Hamilton/Bradley County Rut question??

DMAG · Dec 7, 2013

I have hunted it for 5 or 6 years and this year I haves almost no sign of the rut at all. I have run trail cameras and have had the same bucks on camera for months and from what I can tell from the pics, their necks dont look swollen at all and their hawks aint black a bit. I have seen one run and zero scrapes. What is the deal? I have been in school at utc taking finals so I have only been able to hunt once a week, but wonder if I have missed it this time. I have seen more chasing and mature bucks in the past around here from thanksgiving till about Christmas. Have I missed the boat or is this a weird rut? Thanks for your help

CATCHDAWG · Dec 7, 2013

The only rut activity I have seen here in south Bradley was the first week of m.l. Since then my sightings, let alone rut activity has went to almost nothing.

DMAG · Dec 7, 2013

Catchdawg, that is exactly what I saw. I saw them bugging for about a week, then nothing. I can normally tell easily from my trail cameras when the rut is "On", I would get new bucks cruising by, never to be seen again. Many of them will be around lunch time and mature. I have pics of doe after doe easing down the same old trail and not a buck anywhere close. Crazy rut or I have just missed it.

CROW74 · Dec 8, 2013

It's been the same here in sw Bradley. Open weekend of ml big deer was moving good a lot of sign hitting the ground then it all dried up. Few pics. Of big deer at night on food plots now and thats about it. Probably need to be hunting mid. Day .if I can ever get back into the mood to hunt.

CATCHDAWG · Dec 8, 2013

crow74 said:
It's been the same here in sw Bradley. Open weekend of ml big deer was moving good a lot of sign hitting the ground then it all dried up. Few pics. Of big deer at night on food plots now and thats about it. Probably need to be hunting mid. Day .if I can ever get back into the mood to hunt.

"Back into the mood to hunt"? You've got issues dude!

EastTNHunter · Dec 8, 2013

That is what we have been seeing here in South Rhea and North Hamilton, as well. I have shot 3 bucks, but none had swollen necks. I have seen sporadic chasing, but mostly early in the season with little bucks