing.

or if a guy was long in the tooth and didnt know how many hunts were he would be able to make

OK, I'm depressed. I'm comeing to grips with knowing that age and finances does put a limit on the total number of trips a guy has left. I'd just rather not see someone risk wasting any of them, if there was a better option for now and do the jumper hunt later.

If it's come down to now or never I'm in agreement with "now".

Was there any significant winter kill around Carrot River ?

I'm pretty sure that there will be significant winter kill this year. As of last week we set an all time snowfall record here in Regina. Two winters ago we had such a great amount that I didn't ever think I would see again. Boy was I wrong! This is going to be catastrophic on our diminished deer herds as I see it. I hope I'm wrong. I dont think Carrot River had quite as much as us but it will still be way above average. Sorry for the bad news. I'll be getting the goose and duck decoys in order this fall, it should be outstanding!
Bill

Just got off the phone with a guy from out that way, its not looking good. Horrendous was the word he chose.

We had so much snow so early, and now at the end of March we're still getting snowmobiles stuck.

That is bad news. I have hunted with Rock Ridge quite a few times and was about to go again. Bummer. Wonderful area to hunt, great outfitter.

Give it a couple years and come on back.In the meantime, its a big old world.

Yes the deer are taking a hit. We still have two feet of snow and it just finally starting to melt. However we could still get some of those spring storms that dump a foot in April or early May.

You do not see outfitters talking about it much as it is bad for business in an already horribly depressed market, but where I live the deer have taken a hit three times in the last ten years. Between that and predators it is making it real hard for them to come back in numbers.

I went for a 'hike' to swap out memory card on a trail camera today, and the snow is up to my knees. I'm 6'3" so that's too damn deep. Helluva slog.


I did get this though...







I think this guy has 8 or 9 points a side. It's a dinky little Alberta buck though; not like those Saskatchewan giants.

That's a bloody awesome deer. Bet you find his skull nearby when the snow melts though. Unless the date stamp is wrong. In that case I bet that's where you'll be on opening day.

Dean

^ Those pics are from Nov 27th last year.

There are pics of him post-hunting season, on that memory card. So at least he survived the legal hunting.

Gotta beat the snow, wolves etc...

quote:

Originally posted by Demonical:
I went for a 'hike' to swap out memory card on a trail camera today, and the snow is up to my knees. I'm 6'3" so that's too damn deep. Helluva slog.


I did get this though...








I think this guy has 8 or 9 points a side. It's a dinky little Alberta buck though; not like those Saskatchewan giants.

What was he feeding on????

quote:

Originally posted by Demonical:
^ Those pics are from Nov 27th last year.

I saw the date stamp, that is why I won't be surprised if he is already dead. Tired old buck, deep snow.... Hope he made it though. How long after the season were the last pics?

Dean

^ The last pics are from Dec 4th, but that's a deer that I have never seen on the camera. I've had the camera in that location for 5 years.

I think he showed up on the camera, due to the rut. Passing through looking for does.

So he only appeared briefly for those pics then was gone again.

All I can do is hope that he made it.

There's another really nice (160 class) buck that I've been getting pics of for 4 years and he disappeared after Oct 28th. I think that old buck might have got shot during the hunting season. He was like clock-work on that camera and then just gone...

Check out the massive body on that old guy. I sure will miss him, if he is gone.

After all the cringing about deer mortality this winter we've seen good signs this spring. Four years ago we bought a place in central Alberta that we spend as much time as possible at. This means a bit of driving and counting deer helps pass time and amuses our little girls. We've seen more deer this spring than ever before. Last Thursday we saw 103 deer and 2 moose in an hour and a half. I know that is hardly scientific and that a lot of factors go into seeing deer at highway speeds. Still, to see a lot of deer you need a lot of deer.

The ranchers around us also report more deer than normal feeding with their cattle. We got a lot of snow last winter, but it wasn't all that cold. Maybe the cattle feed and mild temps offset the deep snow and there was better survival than I feared.

Cheers,
Dean