the rut is coming fast
 

Saw ten scrapes today, all fresh, with rubs on the outside of my food plots and field edges. Also got a pic of a very large 8 point with a swollen neck on my trail camera. I have also seen young bucks cruising (by them selves) the ridges on our farm. I haven't seen a doe in the last 4 times out hunting. I have never seen bucks act like this-this early. Has anyone else noticed this???

same here in New Jersey, and just got a call from my friend in Illinois who took a walk in the area of the farm I hunt, he told me he never saw so many rubs and very, very large rubs. Last year I saw 9 shooters ranging from 130"-180"

Ive been seeing scrapes and rubs up here in Northern Illinois for the last two weeks. I also was thinking this seems pretty early for me. Don't know if its the cold weather or what. No place for me to hunt in Illinois this year, only Michigan (Home of "Its brown, it's down." Well at least my area) so Im hopeing the rut isn't coming early. Well see, you never know. All the runs and scrapes Ive seen haven't been too big even know I know there are some monsters around here. Im hoping there just starting to warm up for "The main event"!

I hope they calm down a little and wait for full blown rut in early November.

Just finding scrapes now in Clark county. Seeing a few small bucks running around by themselves but nothing swelling yet. Were still a good 3-4 weeks out yet before a good full blown rut.

Minimal Rut type activity at this point in central portion of Michigan. Starting to see some nice scrapes and some small bucks running does for a few seconds but nothing serious. Another week and things will start heating up. The big boys remain noctornal after some early season hunting pressure.

Last week my daughter shot a nice 8 point during the youth hunt. The neck was already swollen. The taxidermist was surprised the neck was that thick this early. The buck was shot in Osseo,WI

My areas are being TORN up bigtime. Scrapes are being hit very hard this last week, rubs and scrapes are everywhere, I've also called in a few small bucks. I have see a few Does one group with a buck following! Gonna be real good here very shortly!

Found several scrapes this weekend. I think the cooler than normal temps here in IN has bucks really moving. I saw a 140" 3 1/2 year old this weekend that's neck was really swelled. Just stayed slightly outside my comfy range for a bow.

Hey guys,

I hunt southern IL. Havent seen a whole lot of activity yet. A few small scrapes but very little buck movement although this past week I did an evening hunt and had 3 small bucks together pass by my blind. I figure they should start splitting up from their bachelor groups pretty soon. Lots of does this year at our place.

Good luck,

79 bronco

I seen a small bucking roaming alone then rubbing a cedar,then he started doing the lip curl thing, a little later he walked off passing 2 does like he didnt even see them..I think it will get good here soon

Just trying to clear the air a bit on swollen necks. The neck actually dosen't just swell up because of the rut. It is because deer are using there neck muscles more which cause there neck to grow during the rut not swell. Like when you work out your muscles more they buldge and grow. The neck isn't actully just swelling up.

Sounds good to me! Thought maybe they had a sore neck from fighting, or their hormones going nuts.

A week ago today I was in the woods in Western WI and there were tons of scrapes made during monday night/tues morning. Always gets the blood flowing!!!

The bucks here in N/W WI are showing Rut, Bucks roaming by themselves and comming out earlier. I still don't see does, maybe they are hiding from the enevitable.

Saw a nice 8 pt (about 16-17" spread) just walking down the middle of a road at 4:00 in the afternoon yesterday, broad daylight. So yeah, they are starting to search bigtime.
Drag rag and hitting your horns.

seen a small 4 point chasing a doe 2 weeks ago..wasn't doggin her real hard...but he was definitely followin her...he had his nose to the ground and wouldnt stop for anything..after i shot the doe he trailed her to where she layed dead.

I'm getting excited just talk'n about it. We are about two weeks ahead this year. I'm hit'n the woods!

Good luck. Remember, don't shoot any doe since there aren't any, and you don't want the buck population to crash, so don't shoot any bucks.

Been seeing plenty of rubs and some half serious scraping including licking branches.

Hey Fellas,

I was sitting out yesterday afternoon about 5:45pm and finally saw some chasin'. Of course it was a small eight pointer dogging the heck out of a doe in one of our cut corn fields. He would not leave her alone for nothing. He chased her in and out of the CRP field next to ours three times. I just love watching these does running around doing figure eights trying to get away from these young love thirsty bucks! It is really amusing. I'm in the semi-south east part of Illinois and really this is the first time I've seen any rut action thus far. Did a little midday scouting yesterday as well and haven't really seen much for scrapes either.

Take care and good luck,

79 Bronco

Cut corn? What's that! Everything is still standing on all of our farms. Looks to be a repeat of last year with corn standing throught the first week of November.

for the past few weeks i've seen small buck acting like its gonna start early then last weekend a 3 1/2 year old came just 2 far away his neck looked like it was swollen up just a bit kinda hopin they'll hold out a nother week or 2 this warrmer weather we just got has killed the deer movement by me

Yes sir Titlist,

A lot of the corn is cut down here. Yes there a few farmers that havent gotten to it for what ever reason, maybe too much rain lately but our fields were cut actually on Oct. 1. We have some "late" soybean fields that are still semi-yellow and not even ready to be cut. Hopefully once their dry the deer will have the corn fields picked and start moving through those beans. Right now there isn't much for sign around any of the bean fields, only the cut corn fields.

Take care,

79 Bronco

Take care,

Check out the alfalfa fields. Saw a buck chase'n a doe last nite. They will be going strong this week I think.

last weekend in michigan i saw very scrapes then yesterday there everywhere and fresh

All the corn is still up on and around the property in Jodavies. They are hanging out in it big time.

Yeah, I watched a beast chase every doe in the field back and forth last night. Its here brothers!

The bucks are running day and nite. Life is great!!