The countdown to the 4th season is winding down. Checking in on the weather/rut update to see if we're getting enough weather up high to get deer heading to winter grounds by mid-November and hopefully kicking in the rut. 3rd season folks should be chomping at the bit too. Good luck my fellow 4th season tag holders.
Colorado 4th Season Countdown
- Thread starter jroplanner
- Start date
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Been watching the weather too. Been sunny, warm and windy for a couple of weeks now. Looks like we are in store for a change late next week. I looked at a long range ski forecast and it said snow before Thanksgiving. I hope it is a little sooner!
Catahoula12
Very Active Member
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
JimP
Administrator
On my 2012 4 season deer tag in unit 44 we didn't get any real weather until the weekend just before the hunt. Then we got around 6" and the hunt was on.
Don't depend on the weather to put the does into heat and the bucks with them. That can happen at just about anytime in November and December. In some areas I have seen it happen the 3rd week of October and it is all finished by the middle of November.
Don't depend on the weather to put the does into heat and the bucks with them. That can happen at just about anytime in November and December. In some areas I have seen it happen the 3rd week of October and it is all finished by the middle of November.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
The unit that we are hunting for elk is really dependent on weather to move them down. It is a primary wintering area.
Slugz
Veteran member
Couple comments to frame the discussion. We all heard that a cold weather snap, moon phase or other factors can trigger the rut. Answer is yes and no. Cold weather can increase rutting activity, but the timing of the rut is not impacted itself. Moon phase may cause an increase in activity but does not dictate the timing of the rut.
Fawns (the bulk of) are born within a small timeframe to give them the maximum advantage of survival. That trigger is consistent year to year. Photo period. Just like the elk the deer schedule is driven off the daylight/dark % of the day. In the west mid to late November will always be the peak of the rut year after year.
Fawns (the bulk of) are born within a small timeframe to give them the maximum advantage of survival. That trigger is consistent year to year. Photo period. Just like the elk the deer schedule is driven off the daylight/dark % of the day. In the west mid to late November will always be the peak of the rut year after year.
Good luck to you all that will be hunting. We are praying for snow and cold here too. It's also been warm and dry.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
HOT OFF THE PRESS! A storm is forecast for SW Colorado starting 9:00 PM Monday night. Supposed to drop up to 12" of snow in the San Juans, Lizardhead and local mts.
http://the-journal.com Local newpaper The Journal
http://the-journal.com Local newpaper The Journal
JimP
Administrator
Slugz
Veteran member
For all of you with tags, I hope it drops the snow and puts the big bucks right in front of you!
That's great news! I was hoping we might get some weather to start moving deer from the high elevations. Looks like we might get it. Thanks CC for keeping us posted!!
JimP
Administrator
Looking out my window at the mountains of unit 44 and there might be a dusting of snow in the morning, but not much.
Biz45
New Member