Lack of deer sightings in 2004

[scooba81]

So far this year has been the worst where we hunt in Central AL. Only three bucks taken and even very few does seen. I'm not sure if the deer are in an exclusinve nocturnal mode or what but it has been very discouraging. I'm wondering if others have seen a decline in sightings or deer activity overall in the South. Would like some feedback on this.

[SouthGaSigmaNu]

I know from the Ala line to Valdosta, Ga. the deer have been few and far. My buddy got a trophy in Canada. I've seen a few 6, 8 and a few small 10 pts killed this year but nothing like in recent years. I've only seen two bucks this year, one on the way home from Christmas and seen a nice 8 pt yesterday, couldn't get a chance at him.

[VA HEAD HUNTER]

I have actually seen more deer this year then i have in 5 years and i think that is because we are 2 years off of a 6 year drought and the acorns have been huge and i have seen corn taller then i have ever seen. we had such a wet year that there has been everything for the deer to eat. i have also seen an incredible amount of turkeys.

[Tree climber]

I have saw less deer this year, but more bucks.seems the deer are staying hidden.the storms we had in Fla. this year has changed the deer activity.all the old trails are covered with trees and stuff.a lot of the acorn crop was distroied befor they were mature.weather has been weird this year.??????????[][][&:][&:]

[redsoxfan]

I hunt in south carolina.I have not seen alot of deer,but have noticed alot of sign.There is every type of food source available for deer this year.also I believe the lack of cold weather in november made it difficult to determine when the actual rut occured this year. I believe it ended around the 20th nov.,but was short. during deer season this year I have noticed alot of turkeys so hopefully a good turkey season will make up for a slow deer season.

[VA HEAD HUNTER]

temperaqture will not stop the rut but it will push them into more a nocturnal rut. nomatter what the temperature they still have to rut but you are right they do have everything to eat this year. hell are corn crop was so good this year some people still have standing corn cause the prices arent worth selling it due to the huge amounts that have been brought to market but i was out in force during the rut and i noticed the first chasing going on around oct 31 and lasted till the beginning of december and our rut date was the 16th of november on the charts (if you buy into the charts) but they rutted pretty hard but keep in mind the more hunting pressure the less your going to see the rutting take place. my farm has no pressure but me and who idecide to let hunt so the deer that stick to the farm are on a pretty regular pattern.

[ButchA]

True... We did have a "nocturnal rut" in Virginia. All the classic signs were there, but no bucks to be found. Mysterious creatures, aren't they?

If you look at my hunting log in my signature, you'll see the sightings that I have listed. All of the deer (all does - except the 8 pointer I missed on [] ) were in Cumberland State Forest. Those times I hunted the public WMA's (Powhatan and Amelia) - I never saw anything but 50 million other hunters.

I agree with VAHeadHunter about expanding the doe days so you can take a doe no matter where you are. You know, a state-wide law for either sex all season.... I would have had a doe easily! If you see my last hunt (12/27) - while I didn't quite feel too good, I still went out to Cumberland SF. I jumped a big doe in the cedars and then she ran about 20-25 yards out onto the trail and then STOPPED AND STOOD THERE LOOKING AT ME! Then about 5-10 seconds later, she took off at Mach IV. If it was a doe day, I could have easily dropped her with a slug from my 870 12GA! But then, later I went back to the truck, got the tree stand and the 30-30 and still hunted a creek bed, to no avail.

I had a good season, with a ton of opportunities and the "buck fever" memories of a giant 8 pointer {this close} from my tree stand back in bow season! The deer were there during the weekdays and 100% nocturnal on weekends. Deer absolutely DO NOT EXIST on public WMA's, from what I have seen in my past experiences! [:'(]

Butch A.

[soarkrebel]

To the question of lack of deer sightings i say i had no lack!

Just a lack of buck sightings. lets see this arkansas 3 day christmas hunt my son saw about 30 sunday morning and i saw at least that many. i had large groups of them running through the woods and couldnt have counted them if i tried. they didnt even start moving until around 10 am in the morning. no mature bucks to be found. well i saw a group of 5 yesterday morning with 1 nice one but never had a shot.

I believe in arkansas ,at least in south arkansas, the AG&F better stop this listen to the idiot one day a weekend hunter that lives in the suburbs and doesnt see any deer. they listened to these boneheads and reduced the limits and season and brother now we have a population problem!!!!!!!!

This isnt just me thinking this . i had two game wardens agree 100% with me!

Anyway i guess my venting about the idiot college educated biologist from the AG&F is really for another topic.
No i guess i haven't experienced a lack of deer sightings.

[VA HEAD HUNTER]

WELL SINCE THIS IS ABOUT LACK OF DEER OR THE ARGUMENT OF I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THE HAPPENINGS OF TODAYS HUNT.
my buddy who hunts with mehas had no luck all year. until today. i put him on a stand location and about an hour before dark he was able bag himself a nice 6 pointer and a big farm doe. congratulations colin

[one on one]

my hunting land is in barbour county al, the wife and boys haven't seen much activity either, i was home on leave from iraq in nov, and for that two week it was slow,i did manage to get one nice 8pt with my muzzle loader,hopefully the rut will kick in like always, the last two weeks of jan,i wish the wife and boys good luck