I'm taking off next week to do some serious hunting here in NC. Anyone have any updates on rutting activity. I know it differs around the state, but I would like to hear what everyone has been seeing. Monday morning 11/02 in Stokes Co. I heard two BRUISERS going at it but never saw them. The same Monday evening in Forsyth Co. the bucks were still in their bachelor groups. It was only about an hours drive between stands and completely differing rut activity. What are you seeing in your part of the state.
Page,
Sent ya an e-mail!
Richard
Hey Page. kinda mixed reports downeast. some see bucks chasing does. some see bucks togather. etc. I think it'son the verge of busting wide open hear. Last thur and friday I saw 12 bucks and only the one doe i shot. Doe must be feeling it too as the appear to be mighty jumpy right now. Bernie hunted my place yesterday evening and saw only two yearlings. the shot never got right for him. Good luck next week. keep me posted. I'm off monday and tue (opening bear season)but I won't pass up a nice buck if I see one. Don
Page in eastern Wake and Franklin counties bucks were chasing wild for the last week in Oct.Things have slowed down now with the bucks locked up with does and breeding.Should be starting now or very soon in your area.It usually runs a couple weeks later in the central season counties.Usually blackpowder week is the onset of things when bucks are looking a lot and chasing beginning.
Good luck Don. I would love to see you stick another bear. Sure would make a nice addition to John Dills "Addiction" Trophy page.
James, I hope you are right. Looks like I'm going to have a good week of it.
Page
Eastern NC is in "RUT" But I'll be lookin for Bear with Don next week.
My moto is "any times a good time to be in the woods"
Good luck good buddy!!
John and Don, Best of luck to you both!!
I hope to see some pic's posted.
In my experience, you can count on the week of the 15th of Nov. to be close to the peak of the rut in Eastern N.C.
Have not seen any chasing at all. My son and I were rattling at dawn today and the only buck we saw was running away like a chicken.....
Northwestern should get rolling with the latest cold snap. Not a lot of activity up to now, seen lots of does and no bucks chasing. The few bucks seen were adolescents, no mature bruisers yet.
Page I have been seeing small bucks looking and Friday I saw 2 small bucks chasing. Yesterday opening day of muzzleloader here the bigger bucks seemed to be moving more. I have been seeing more activity in the mornings.Good luck Lee
Thanks Guys! I'll try to keep this thread updated through the week. Hopefully I will see some good activity tomorrow.
Best of luck to John Dill and Batman tomorrow!!!
I was out yesterday in Hoke County, and didn't see any activity.
Cant keep the bears off me to even see a deer - seriously!
Come next week wont see a bear period (season).
J
Saw a nice 8pt this morning(100 inches or so) in Stokes County. He was behind my tree and didn't offer a shot. Other than being alone he didn't seem to be rutting. I have seen alot of bachelor groups this year. Other than pausing, the doe bleat didn't phase him. I'll be hunting northern Forsyth Co this evening.
Page:
As you know...I just got back from KY on Sunday night. It wasn't full-bore there...and I expect them to be ahead of us.
If it's happening, here, it's happening at night....and they're doing a darned good job of hiding their sign. I'm expecting the weekend and next week to be the time to see more mature animals.
Sorry!
Only saw a doe last night in Forsyth. Saw several deer on the way back to Stokes this am, but none from the stand.....looks like the rain has set in for now. Starting to see some scrapes.
I shot an 8pt buck with my flintlock in Stanly County yesterday. He stank some, but his tarsals weren't black. I've been hunting Union and Stanly Counties this week and last, and have seen no chasing, and have not had any luck rattling.
I'm working today. Can't see waisting a vacation day in this weather. I'll give it a few days and try again later.
haven't seen rut activity in central va yet----- was out last nite till dark saw a cpl bucks just grazing does with them but no interreaction
Monday afternoon passed a 9pt about 105" he was looking I bleated at him and he and he came in then he trotted off past my son Nick but offered no shot. A few minutes later he shot a big doe about 115lbs. Tuesday morning had 2 small bucks come in and work a scrape then heard 3 shots over the next 10 min. The taxidermist hasn't taken many big ones in just medium sized and not many of them.LCH
I'm going to Stokes in the morning. Anybody seen anyhting lately?
GMMAT and I went this am. I saw a doe with a yearling and Jeff saw 10 deer but still no rutting activity............
Haven't seen much yet...watched a 6 pt. feeding in an isolated field for over 45 min. this morning. No chasing I can see!
No sign of the rut in Hoke county today. Saw three does, with no Bucks on their trail.
We hunted yesterday and my buddies each killed a buck looking does but no chasing.The bigger deer are finally starting to move around again however.
bernie and me are heading up to hunt with Preston a couple of days next week. Hopefully we'll get there about the time they start chasing hard. Love to get one of those Chatum county mackdaddies. DB
I shot a 7 point on the 4th. He was nose to the ground and working a trail with 4 scrapes/rubs. I checked the scrapes on the 12th after 3 days of wind and rain and they were all covered over with no activity. I have not seen any chasing or any other wayward bucks, so I am conflicted as the the state of rut. Thought is was moving into full swing, then nothing. A head scratcher for sure.
Page,
Well I shot a huge 8 pointer yesterday morning here in Forsyth County and he was chasing a doe. As far as I can tell the rut is in full swing here in our area (Forsyth, Yadkin, Davie, Stokes and Surry Counties). I shot a another bruiser of an 8 point the weekend before and he was stinking and swollen around the neck. Again in Forsyth County. You won't be sorry taking this week off! I just wish it would get cold again! Good Luck.
Mike
Thanks for the good news Mike and congrats!!! I'll be in the woods all day Monday and Tuesday this week. Hope to see some chasin' goin' on!!!
Really looking forward to Don's and my hunting time with Preston in Chatum County this coming weekend. Don has certainly bent over backwards to provide me with every opportunity this season. I hate that up to this point I haven't been able to justify his generousity with a deer on the ground but I am happy to report that I am seeing deer this year on a regular basis, and enjoying the heck out of my hunting time. I will keep trying for the "right moment" - LOL.
On the 13th Ben Graham and I were hunting and I had at least 7 different bucks come by looking and Ben had 3 or 4 they were all 1 1/2 years old. No does, Sat. evening the 14th I shot a doe and almost immediately after she ran off I had a 6pt. come in looking and was joined by a spike they hung around till after dark. This morning I had a big group of does come in and bed in some thick stuff about 20 min. later a small 8 pt. maybe 70" came through looking. Not seeing anything big. I'm still finding fresh scrapes.LCH
I shot a 9 pointer this afternoon, I rattled him in and shot him at 21 steps with my hummingbird. I have not posted any pics here and don't know how I will send one to John Dill and Batman maybe they will post for me.Shot him at 4:05.LCH
nice going lee. DB
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c222/526don/LeeHinton.jpg)
Good on ya, Lee!
Thanks Don for posting it for me. Thanks Bernie. LCH
The rut is in full swing in both Forsyth and Yadkin Counties!!!! Had an addolescent buck chase a doe by me last night while I was at the base of the tree packing up my climber. If I would have stuck my hand out I could have touched them as they ran by!! Stokes is as cold as a cucumber where I have been hunting. Don't know how I missed it there?
Will finally be back out this Friday! Cannot wait as it has been a week. Hopefully things will change! LOL
great buck Lee!
J
Thanks J-dog My taxidermist friend said they brought in some big ones this evening and the bucks were moving really good around here. They were looking for does.LCH
I was hunting in southern Alamance county Sat. morning near Chatam county. I had a really nice 10 point come by out of range probably in the 130"-140" class. He was with a small 4 point. I called to him no response. He just casually walked away. Hunted there Sat. evening and only saw a different 4 pointer no rutting activity at all. 6 days before bucks were out looking everywhere there. Go figure.LCH
Same here Lee. Haven't seen any rut activity since last Monday.
I have seen plenty of deer this season but i haven't seen the first one chasing does. I have had bucks on camera the week of black powder with swollen necks.I watched several small deer cleaning scrapes but still no big bone.I tried to put Don and Bernie on em but the deer didn't cooperate.I am taking my nephew with me lately trying to get him his first buck.I seen a decent 8 pointer friday morning but fri afternoon with little man only 3 does showed up.I got trail camera pictures of the 8 pointer yesterday morning at 7 am so go figure.
I went this morning and saw nothing, Went this afternoon and ran deer out of some acorns at 3:30 got set up and had a doe and button buck come in and eat acorns at 4:30. A 4pt came in and chased her all over the ridge and then another 4pt came in and they started fighting. Just before I got down they ran by me again. LCH
Took my nephew this afternoon and we ran out a deer walking in i'll check camera tomorrow and see what it was but seen two does afterward.Nothing was behind the does but tomorrow may be different.I have two bucks that are decent on camera coming every morning this week so hopefully little man can bust one tomorrow.
Lee, Those young buck are really keeping the rut going.
Preston, Good luck. I hope he gets a monster!
Had a 5pt chasing does around my stand this afternoon. They came in late. Then a spike joined in the chase. Nothing big though.LCH
GMMAT aka Jeff Venable shot a nice 7pt Friday morning that was chasing a doe in Forsyth County.
I shot a nice doe this afternoon with my Hoots Longbow. I saw a small 8 pt. chasing a doe this afternoon. He would probably score 85 or so. The doe I shot had already been bred, my taxidermist said 8 other does were brought by today and they all had been bred. A friend of mine shot an 8pt around 130" eating out of a corn pile yesterday evening with his compound. I have been hunting acorns and travel routes guess I should be hunting corn. When I hunt corn they kill the big ones over acorn. Go figure.LCH
Hey Lee, put a cornpile under an oak where there are lots of acorns. Best of both worlds. :goldtooth:
pebowbender, hey brother I'm gonna be moving to the same place as you around Feb. or March. PM coming your way.
Ken