... or is it just me? Seems that the week starting with Halloween we had bucks dropping left and right. But now, not so much? Where more people hunting then? Is everyone tagged out? Gun season keeping people out of the woods? What gives? I know many have been seeing bucks chasing does all over the country, but I have to say that signs are weak around the area I'm hunting. This time last year I couldn't walk 20 yards in any direction without tripping over a scrape, but this year, they haven't opened up. I've found half a dozen tiny scrapes and one rub. And that's over a pretty large area. I guess I'm hoping that Alsheimer's late rut prediction holds up and things start moving and shaking soon. One week left of hunting here until mid December for me. I'll be in WI for the Rifle season then on vacation (non-hunting) until 12/10. I guess I'm kinda looking forward to some good winter hunting, but man it'd be nice to be tagged out before I leave... ... I know right?
I don't know. Monday of this week seemed to have a lot of blood spilled on the leaves. Also, it was one of the field and stream days. Actually, it was the best day of the season to be in the woods, according to their estimation. I have seen more deer, big bucks and deer sign this year than ever. I will say though that I started hunting new dirt and this is one of the reasons why I have had the visual success. From what I am reading, the chase is finally coming into its own. Of course, this is all my $.02, which is about all it is worth (if that)!! Shoot straight my friends. Sal
I haven't been out since I shot my buck October 30th and can't hunt until I go back home to Virginia for Thanksgiving so I'm "tagged out" for now. I've had a great season so far, but have only been out to hunt 6 times. In previous years I would have easily logged close to 30 hunts by November 10. I've filmed I don't know how many times though. Filming is cool, but it doesn't even compare to sitting in the tree with your bow.
Seems to have come to a slow down here. Had a flury of chasing for a 7 day stretch last week. Last few days is almost creepy like gun season kind of creepy.
Never really picked up here. Some chasing last week. Still seeing lots of doe running with this years fawns, and doe groups still holding together. After three seasons of hard hunting on this property, two of which were during the rut, I KNOW now this property is best suited for the early season.
I am seeing a lot less deer movement so far this week. The 29th-6th was pretty good. We had much cooler weather during that time here. Highs in the 60s all week this week. Another cold front is suppose to move in Sunday, but firearm season starts Monday. Hunting this weekend is going to be very difficult. Unless deer are attracted to gun shots, chainsaws, hammers, and trucks/quads driving through the fields and timber. If they are, hunting this weekend is going to be outstanding!
i have seen more chasing, big bucks in my whole career this year. unfortunitly i dont have a deer on the ground yet. but i have to say that deer have been moving a ton where im at. hopefully peak rut is right about now. its been pretty warm here the last three days in ohio, reaching almost 55 60 degrees.
Same here. Still seeing lots of doe groups. I have heard from several people in my area that they have seen some chasing although I haven't seen any yet. I got skunked this morning!!
Yeah, I know that's part of it, its going to be 63 here today! Of course, last year it was warm too and there was still good sign, infact I shot my buck a year ago yesterday and it was 54. Hmmm...
Record high temps here in the Midwest have certainly slowed things down at bit IMO. Cold front moving in this weekend, good moon phase, I have a feeling things are going to pick back up.
I second Justin...so hot yesterday that I decided to not take today off and work instead - not usually thinking work during the rut. From Saturday on though it looks great for cool temps and moon still setting early enough for dark nights (good morning hunts)...there will still be plenty of big buck movement through next week - and unfortunately into our gun season as well
I think things have slowed down here in northern illinois. I'll be back out tommorrow, veterans day is always a hot day for me to be in stand. I'm going to stay positive and keep hunting hard and I hope it pays off for me and for others who have been hunting hard. We have a few showers moving in friday and saturday so I hope that doesn't throw the deer movement off? Good luck everyone!
It probably goes without saying, but it is probably regional. The guys that have posted on this thread that are not having a lot of action as of late are from up north (MN and MI). Also, from my post on the thread, "Things you have learned this season", I stated the property being a huge factor. Where Preacher Tony and I hunt primarily, the movement is good early season and then practically stops dead until shotgun. The new property I am hunting is whitetail garden of Eden and it has been hot every time I have hunted it. Sal
As much chasing as I've ever seen, here. I've seen bucks every sit (multiple)....including (for the 1st time, ever) at least 2 mature bucks in the last 2 days (maybe 3). It's a great time to be in the woods (AM's). I'm not hunting much in the PM's, due to the heat.
Fitz your problem In your woods Is quite possibly lack of mature buck numbers. This year I know at one time we had 4 for sure, maybe even 5 different mature bucks running around. Scrapes are all over, It's all about competition If you ask me. Usually my woods Is dead when It comes to buck sign. It sure makes hunting nice when the sign Is there. Yesterday evening was my 1st sit since last Friday. Saw plenty of doe's and right at dark I saw a heavy massed 3.5 year old 8 point that came through at 15 yards. This morning I saw 3 more bucks, two 1.5's and a 2.5. All were chasing doe's up till an hour ago. All the scrapes I saw that I walked by were opened up since last Friday. I think here In the next 4 to 5 days lock down will be on heavily as I already think It's happening.
I saw a monster buck chasing a doe Halloween eve and saw a little six dogging a doe but decided to pass.
it was really good here then it got hot again and now there nonexistent this morning at 5 i got in my truck and it said 58 and when i got to my spot my truck said 60 degrees at 530 but its supposed to cool down again next week so hopefully they'll get to moving again
