I had a pretty good 3 year old just out of range tonight. He made a scrape just over 20 yards from me and he had that wonderfull rutting buck smell! This was the first stinky buck I have encountered this year and by the smell of him the real good hunting has begun here in IL. So has anyone else smelled the smell yet?

last weekend on the chickihomaony wma

Bucks chasin does here also. Scrapes are getting very well defined.

I haven't smelled it yet but they're scrapin' up a storm ! Looking to score within a week or 2.

Sunday morning I was crossing one of our hayfields heading to a stand about an hour before daylight and hit on the fresh smell of a stinky buck who had recently passed through the area.

I'll tell you after tonight.

I stepped out onto my back patio on Tuesday night after finishing up some painting inside.  The wind was coming from the woods behind my house...there it was- buck in rut!  It's funny how we civilized humans still have some senses and instinct left.

Dave

When I smell the "smell" I know it's time to wash my camo!!Dennis, lots of small bucks moving, passed on 19 so far, but largest was right under 140 the first week of season.Saw two shooters together Tue. morn.but needed to move 10 feet to next scrape but turned and left to standing corn.Something worked same scrape in the dark this a.m. but never saw a deer this morn.13 yesterday from same stand!!!Wind from the east deer move the least.... maybe something to that???Good luck everyone!!

I know that smell...I was walking out of an area last year and jumped a deer back into the woods from the field.  When I got the spot he was standing there was a very strong tarsal gland smell.  He even sounded heavy as he was running away.

Nice to hear!  I can't wait to hunt this weekend.

Josh

QuoteOriginally posted by 52 bow:
When I smell the "smell" I know it's time to wash my camo!!Dennis, lots of small bucks moving, passed on 19 so far, but largest was right under 140 the first week of season.Saw two shooters together Tue. morn.but needed to move 10 feet to next scrape but turned and left to standing corn.Something worked same scrape in the dark this a.m. but never saw a deer this morn.13 yesterday from same stand!!!Wind from the east deer move the least.... maybe something to that???Good luck everyone!!

Shoot John, I haven't taken my camo off since late September long enough to actually wash it!    

But in all seriousness yes, the 1 1/2 year olds have been scraping and rubbing and wandering everywhere for the last week up here. And I have seen a couple shooters the last few days as well as several nice 2 and 3 year olds. If we can just get another cold front real quick like I think things would get real interesting! It's time to start spending as much time as possible sitting on those funnels!

I passed the smell today...  in my office    and   wait...  different smell maybe ?
ChuckC   :rolleyes:

Dennis, I haven't smelled the smell yet, but the deer sign on the interstate is really picking up    Have seen a number of scrapes too.

Dennis

I know what you mean man....I actually got a bit of a whiff of a little buck last Sat when I walked in.  Not much...just a little sniff you know.  Just enough to get goose bumps walking in....

Walked along the edge of a corn field this morning.  As I turned to take the first step into the woods, I sniffed, and thought... "whew, the rut must be here... there must be a scrape right in front of me."  About the time the word "scrape" crossed my mind, a BIG wide and heavy-racked buck jumped up at 30 feet, took two leaps, and calmly walked out of sight.  Yep, THE smell is here!!  How great it is to be in the outdoors.

Daryl