I have had the best day and a half EVER in a treestand.

Yesterday (11/9) I saw, get this, 15 different bucks!!! NO BS. 7 were 125 or better. I passed on a 125/130 class 8 pt and had 3 other shooters within 30 yards or closer! These three are big for a reason, the stay outta your shooting lanes! I have seen everything from small and large bucksalike chasing and some are still in small groups. I coundn't sleep last night because everytime I closed my eyes I saw BUCKS!!!


Today I saw 7 bucks,3 of which were different from those yesterday!! WOW!! Only 1 was a shooter and I had him at 33 yards but he offered no shot. I love pre-rut!!! Most of the does have yet to come in but a few have and man the boys love it.God blessSouthern Illinois. Get in with the does and you have action.

Most of my action is occuring well in the daylight. I hunted 9 hours yesterday and am heading back to the same tree as soon as I fill my belly.

SoIllhunter, what county are you in (hunting). We'll be down to Johnson county next week.

I sat from 6a-5:15p yesterday(thurs.) and saw 23 deer...2 bucks following a doe(one was chasing) and the rest just cruising...No big shooters...Most of the movement was from 630a-1030a....Saw 7 deer from 1030-515p....I'm guessing it got to warm in the mid day cause the morning was in the low 30's and they were moving....

A buddy hunting 3mi. away said he only saw 2 in the pm and it was a buck mounting a doe.....Said the buck would just get started and the doe would run out from under him...The buck was grunting and stomping around cause she wouldn't stand still.....Guess she's not quite ready yet but close....

I haven't been seeing SH!T for the past two weeks! Last year at this time the deer were in a full out chasing which would have been last weekend (on last years time) and this weekend they (as of last year) they were paired up with does and some of the stragglers where chasing like hell to find a doe. This year, I haven't seen much movement at all....and I'm hunting some spots that are usually like shooting fish in a barrel when it comes to the rut period. I'm so frustrated/disgusted right now! My buddies here in Jeff. Co. say they've been chasing but I hunt in Wash. Co. and where I'm hunting....nothing has been going on. I'm sleeping in tomorrow and I'm not going out until about 10....maybe then I can try and hone in on some deer activity and what not. Hopefully my season will take a turn for the better soon, b/c this is the worst bow season I've EVER had....even worse than my first ever bow season!