WOW!! all the other signs point to an early winter too.. the ferns have started toturn and the spiders are building their winter webshigh in the trees. That's a sign of deep snow (old wise tale). I have not spotted a buck on the property yet. I set out some apples close to the house so I could watch deer and see what they are doing, but the apples are still out there. Although the neighbor said a large wolf pack is in the area, so that would explain the deer not being here.