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Spurhunter

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Munford, TN
I hunt near Reagan in Henderson County. We have seen zero rut activity besides scrapes. I've been hunting 3-4 days a week since muzzleloader opened and as of Monday (11-20) we're still seeing bucks by themselves and does either alone or in groups. I have seen zero bucks trailing does, chasing, or showing any interest. Are all the deer gay?
 
Over the years we have our best hunting the two weeks after Thanksgiving in the Bolivar area. I have seen little bucks pestering does but that's about it.
It should get better soon, hopefully.
 
Spurhunter":2pqqhol5 said:
I hunt near Reagan in Henderson County. We have seen zero rut activity besides scrapes. I've been hunting 3-4 days a week since muzzleloader opened and as of Monday (11-20) we're still seeing bucks by themselves and does either alone or in groups. I have seen zero bucks trailing does, chasing, or showing any interest. Are all the deer gay?


I don't know about all that....lol..... but the rut has been slower this year IMO in Carroll County which is north of you. I do think we are finally coming into the chasing stage now which is about 2 weeks behind this year
 
so all these bucks killed in last three weeks chasing does was not part of the "rut"?alot of bucks killed in west tennessee here recently and 90% of stories had them trailing does.i was under the impression that we were coming off of lock down.i by NO means am any kind of expert but with all the sightings,kills ,stories and more recent less sightings of mature bucks just assumed thats about were west tennessee was.
 
greygoose":1rtodjwf said:
so all these bucks killed in last three weeks chasing does was not part of the "rut"?alot of bucks killed in west tennessee here recently and 90% of stories had them trailing does.i was under the impression that we were coming off of lock down.i by NO means am any kind of expert but with all the sightings,kills ,stories and more recent less sightings of mature bucks just assumed thats about were west tennessee was.

I am no expert either but in my humble opinion the rut can be area specific or on a large tract, even property specific. I spend a LOT of time in the woods as I work 4 tens and use vacation. I don't think I could've completely missed it on my property.
 
I have to agree with yall I've hunted 2 or 3 times a week sense opening weekend of muzzleloader and haven't seen any rut activities other than a few rubs and scrapes and they have all but dried up.
 
swayback":2q95l0em said:
I have to agree with yall I've hunted 2 or 3 times a week sense opening weekend of muzzleloader and haven't seen any rut activities other than a few rubs and scrapes and they have all but dried up.

EXACTLY what I'm seeing. November 9th and 10th scrapes popped up everywhere. I moved some cameras to cover scrapes and the deer never returned. The scrapes are covered with leaves now.
 
Spurhunter":21dtiy4s said:
swayback":21dtiy4s said:
I have to agree with yall I've hunted 2 or 3 times a week sense opening weekend of muzzleloader and haven't seen any rut activities other than a few rubs and scrapes and they have all but dried up.

EXACTLY what I'm seeing. November 9th and 10th scrapes popped up everywhere. I moved some cameras to cover scrapes and the deer never returned. The scrapes are covered with leaves now.

Same here in Shelby County.

My buddy killed a 170" ish buck Saturday in Shelby and he was all by himself.
 
I've seen 1 small buck pestering a doe and the rest of the boys have been by themselves. However, this morning I had a doe bust out the timber and head across a big grass field towards me. She veered off about 35 yards out. I kept watching where she left the timber for a trailing buck but he pulled a slick one. He came out a few minutes later about 100 yards from where she did and I never saw him in the grass until he crossed an open strip and then back into the grass. Watching him bound through the grass I could see he may have been a shooter but he never gave me that opportunity. He's the first big buck I've seen after a doe. This was in Hardeman County.
 
I'm literally across the road from you, Mike and I haven't seen anything either. Does alone, bucks just wandering.

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Buddy of mine is hunting today and saw a buck chasing a doe in Fayette County.

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Don'tDrinkTinks":3d0ajkpt said:
Spurhunter":3d0ajkpt said:
swayback":3d0ajkpt said:
I have to agree with yall I've hunted 2 or 3 times a week sense opening weekend of muzzleloader and haven't seen any rut activities other than a few rubs and scrapes and they have all but dried up.

EXACTLY what I'm seeing. November 9th and 10th scrapes popped up everywhere. I moved some cameras to cover scrapes and the deer never returned. The scrapes are covered with leaves now.

Same here in Shelby County.

My buddy killed a 170" ish buck Saturday in Shelby and he was all by himself.
nice! Care to share a pic?


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It has been going hard for the last week and a half in Gibson County. Bucks all over the place cruising, chasing, and dogging does.
 
Y'all are getting me fired up. Got an all day hunt planned tomorrow.

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Spurhunter":2mdeued9 said:
CBU93":2mdeued9 said:
Seeing the same thing in McNairy county as well.

Good to know. I keep worrying that I missed it.

Where I am, I think we are still two to three weeks away from the best hunting. Almost no buck sign on my farm. Only have found two rubs. Seeing multiple doe family groups consistently. Not seen a buck off stand since opening of rifle. I am backing off for a week before hunting again.

Good news is I am seeing more "deer" on this farm than years prior, so I am not totally upset. Expect better results in future years as I actively Manage the farm more.
 
Cbhunter... if it were my buck I would post a pic but would rather not out of respect for the hunter.

I hunt Shelby as well and was surprised to see 4 different bucks runnng around. All cruising and one came in on a string. I put estrous on my boots on the walk in and he followed my trail to the base of the tree.
 
Don'tDrinkTinks":1zlamjiz said:
Cbhunter... if it were my buck I would post a pic but would rather not out of respect for the hunter.

I hunt Shelby as well and was surprised to see 4 different bucks runnng around. All cruising and one came in on a string. I put estrous on my boots on the walk in and he followed my trail to the base of the tree.
i understand that


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Hunted today (Friday) and didn't see anything. But I pulled some cards and I've still got groups of does, does with little ones and one button head still hanging with his mama. Bucks are by themselves and buck pics are not even near the same time as doe pics. I saw one new fresh scrape today. I don't know what to think.

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Friday morning I saw does and bucks. The bucks were walking right through the does and not stopping but they are on their feet.
 

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