Seems like everything is early this year, spring warm up, hot temps, crops maturing, hay, etc. I noticed some community scrapes warming up last week and this week, usually see them in these same exact spots, bewtween 10-15 of Oct. A buddy found 4 huge ones on his property too, and had video of a huge spike, chasing 2 does this weekend, over and over. I believe our pre rut, here in south central KY, will be about  early to mid october, instead of late Oct. to first week in NOv. I know last year rut was nearly over when firearms season rolled around, usually peaks then. Anyone else seeing the same thing.

Agreed Sam. Everything is happening earlier this year.  

I actually heard deer grunting this weekend while hunting in northern KY. They are hammering the acorns right now. I found the beginnings of a scrape 2 weeks ago, way early. I would agree with your assessment. Just makes you wonder what type of winter we are in for?

I guess that Earthquake we had August 23rd 2011 here on the Eastcoast shook us off kilter a little and threw us a month ahead of schedule cause I can see a little difference in the leaf color already and that happens late Oct.early Nov. here...  

Same here.

I've found a few small scrapes here in WV also.

I believe you are dead on.  I have noticed similar happenings here

yep, me too!

Seems like it here in West Michigan, too...

my persimmons here in peidmont NC ripened 2 weeks earlier than a "normal" year. I usually take deer consistently Sept 25th thru Oct 10th
on the public land I hunt within an hour of my house. This year I took 3 deer already between the 10th and 24th of Sept. Oaks are hammering also but this is not unusual by itslef - some crop completely dried through though.

we monitor the stingray migration also every year and it was mostly normal with the exception it went very quickly rather than a steady slow progression

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Food sources for sure are ripening sooner than normal. But I'd bet the actual rut will be the same time it is every year.

TTT.

Definitely some early signs here.  Colors on the trees are a good two weeks ahead of schedule.  Corn is being picked this week, about a month early.  I think both things are a result of a lack of moisture.  

Deer rut and breeding is triggered by changes in amount of daylight though, so wouldn't expect that to be different.  We will see...

Yep, I am seeing the same things here in eastern KY.

Found four new scrapes the other say.  I have trail cam pics of bucks working scrapes and heavy sparring.  Right now I moved a camera to a rub that starts at my belt line....way early for that.

The "rutting moon" is earlier this year and agree with Whip above about decreasing daylight being the other rut cue too. The rut normally peaks 7-10 days after the rutting moon which falls this year on Oct 30th I think ?

Just wished we lived in a state that had a better buck / doe ratio so we had a distinct rut ! I had bucks chasing and grunting last year in late Dec, Ughhhhhh ! Probably due to some does cycling a month late cause the buck missed them in Nov ? We gots toooooo many does still here in TN. Sure wish the TN regulators would change the seasons and limits to conserve our bucks and get the ratios in balance. JMHO

Awesome...it will be an earlier season here in NY and my time in November will be limited by demands at work...having the action a little early will be fine with me..