Wednesday Rutting Bucks / Report

[TN24081]

As some of you know, I spend a lot of time in the woods and have reported that the rut on my places in Giles and Lincoln County appear to be behind schedule as opposed to recent years. I'm happy to report that as of this morning at 9:00 a.m I now know with certainty that my properties are now experiencing peak rutting behavior. In the last 30 hours I have seen 3 mature bucks tending does. One of them was a 130 inch 8 point that had his hands full as 2 smaller bucks were trying their hardest to get in on the action. He would run one of them off and the other buck would slip in on his doe. This went on until dark and this morning the mature buck and doe are still in the same spot. This, as well as the other 2 sightings were all in very similar places. All were taking place in thickets at the bottom of a hill where I rarely ever see deer except during peak breeding. I have also noticed that I'm not seeing ANYTHING in places where the deer normally feed. I believe the does are shying away from these areas for fear of being harassed by the bucks and the bucks are all clinging to the thickets bc that's where all the action is. It's also my belief that the majority of chases end in the bottoms of these steep hillsides bc the does are simply wore out from being chased and harassed day and night. I had one doe come under me that had her tongue hanging out of her mouth and was simply exhausted. So anyways, just my thoughts. A lot going on out here right now. Hopefully I'll be returning with video soon. And if you're wondering why I didn't shoot that 130, he was across the fence on my neighbors property!!!

 

[redblood]

i own a far on the lincoln county line and it seems to finally be starting in our area as well. It without a doubt will peak in the next week

 

[roscopeecotrane]

I'm headed to our land in Giles county Friday or Saturday. Heard some folks are seeing mature bucks on the move though. Haven't been to Lincoln county since bow season.

 

[TN24081]

Yep, thanks for the report. I seen a lot of activity from noon til dark today. Got some video of some bucks but it wasn't good footage at all. It's hard to do anything well in the thicket I was hunting in.

 

[Snake]

This past weekend during the windy conditons I had got down still hunting and spotted a doe out in front of me which I had spooked but she wasn't blowing and out of no were came a small eight pointer right beside me within 20 yds.. Having only onebuck tag to my name he was in good shape so I just watched his movement . He went straight on a beline the way the doe went . Not thinking to much of it I caught movement to my right again and along comes another buck he's proably a six or seven point 1 1/2 year old and he follows the same line as the other buck so I thinking it's begining to start but still not sure because this was a well used trail they were on . After a little still hunting I wanted to check an old stand to see what kind of shape it was in and as I'm seeing what I need to make it huntable again i hear a deer blow at me and it's a decent 2 1/2 year old eight point and he was right in line with the other two bucks so yes it should be starting to peak my friends and I'm fixing to be off for 14 days :grin: Hope you get a chance at that big eight TN .

 

[TN24081]

Thanks, good luck to you too !

 

[Appleman]

Had a 4 point running 2 does this evening at 4:00.