Open to insight...

[JRA]

I went to the property I've hunted this year in Sumner County. Two weeks ago I was bow hunting and saw 4 different bucks (all younger) and a couple of them were harassing does. A day or two before that I saw two more mature bucks in my neighborhood (welcome to Sumner County where we have more deer in city limits than outside them). Those two mature bucks each had a doe singled out and it looked like breeding would eventually take place.

Last week, I hunt the property some more and see 5 more bucks. Only one of those bucks was a repeat. So I have seen 8-10 different bucks on this property. None of them have been big or especially mature. Also I should note I have seen does on the property but not in big groups. At most 2 at a time.

This morning I went to the property again anticipating the rut to be in full swing. My observations are that like much of Tennessee action picks up here Thanksgiving week. However, this morning I saw 6 deer. All does. A group of two and a group of four. This is the first time I've hunted this property this year and not seen a buck. I have passed on everything I've seen thus far but ironically went to the stand today lowering my pre-set expectations on what is a shooter. Basically, anything above a 4-point was going to get shot...yet not bucks today.

Here is my question(s)...
Is this a sign of the rut concluding?
Was today just an odd day?
Do the grouped up does reveal something I should know?
Is it odd that there were no bucks today when I have seen them every time prior?

Any thoughts / insight are appreciated!

 

[Mike Belt]

It's hard to make any conclusions based on a single hunt. Just from reading on Tndeer it appears that the rut in your neck of the woods started earlier than ours in SW Tn. We're seeing some running now but also a bunch of fresh rubs being made daily. I expect ours to bust open over the next few days. If your does are grouping back up and have been separated I would think your rut may be winding down. It's also possible you didn't see any bucks because they make be locked down with estrous does. Your hunting now should still be pretty good.

 

[bigtex]

Are you the only one hunting this farm? Sounds like there are plenty of deer on this property but it doesn't take a lot of pressure to make them nocturnal, especially older class deer. Grouped up does could mean that they are not now going into estrus. I wouldn't think that they have all been bred this early in the season but i'm not familiar with your part of the state.
A sudden lack of buck sightings could indicate that the bucks you have seen previously are now with does elsewhere.
Deer "hunting" is just that........hunting, Deer do change their patterns throughout the year for various reasons. It's taken me over 15 years to semi pattern deer movement on my property. But you can never predict exactly where and when they will be in one particular spot. Hang in there, hunt smart, and just maybe you will cross paths with a good one before the season ends.

 

[ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER]

In my area,there is no sign of a rut yet,I wouldn't be concerned

 

[JRA]

Thank you for the feedback...
From what I can tell there is limited hunting in the area and I have been light with my "foot print". To my knowledge I have not been busted yet this year. Not one blow, stomp or white tail...

I feel good about the spot and anticipate seeing deer throughout the rest of the season. However, I was really hoping to capitalize on the rut as I have a lot of wide open spaces surrounded by thickets and I felt like I would see a lot of deer traveling and chasing during the rut.

I am definitely not discouraged but I am certainly curious about the phase of the rut here. One thing that has interested me as well is I have seen 8-10 different bucks with only one repeat. I have yet to get a good look at a mature deer. Right before bow season in the late dusk I saw a bachelor group with one that seemed to be a good buck but the light was so low I couldn't tell for sure.

My dad was an incredible deer hunter and I am just now starting to get serious about hunting. I would go with him or others but for the first time I am making all the decisions and doing it on my own so it is all a learning experience.

 

[tree_ghost]

Grouped up does could mean that they are not now going into estrous

A sudden lack of buck sightings could indicate that the bucks you have seen previously are now with does elsewhere.
/quote]

I agree. I tend to see bucks get "frantic" when the does are between estrous cycles this time of year. I often have mature target bucks that venture off for a few days during this time. I assume they are looking for other does...but they usually come back. The nice thing about it is that you may have an unknown buck show up unexpectedly...don't worry there are plenty of does that still haven't been bred. Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Snake]

Last weekend in Giles Co. bucks where pushing the does but what does haven't cane in will and those who didn't get bred will come in again , I think in 28 days . I could be wrong on the time but those that don't get bred will come in again .

 

[Simple Man]

One day is hard to make a decision with, but as others have said something could be happening... My best guess would be those bucks are locked down or have moved on to other does that are ready...keep hunting those does.

 

[Mike Belt]

When deer get into this "rut" mode the best thing you can do is hunt as much as possible. Locked down with a doe, moving with a doe, looking for does...it could happen any time and anywhere. Point being, there is no better time to buck hunt.

 

[Pinwheeled]

Keep at it. I'm in Davidson and we saw that same little flurry of rut action a few weeks ago. It then settled down for a couple weeks but we're starting to see some more serious breeding activity now. Thanksgiving weekend and the following week have always been peak for us since I've been coming down here. Also shot a decent buck chasing a doe on Dec 31st one year so it's definitely not over.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[catman529]

The rut doesn't conclude, it dwindles, as there become fewer and fewer does coming into estrus. The chasing can pick up again as the rut winds down because there might only be one or two does in heat in the whole area.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JRA]

Thanks fellas for the insight...
I mentioned my dad earlier. He was the best Hunter/outdoorsman I've ever known. Multiple massive bucks on the wall...he helped me kill a couple of nice bucks through the years. I would LOVE to be having this conversation with him. He passed away a year ago...the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I miss him. Deer hunting has become a connection to him. I have used all his gear this season and the gear he had given me through the years. He woul have been my first phone call out of the woods every time. Thanks for being a community that can fill in the gap a little bit.

 

[Mike Belt]

I think our problem is we only have 1 or 2 does in an area and that may be pushing it. Hard to get on bucks chasing if there's nothing to chase.