Deer here in Va. are still velvet, but are about done. any Va. hunter knows that the real monsters are deep in the woods. But they will show their faces in the rut. I hunt deep in the mountains, I find it easier to locate food sources that way. 3 choices, acorns, acorns, and acorns. They will eat laurels in late season. Alot of people don't see the big deer in Va. but theyre here. I have a 130 class 8 as my biggest, but I've seen some scary big bucks around. Almost hit one in a car a few years ago that had drop tines everywhere. It just stood in the road and it took all my nerve not to reach for the omega loaded in the back seat.