California · Whitetail rut
Whitetail rut dates in California.
California is blacktail and mule deer country — there are no established whitetail populations. Rut dates here refer to those species.
California has three subspecies of mule deer: Columbian blacktail (west of the Sierras), California mule deer (central and southern), and Rocky Mountain mule deer (northeast). Each has its own rut window. Whitetail are not established in California — if you're researching deer hunting here, the rut data below covers blacktail and mule deer instead. Coastal blacktail peak earliest in October, with desert and mountain mule deer running later.
Zone
Columbian Blacktail (Coastal & Sierra Foothills)
- Pre-rut
- Oct 1 – Oct 14
- Peak breeding
- Oct 15 – Nov 1
- Post-rut
- Nov 2 – Nov 15
- Late rut
- Nov 20 – Dec 3
Zone
California Mule Deer (Central & Southern)
- Pre-rut
- Oct 25 – Nov 7
- Peak breeding
- Nov 8 – Nov 22
- Post-rut
- Nov 23 – Dec 6
- Late rut
- Dec 11 – Dec 24
Zone
Rocky Mountain Mule Deer (Northeast)
- Pre-rut
- Oct 28 – Nov 10
- Peak breeding
- Nov 11 – Nov 22
- Post-rut
- Nov 23 – Dec 6
- Late rut
- Dec 11 – Dec 24
Source
Data sourced from California Department of Fish and Wildlife deer-program reports. Whitetail are not native or established in California.
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