I am betting the best is yet to come. Why? last weekend i saw loads of does with yearlings . all staying close to momma. now this weekend yearlings were alone, most that is. i think the rut comes much later in arkansas than some think. last year deer activity was in a lull. but while i was hunting the last muzzleloader season i saw lots of deer on the move and bucks chasing does. most hunters were done or burnt out. they all made claims that the ice storm killed the deer. well i know they were full of bull!!!!
Scrapes are everywhere and very fresh , to the point some were wet when i saw them this weekend. i also saw just a fraction of the does i did the weekend prior to this weekend. this tells me personally it's time to get into the thickets. in my area the deer will chase and breed in the thickets. the does as they come in will stay in the thick to create some resistance for bucks chasing them. i've seen this while hunting. i just think the next two weeks will be good hunting and if all goes well i will have a week to hunt hard for another wall hanger . but i won't be where it's pretty and you can see hundreds of yards. i'll be where up a tree you can maybe see 75.
oh yeah saturday morning i heard two bucks racking there heads togather . it was brief but no doubt what it was. where were they ? a 80 acre thicket to the north of my pasture stand. and i think i better be in there about friday.
just one hunters opinion based on over 30 years of hunting south arkansas deer in the same area.

SOUTH ARKANSAS REBEL