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.