Just checking to see if any Nebraska or western Iowa hunters have seen any bucks starting into pre rut activity yet? Any rubs, scrapes, etc.? I read a couple of weeks ago that one state was seeing general frolicing with the does already. Any sightings like that in Nebraska or western Iowa yet?

-Brad
Eastern Nebraska Bowhunter

I live in Shenendoah IA in Fremont county. A week ago Saturday I came across to smaller 6 points really doing battle. I was in the open and they were only about 25 yrds away but they looked at me and went back to fighting. My nephew has seen 2 bucks fighting and shot a very old deer that came to grunt call. He lives in Mills county near Glenwood. I am seeing a few small scrapes. I have tried tickling the antlers but only called in a yote. I took a 215lb doe last Friday. So give it another week and I think the real fun will begin<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

THWACK!

I was fortunate enough to take a decent 4x4 on the 27th of September (in Eastern Ne). While I was waiting for him to come in, he was busy making a scrape. A few days later, I was walking some private land and saw numerous scrapes and rubs. Also heard reports of some minor &quot;battles&quot;. Think the rut may be starting fairly early this year.

Thanks guys, that's what I wanted to hear. I'm gonna try rattling and grunting this year for the first time. I just wanted to hear that some things were heating up before giving it a go. I still have a good deal of honey do items to accomplish first, so by the time I get to a stopping point, things should really be ripe. I've seen a few small scrapes myself, but wasn't sure if they were made by deer or turkey, since I couldn't distinguish any prints in the dry dirt.

Thanks again.

-Brad
Eastern Nebraska Bowhunter