Alabama Early Rut signs???
 

The past week I have hunted a couple mornings. One the way out I have found two different scrapes. I usually don't start seeing scrapes until late December. What is making the deer start early this year? I haven't seen any chaseing of does yet, or rubs, just the scrapes. Could someone enlighten me on this.

Thanks
Chad

RE: Alabama Early Rut signs???
 

Kinda odd especially around here. Im also in Tuscaloosa. I saw a few rubs this weekend actually but I think they were just used to get velvet off earlier. Let me know if you notice anything else.

RE: Alabama Early Rut signs???
 

Too early in the Troy area, we don't usually see rutting scrapes till Jan.

RE: Alabama Early Rut signs???
 

i agree, just across the river/ county line, no rutting scrapes til late dec/jan

RE: Alabama Early Rut signs???
 

I saw a few scrapes this weekend which was kinda odd. My buddy also said he saw 2 bucks that were beginning to swell in the neck. Anybody else noticed anything?

RE: Alabama Early Rut signs???
 

I've been hunting an area near Selma that has had plenty of scraping activity and numerous rubs since the first week of bow season. Unforunately, it is all young bucks. I've seen 9 different bucks in the one samll area and only 1 looks over a year and a half old. The older deer was culled out as a 170 pound spike. Other than this particular area, I have only found one scrape. As we roll into December I normally begin to see a few more scrapes but nothing major until around Christmas.

RE: Alabama Early Rut signs???
 

A friend shot a buck Sat morning that had a lot of swelling in his neck. Last week I watched a little 5 point chase a doe all afternoon in a food point. We have been seeing a lot of scrapes also. Maybe the rut will hit early.

RE: Alabama Early Rut signs???
 

I have also come across 2 scrapes. Very odd this early!

RE: Alabama Early Rut signs???
 

I have read articles that deer will use scrapes the same way dogs use hydrants. Just marking their spot. Not necessarily using them for rutting activity.They won't be as big and there won't be as many brokenlimbs and stuff around it. I've found active scrapes in bow season and they were still being used on through turkeyseason on our place. Thats what prompted me to look to see why. We don't see rutting activity until late Jan.

RE: Alabama Early Rut signs???
 

I killed a nice 7 point Wednesday morning on a scrape line. His neck was swollen and he really stunk. I think this cold spell is messing with their heads alittle.