What's going on with Hickman County?

AUhunter · Nov 20, 2012

Guys, I've been hunting in a club off HWY230 in Only for the past 4 years. Each year the rut seems to start in the first week or so of November and run through about Thanksgiving. I've killed 3 bucks (two 8's and an 11) over the past three years, all were taken between Nov 9 and Nov 23, all were rutting. This year they haven't even started on our property as of last weekend. My property is void of fresh scrapes, rubs, or chasing. Heck, I watched a small 8 point walk right past a doe on Friday without even giving her a glance.

Has anyone hunting that area seen any chasing, etc? I don't think we've just missed it as we have multiple members saying it hasn't happened yet but I'm beginning to wonder since I keep seeing the rut is on in surrounding counties. Thoughts?

Thanks and straight shooting!

deerhunter10 · Nov 20, 2012

We have a farm in hickman county and it's rocking as far as small bucks chasing haven't seen any mature bucks chasing at that farm yet but have at a few other farms like in giles and santa fe.

eyeseeker · Nov 21, 2012

Im right off 230 and s possum hollow rd and the same on my place. Yesterday there were a few new scrapes but thats all. Very little deer movement in the mornings and only moderate in the afternoons. Sure would love to get a cold front!

Appleman · Nov 21, 2012

Seen chasing last couple weeks. Recently been slow!!

Columbia Scott · Nov 21, 2012

Our lease in Northern Giles usually produces a mature buck by now. So far we have not killed a single deer. If you love spikes we are the place to be right now. Biggest deer that we have walked was a 120" 8 point with a busted left beam. It has got to be this warm weather. I'm taking a couple days off, riding the Harley a little and getting back on the lease Thursday morning. There is a minor cold front coming through Friday.

lpo1981 · Nov 21, 2012

Samething in Dickson Co, i haven't seen the 1st deer chasing or anything and have 3 trail cameras running behind my house which show little action either. Large groups of does and some younger bucks together. However i shot an 8pt this past weekend and he had puncture wounds on his face and neck from fighting and worn the hair off his brisket from mounting does. Plenty of scrapes and runs being used here at my house though.
I'm on a lease also though in Bucksnort and its the same way as yours, a lot of members saying that they haven't seen any rutting activity at all.. Defin a strange year as far as the rut goes....

AUhunter · Nov 21, 2012

Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad that others have been experiencing the same scenario as we have. As lpo said, it is definitely a strange year. I just wish I hadn't burnt a good portion of my vacation time during muzzleloader because it definitely wasn't what I had hoped for in terms of big buck movement. Oh well, hopefully this cold front pushing through on Friday/Saturday will get them really moving. I'll be in the woods Friday, Saturday and probably Monday to see what's going on!

shelbydeer · Nov 21, 2012

Warm weather has put a complete stop to the rut . This weakened it should get going for most of us

lpo1981 · Nov 21, 2012

Amen to burning vacation time at the wrong time of the year.. Been there done that and chose not to burn It muzzleloader.. I took off the week after Thanksgiving this year in hopes o hitting the rut... We will see..

jb3 · Nov 21, 2012

Driving down hwy 96 last Sunday (Dickson County), temp in the 60's, I spotted a doe in a field, 20 yards away was a nice looking buck. As I slowed, she took off running and the buck was running with her stride for stride. So yes, I believe it is time. Lease I hunt not far from there I watched a 4pt tend a doe and he kept running the yearling that was with her away.

BUCKTOOF · Nov 21, 2012

Same here. Hunt Hickman Co. / Humphrey Co. line. Found 6 scrapes all season. Seen several SMALL bucks any where from spikes to a small 8pt - chasing, search mode, walking together, eating alone, eating beside does. Very puzzled. There were 103 deer seen from various tree stand locations from 11/3 - 11/17. The gun was never raised, only the binoculars. Back at 'em again on 11/22 - 12/1. Maybe # 104 will be HIM..?? To God be the glory!

dust425 · Nov 21, 2012

We hunt that same area and have yet to see much chasing. I killed a nice 8pt last week that came through quick with his nose to the ground 15 minutes after three does passed by. Didn't start seeing scrapes popping up until the last week or two.

CopperHead77 · Nov 21, 2012

Just starting to see scrapes pop up,no chasing as of yet.

HuntingDicksonDTC · Nov 21, 2012

Been seeing lots of activity last couple weeks - trees are tore up & some scrpaes but not like in the past as far as scrape activity goes. Buck i got sunday evening was not letting the doe out of his site, she took a step he took a step

BSK · Nov 26, 2012

In western Humphreys County, our rut was right on time, if not a few days early.

Gravey · Nov 26, 2012

I hunt off the Bucksnort exit and made my third trip down there Friday thru Sunday. Didn't see much at all. One young 8-pt was killed and he was trailing a doe. Its my first year on this place so I'm still trying to figure it out.

Jarred525 · Nov 26, 2012

At my place in South Giles, it has been right on time. We are in full swing now. I saw the first doe in heat opener of rifle and saw 3 seperate does in heat yesterday (a first for me). I wish I was in the woods right now instead of at work! :)

Henry Lehman · Nov 27, 2012

My son killed a nice 8 last night behind our house,he was hot on the doe. I was hunting the same spot sunday night seen 15 does not one buck with them. strange year,,,,,,,

BSK · Nov 27, 2012

Just talked to a client in Primm Springs. They said the rut has been awesome, but it did seem a little late for the area.

JCDEERMAN · Nov 27, 2012

Rut was right on time in SW Hickman, which is usually around the start of rifle and a few days before. A lot of action and more sign than I can ever remember. It should heat back up here around the 10th of December.

shopson · Nov 27, 2012

Does have started showing up dead along the road here just since this weekend. That's usually a good sign it's getting wild in deer world.

AUhunter · Nov 27, 2012

Hunted all weekend. Saw 4 bucks all weekend, none of them chasing does. It seem that sign was picking up, with scrapes and rubs finally being seen. The 9-point I killed on Sunday had been rubbing hard based on the wood all stuck in his horns. He was not chasing when I shot him but cruising about 1pm. For whatever reason, I think our rut is just kicking off.

TNRAMBLINGMAN · Nov 27, 2012

I hunted my best spots. Saw two small bucks. Slowest year I have ever seen in Hickman county.

David · Nov 27, 2012

Same thing for us. We hunt about 15 minutes outside downtown hohenwald. Usually someone done laid out a nice one. We have got 1 9 pt and 1 8 pt, neither the size we usually see. We saw some signs of rut, but not the chasing we usually see and the number and quality of deer we usually do. Don't know what's going on, we have 1200 acres.

huntinman · Nov 27, 2012

My uncle and cousin hunt an area in Little Lot. They haven't been seeing and scrapes or rutting activity at all this year. My cousin did take a decent 8 ptr last Sunday. 2 years ago on Dec 1st, my uncle killed a 150" deer chasing 2 does. I hunt in the NE part of Hickman County and My place has been torn up with sign since the last week of October. I have been hunting 2 particular bucks, but no luck as of yet. I did take a decent 7 ptr opening weekend of rifle season. He was by himself at 4pm. My grandmother passed away over the weekend, so i haven't been able to get in the woods yet this week. I always take the week after Thanksgiving off. Good Luck Evreyone !