It's the most wonderful time of the year,we don camolflage clothes and the wind it does blow we go hunting the deer. It's the most wonderful time, its the hap-hap-hap-happiest time,its the most wonderful time of the year! My wife and I sing this song every fall. Yea I know,we are a lil weird,but we sure have fun hunting whitetails together!  

Good stuff Curt..My favorite time of the year too.

Great pictures!  Definitely a special time of the year.  Everybody's itchin' to put in some hunting time!

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin

I save all my vacation for this time of year!! 4 more days till i can get out there and try to kill a deer!!

Thanks for the pics.  The only thing we're missing in them is the aroma of fall in the air!!  You can smell it!  Hunting time is here!

Great pics!

"Fall" is my favorite season of the year. The days are still warm, the nights much cooler and I can do the things I love to which are: Dove hunting (with a shotgun), quail hunting (with a shotgun, but no dog), saltwater fishing (sometimes with my SOT kayak), saltwater blue crabbing and bowhunting.

BTW, your photos were "awesome".    

Thanks for taking us along Curt. Looks like you got some nice bucks running those woods.

Last night, I recieved the keys to my "new to me" 2BR/1B cabin that borders a 23,000 acre WMA! Only a easy 100 mile drive from home, the area is in the panhandle of WV and holds plenty of deer, bear, turkey and grouse. Fishing in the area is also outstanding. Needless to say, I'm pumped to start scouting the area. Leaves will be turning and falling soon. Can't wait!

JL

yep!!  saw a dandy p & y buck this morning crossing the road by my house.  it was still dark but I could see him easily in the headlights from 30 yards.  C'mon bow season....

Go get them . Cool pictures, looks like a great spot.

Man, this time of year really makes you want to slow down, catch a breath and say "Yeah, it is good to be alive"!

Yes I do

Nice pics

Nice pics

Wanted to bring this up again as I have been hanging stands and clearing shooting lanes like mad. I have been in the woods a lot the last 2 weeks. I have seen more rubs than I ever have and I have been hunting deer for 34 years. I snuck into a bedding area today in the pouring rain to hang a stand and I counted no less than 60 rubs in an area half the size of a football field. Gonna only sit this stand one or two days during the rut and get in there by no later than 4am.. There is a doe group in there and a bruiser of a buck nearby, hope he comes a looking one of those days.  I have also counted at least 20 scrapes already this year and some have been hit repeatedly!! I am pumped for sure!! Shawn

nice pic's!

Ken, Bucks run on their own timeclock, has nothing to do with scents or anything artificial.

It all has to do with decreasing daylight hours, competition, showing off, etc...

Once their antlers harden, their just bucks being bucks!

Believe it or not....

Ken, also there are some doe's that come into heat in Oct. even in your neck of the woods. Most years they are missed(not bred) because the bucks just are not ready or even looking. It has been proven by many deer experts that some deer scrape year round. Just bucks being bucks as Curt said. I noticed the first scrapes almost 2 weeks ago and that cool snap we had, got some of those older bucks a lil' worked up!! I also know the rut(actual breeding) up by you and even in areas Curt and I hunt varies by as much as 2 weeks depending on a multitude of factors. Shawn

yes i understands rubs but active scraping? then again there is a BIG deifference in the deer populations from your place to mine, more deer = more activity and sign i guess.  my other questions would be if they are rubbing and scraping that area Shawn is in why would he wait untill the rut to sit that stand???

Ken also look at the pictures Curt posted, A lot of those rubs are not shedding velvet rubs ok! I have seen rubs as big as my thigh every Sept. since I have been hunting(34 years of deer hunting) and trust me they were not made by bucks just shedding velvet, they are getting worked up and strengthening neck muscles and leg muscles by digging in and pushing as they rub, getting ready for the sparring and battles to come. Shawn

Ken, it is a doe bedding area(I want to shoot a good buck), I want to get in there before the does(early like 4am.) and wait until the bucks are seeking or looking for a hot doe before I hunt it, for me that will be around the 7th. of Nov. Do not want to risk buggaring it up before than as it is a bedding area and I may only get 1 or 2 chances before I buggar it up, that is why I waited for a pouring ran to even put up the stand and do a little trimming, the rain should wash away any of the scent I left, come on this is not rocket science!! Shawn