West
Uniform statewidePeak rut dates in Washington.
Washington's whitetail rut peaks November 5–20 in the northeast — most of the state is blacktail and mule deer country.
Peak breeding window: Nov 7 – Nov 18
Rut phases by zone
Pre-rut, peak, post-rut, late.
Peak Breeding column is highlighted — that's when most does are in estrus.
| Zone | Pre-rut | Peak breeding | Post-rut | Late rut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Washington (Whitetail) | Oct 25 – Nov 6 | Nov 7 – Nov 18 | Nov 19 – Dec 2 | Dec 7 – Dec 20 |
Zone
Northeast Washington (Whitetail)
Peak breeding
Nov 7 – Nov 18
Pre-rut
Oct 25 – Nov 6
Post-rut
Nov 19 – Dec 2
Late rut
Dec 7 – Dec 20
What drives the rut here
Whitetail in Washington are concentrated in the northeast counties (Stevens, Pend Oreille, Ferry, Spokane), with blacktail dominating western Washington and mule deer in the central highlands. Whitetail peak conception runs in mid-to-late November. WDFW publishes deer-program data covering all three deer species.
Source
Data sourced from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife deer-program reports.
Washington Department of Fish and WildlifeAlways verify with the official agency before basing planning decisions on this page. Peak windows shift year to year.
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