UTGrad
Well-Known Member
Anyone seeing on their cameras or in the field an uptick in activity? I'm starting to get bucks I haven't seen before and more activity.
False Rut Observations?
- Thread starter UTGrad
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Hunter0678
Well-Known Member
I wish, my cameras were hot a few weeks ago with bucks but have nearly dried up now besides the does, coons and dang blasted turkeys.
Buck dispersal. Bachelor groups broke up over last two weeks around here so all summer long I had a group of half dozen mature bucks living on the farm, which means none of my neighbors for probably a mile or two radius were seeing any mature bucks. Now that the group broke up with each buck going to his respective fall home, my neighbors are all seeing an uptick in activity and buck sightings while I'm seeing fewer.
UTGrad
Well-Known Member
themanpcl
Well-Known Member
Seeing a lot more activity. Younger bucks starting to posture and spar.
I never fret over not seeing bucks in the spring/summer cause I know that if I have does, (which I almost always do) those bucks hanging out elsewhere all summer long will end up working my place once things heat up.
Exactly. Not many properties hold summer bucks, and many of the ones that do don't keep many fall bucks. Completely different set of needs and few properties fill both roles.
Haven't seen a buck over 100" since late August. If it's like every year I should start having new bucks start showing up within the next week or 2.
These bucks lived on the place all summer long and in the last week have completely vacated the premises. I likely won't see them again until next summer if they survive the season. Maybe one or two will cruise through during rut but wouldn't surprise me if they don't. The bucks I see during rut will be completely different bucks. That's one of the things I love about deer hunting. You never know what's going to show up.
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Nothing here in SW TN. Typical range shifting, smaller doe groups, little bucks sparring, but that is about it.
Flintlocksforme
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- Aug 28, 2019
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I moved cameras to white oak ridges that are littered in scrapes like it's November. Very busy working branches and scrapes and even sparring but 90% at night possibly coming and going to and from a picked corn field. Going to have to see if a curious buck wants to take a stroll on one of these upcoming cool mornings. Ground is covered in acorns.
I think we will see a lot more sign this year and a lot more aggression this year as well. We had a very wet summer, food was plentiful, and we have bumper acorn and persimmon crops this year. The bucks are much healthier and have more energy to spend patrolling territory. It should be a fun year.
I've already been seeing a lot of bucks at every age class and they are indeed healthy. Even the young ones have good racks. Last year was rough. Wasn't much for sign and I didn't even see a mature buck until December. Feast or famine I guess. Gotta make years like this count because they don't happen very often in my experience.
BSK
Well-Known Member
We always have at least one 140+ buck using our place during deer season and have a 150+ about every other year. Last year we might have had one buck that would break 120 and then just barely. I honestly thought we would see a big dip in antler development this year considering how bad of shape the deer were in winter, but that has not been the case. Antler development is excellent this year.
BSK
Well-Known Member
I'm seeing a shocking amount of chasing through September. I guess the bucks have a lot of energy to burn.
JCDEERMAN
Well-Known Member
Same here.
It's that time of year. Younger ones are getting frisky - chasing and sparring. The older ones, well, reminds me of the quote…
"Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and **** the prom queen."
JCDEERMAN
Well-Known Member
I'm hoping so. These are the years I live for. In the 98% ridge/hollow hardwoods environment, pre-rut is usually very magical.
Bone Collector
Well-Known Member
I saw a spike today that I have never seen... No I'm not really seeing anything of note yet, but towards the end of the month I am optimistic.
Seeing several bucks on camera active during mid day and night hours. Some are fighting and making scrapes.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Again, I'm shocked at the chasing I've seen on cam. And not the "yearling bucks pestering does in food plots" kind of chasing, but 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 year-old bucks flat out chasing does through the woods. Don't know what to make of that.
Chasing in early October doesn't seem so abnormal to me, but the amount of it happening this year does. The breeding bell curve starts somewhere, and we've all seen the occasional early spring fawn which means momma had to be bred early.
Here's my guess. We know that doe fawns' first cycle happens once their bodies are large & capable enough to do so. It's usually after the peak breeding season but this year the deer are HEALTHY. Most fawns are almost clear of spots and they're as big as their mothers. In fact the does I'm seeing get harassed are the young ones. What I'm not seeing yet is the real intense scraping, and bucks in large part are still bachelored up. I'm only seeing the oldest bucks completely broken away and alone, but they still meet up & feed with the other bucks in the evenings. They're just bedding alone. So I don't think there's a lot of does warming up yet. It's just a time of feast and the deer are rolling in it, enjoying the easy life.
Lone Hunter
Well-Known Member
Two decent bucks I've been watching have disappeared. Even the small bucks are not showing up. Just does and fawns. I think the rut will begin early this year. Been seeing a lot of deer moving between 10:30am and 3 pm and I have not hunted this year. Good Luck to Those Hunting..
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
3.5 y/o flat out running a doe on one of my farms yesterday. Thats VERY unusual for this time of the year for a buck of that age. 1.5s and 2.5s... sure, they start actively chasing now. But not 3.5 y/os.
Huntaholic
Well-Known Member
I saw a bruiser of a buck Sunday morning here sat the house, fully mature, swelled neck, swagging belly, Id guess at least 5.5 yrs old, cruising through, looking for does! hes NOT a regular here either, I dont normally see deer like this until mid December!
I think it's going to be a long rut by me. I've got fawns that are almost as big as their mom and some with spots still on them. Is that an indication?
Probably somewhat of an indication. Around here rut is always strung out. I still see rut activity in spring. Most happens in November but there are some that hit early in October and some way beyond close of season.
UTGrad
Well-Known Member
I think the stinky is going to be strong this year. The ladies are going to perfume the woods really well next month.
All I'm seeing are nature does and fawns of two different age groups. Some are nearly as big as their mom and some that are small with spots.
I have not seen any bucks on camera since last season.
I just came in from moving cameras around. Hopefully I'll see some in the next day or so.
I have not seen any bucks on camera since last season.
I just came in from moving cameras around. Hopefully I'll see some in the next day or so.
