#2154761 - 11/09/10 12:14 AM
What happened to all the deer?
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jetwrnch
8 Point
Registered: 08/22/03
Posts: 1253
Loc: Clinton
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The area I hunt every year, thousands of acres, is nearly void of deer sign. There are normally deer everywhere. East TN, btw. I'm not even hearing shots. I was out all day today trying to just jump something to confirm they still exist. No rubs or scrapes either. What I DO have are Elk and lot's of elk sign, including a picture of a nice 8x8.
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#2154865 - 11/09/10 06:11 AM
Re: What happened to all the deer?
[Re: jetwrnch]
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MUP
Non-Typical
Registered: 08/01/07
Posts: 36221
Loc: Just North of Chatt-town
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Same thing here, except for the elk sign. I'm trying to use the evenings after work to sit different areas just to make an attempt to see where they are at on my place, so far nothing.
_________________________
MUP
Amateurs: Built the Ark
Professionals: Built the Titanic
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#2154871 - 11/09/10 06:30 AM
Re: What happened to all the deer?
[Re: MUP]
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Longhunter
10 Point
Registered: 09/03/08
Posts: 3788
Loc: Brewstertown in Morgan County...
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Slow for me too! I'm not far from you jetwrench. There are some rubs and scrapes as well as some tracks but all through bow season I saw very few deer. Thusfar, in muzzleloader, I have seen one small doe.
It very well could be an abundance of acorns combined with drought-withered browse and, for the most part, higher than normal daytime temperatures that keep deer from moving very much or very far.
My solution is to hunt longer and hunt in areas that are the coolest. North facing slopes and deep, shady, east facing hollows with a branch trickling down the bottom in the evenings.
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#2154882 - 11/09/10 06:42 AM
Re: What happened to all the deer?
[Re: Longhunter]
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MUP
Non-Typical
Registered: 08/01/07
Posts: 36221
Loc: Just North of Chatt-town
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Slow for me too! I'm not far from you jetwrench. There are some rubs and scrapes as well as some tracks but all through bow season I saw very few deer. Thusfar, in muzzleloader, I have seen one small doe.
It very well could be an abundance of acorns combined with drought-withered browse and, for the most part, higher than normal daytime temperatures that keep deer from moving very much or very far.
My solution is to hunt longer and hunt in areas that are the coolest. North facing slopes and deep, shady, east facing hollows with a branch trickling down the bottom in the evenings.
Dang Lh, you described a section of my property to a T! I was hunting it just yesterday eve as a matter of fact! 
_________________________
MUP
Amateurs: Built the Ark
Professionals: Built the Titanic
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#2155658 - 11/09/10 12:53 PM
Re: What happened to all the deer?
[Re: MUP]
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tasaman
6 Point
Registered: 01/11/10
Posts: 794
Loc: Woodlawn, TN
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Opposite going on here. I hunt a small WMA that usually has decent deer numbers but never a lot. So far this year I think they have literally killed 100 deer. Opening day of ML I think I hear at least 30 shots. It's insane but I think all the pressure has pushed the remaining deer out for a while. Early season I've seen as many as 10 a day now, none. Guess word got out that it was good hunting this year. Oh well, got two there myself so it's all good.
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#2155820 - 11/09/10 01:54 PM
Re: What happened to all the deer?
[Re: smstone22]
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huntinkev
6 Point
Registered: 11/23/06
Posts: 788
Loc: East Tenn
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I was wandering same thing in Jackson county. I killed a spike but all that was seen was 3 small bucks, two spikes and a small 5 point. and all small yearlings. no mature does or bucks. We were wondering if they didn't have them hemmed up and breeding. some of the yearlings were running in packs looked like they have all been abandoned.
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#2155822 - 11/09/10 01:54 PM
Re: What happened to all the deer?
[Re: smstone22]
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String Music
8 Point
Registered: 09/24/07
Posts: 1428
Loc: Knoxville
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It's a combination of a bumper acorn crop that allows deer to travel only a short ways to feed and leaves dropping from the trees. The leaves will cover up the deer sign and make it look like there is not deer activity.
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#2155827 - 11/09/10 01:57 PM
Re: What happened to all the deer?
[Re: String Music]
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Unicam
Grumpaw
16 Point
Registered: 12/13/00
Posts: 17457
Loc: Dallas, GA. & Cookeville, TN
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Keep after em guys, the weather is cooling, they just dont have to move far to get food with all the mast! I used to scout until I found fresh sign and hunt in front of it...really...it worked!
_________________________
"Gun Free Zones are for VICTIMS!"
John 15:13
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#2156554 - 11/09/10 08:05 PM
Re: What happened to all the deer?
[Re: Unicam]
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pcrc
8 Point
Registered: 10/12/09
Posts: 1120
Loc: Knoxville
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We have had the discussion of elk and deer co-mingling on here a few times before. I believe if the elk are new to your area you can kiss the deer goodbye for a while. Personally when I see a lot of elk sign show up in parts of royal blue the deer sign dries up. Many will get on here and dispute this saying deer and elk live together in other parts of the country just fine. I will agree with that being they have been doing it in those parts for thousands of years. However with the elk being new to this area I believe it will take awhile for the deer to get used to them and return to the area.
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