VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

I am on my way home in a couple days for thanksgiving break from college. I will be getting to put some quality hours in the woods. I was curious if you all are still seeing some intense rutting action!?

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

I took the last week off and hunted quite a bit. Lots of rubs and scrapes. But I haven't seen the big boys out chaseing as of yet. Not like they were last year at this time.

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

are you thinking the rut hasnt hit real hard yet...suggesting the big boys will be out within the next week or so??

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

I'll 2nd what tourangeaudsaid. They've been moving around here in Northern & Central VA, but I haven't seen any breeding yet. I think anytime this week and next week will be excellent times to hunt, you can't go wrong. Pre-rut was weak IMO this year, it's usually my favorite time to hunt, and unless I missed the ball, I hunted every day last week, and didn't see what I was looking for in terms of action. I did see some bruisers, but not the quantity I had expected to see. Get out and hunt!!!

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

i saw 7 bucks chasing 1 little doe last friday evening in the rain. all the bucks were small. nothing bigger than a 6 pt. this was in fairfax county.

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

We have been seeing lots and lots of does, and nothing really following them. A couple of small bucks here and there, that really don't know what the hell is going on. I'm hoping and thinking the prime time rut has not hit as of yet. Last year at this time the big boys were chasing the does all over the place. This was out in Madison County and Green County. I'm thinking the rut is coming in later this year due to the warmer weather we have been experiencing. If I'm not mistaken is was a lot colder at this time last year.

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

Saw some playful chasing going on late last week here in Northern VA...then it shutdown when it got hotter. I may be wrong but I predicted around the 20th that the bucks would be chasing hard...we will see. Tonight a cold front moves in and the action will HEAT UP for sure!

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

Still? It's just starting in Roanoke and Brunswick Co.

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

So I guess we should all stay in our stands as long as possible for the gun opener on Saturday? I'll be hunting in a blind in the most southern middle part of VA in the morning.

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

I'm glad I'm not the only one whohasn't been seeing any action in VA. I was starting to get really worried about our place... the most I have seen there is a 3pt who ran 3 does into the food plot but thenparted with them and fed on his own.

I did see 3 bucks in a line (8pt, then spike, then4pt)chasing 2 does in Westmoreland last week...musta been the first hot doe of the year in there.

I agree that things are running late this season. I saw plentyof chasing in ML last year. I was really wishing things would be a little hotter before the dogs are running 24/7 in my area [:@]

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

A few rubs showing up in Patrick Co. but no signs of chasing does yet! Rut is about a week off this year

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

Yesterday(18th) was the most aggressive day of the rut I have ever witnessed. Didn't arrow anything but the quantity of bucks chasing does was unbelievable...I saw at least 8 different bucks, 1-2 shooters. I grunted in a nice buck to 30 yards but he wouldn't come out of the cover before dark.

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

Saturday here in Va was absolutley wild!! seen deer all day,buck cahsin does at 10am when we left came back at 2:?? and deer were already out, buddy had buck on the ground by 3:00It was great. they were ruttin hard.

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

VAShadow and buckmaster,

What counties are you hunting witnin??????????? That info would help everyone reading and monitoring this post for rut activity. Thanks

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

I hunt in Dinwiddie County(west of Sussex and about 25 miles east of Fort Pickett), Accomac & Quinby (Eastern Shore), and theChesapeake/VA Beach & NE NC area (Gates, Moyock). I know you asked the other guys I just thought I would chime in. I also hunted a littleup near Appomattox & Lynchburg but that was early this season(Oct. 20) so I can't really speak about the western or northern parts of the state nowbut I did seea little pre-rut activity then. The rut seems to be in full swing in most of the areas I mentioned firstI just worry about how the opening of the general firearms seaon throughout most of VA is going to effect the deer.

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

I hunted in Madison County on Saturday and by 8 a.m. had seen three different bucks chasing does. I ended up shooting the biggest, an 8 point with a 16 inch inside spread and great mass. I have pics, but can not post them. I can email them if someone is willing to post. My buddy missed a nice six point that evening from the same spot. I talked to a few guys from Fluvanna who got bucks, but did not see any signs of the rut.

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

new61375 and Coryj,

Thanks for the info. I was most interested to hear about madison and appomattox.
I can't wait to get backin the woods. I'll have to wait until Thanksgiving thru Sat.



Coryj,

Send me a pic at [email protected]
I hunt Madison County quite a bit. Just outside of Orange on the Culpepper side of rt15.



Keep the updates coming. This info is very useful for us VA hunters. Some pictures of this years harvests would be great.

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

tourangeaud,

Ihave a thread Titled: My Field Journal in this same forum, it's just random stuff from this season as well as some photos with more photos to come.
I am always interested in what other folks are seeing ad doing nearby as well, I use it to save info from my notes I write while hunting but if it can help anyone that's good too.

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

The rut is on and I had to push my vacation out until the 30th of the month. THAT BITES!!! I didn't like doing it but, ya gotta do what ya gotta do. The only good thing I see out of my pushing the days out until the 30th is (I'm hoping and praying) that most folks are back at work during the 1st week of December.

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

I'll 2nd that for yesterday as well. Today should be good, I'll be in the woods from noon till dark!

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

It was the first time in a while that bucks were still rutting hard during opening day of dog season. The dogs would run a doe and then later a buck would be on the trail of both of them. It happened twice on Sat.

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

Some rutting is still on. I took a nice six-point that was trailing a non-receptive small doe at 4:15 yesterday afternoon. They were the only two deer I saw all day.

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

What a BUST!!! It was as if the lightswitch was turned off. 5 1/2 hrs. and not 1 deer! Could be the temps were a little high or a combo of that and the ruts slowing down. Who knows, but I'll be back at it tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after...

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

No more rut, it's all over!! All of the bucks have gone nocturnal and many have fled the country all together. Put your camo and hunting stuff away for the year and just get back to watching college footbal, especially if you are hunting near Accomac or Dinwiddie.;)




That will leave them all for me.........

maa haa haa haa...maa haa haa haa!!

:eek:(That is suppossed to be an evil laugh.)

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

I saw 14 deer yesterday (11/21) and 3 of them were nice bucks actively chasing does. I ended up taking a nice 7 pt. The activity was steady all morning up until 11 AM (when I shot my buck) despite the temps being almost 80 degrees.

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

I hunted Thanksgiving morning in Madison County. Lots of doe activity but I didn't see a single buck. Hot temps and lots of wind didn't make for a good day of hunting. Seeing deer was a definate benefit. Cooler temps areexpected for Friday and Saturday. Hopefully, this tempchange will make the deer more active.

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

My youngest brother took his 1st deer, an 8 point that he watched breed and dog a doe for 30-40 min. Thanksgiving a.m. Pic and story are on here!

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

i think it has FINALLY arrived in central va... but i must say the pre-rut was asweak as i've seen it this year. fri inamelia couty i had at least 2 different bucks chasing does and grunting all the way on an afternoon sit. then saturday morning in cumberland i had a buck pushing 5 does by me 3 different times and saw the biggest deer of my life before i had even hoisted up my gun! makes me sick to think about it...

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

I hunted Madison County Thursday - Saturday. Seen lots of deer and still the bucks are still trailing the does. Seen a monster buck that was to far away for a shot. He wouldn't respond to grunts or the can. However, a nice 8 pointer came in close enough, in response to my calls. Standing broadside to me, I placed the crosshairs just behind the shoulder blade. Pulled the trigger,saw the bright muzzle blast. But the deer was just standing still, continueing to look right at me. I was just waiting for him to drop. He didn't drop, so I chambered another shell and let it fly at the same spot. The deer was still staring me down. He didn't budge or even blink, after the 2nd shot from my 30-06. I chambered a 3rd shot, squeezed the trigger at the target, and finally seen the deer jump and take of running, before crashing 30 yards away.I checked the gun the next afternoon and it is dead on at 100 yards. This deer was standing only 50+ yards away when the shooting gallery was opened.I must have shot over top of him on the first 2 shots. However, the 3rd shot was right on themoney.

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

Sorry all if I didn't come back on here and post, I am usually over in the bowhunting forum. I primarily hunt Prince William County but the county in which I saw all the deer was Loudoun COunty, near Upperville. I will be back at it on the 26th in the afternoon, hopefully some of the big boys will begin to move a little again. Coolbrze0, thanks for the offer, I appreciate it a bunch. Talk to you soon.

shadow

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

Here are some photos fromMadison County VA, over Thanksgiving weekend. One of our member's son, Jacob and his 3 pointer. First deer with his new 243. The 2nd shot is A picture of my 8 pointer. The 3rd picture is from the Somerset Corner Store parking lot. The local hunter shot this brute while dragging his doe out of the woods at 9:30 am. Found this buck in the thickets while walking to the truckdragging his doe. Some guys have all the luck. Weare thankful for all these wonderful deer, goods friends, good family, good times and Mother Earth.

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

Lets try these pictures again.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k39/tourangeaud/DSC_0078.jpg
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k39/tourangeaud/DSC_0085.jpg
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k39/tourangeaud/DSC_0088.jpg

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

Rut is still on. heard a buck grunting after does on friday. Shot a 4 x 2 on Saturday that was chasing does. Thought he was an 8 pointer. Rut is running later this year. Think heat and weather changes are making it start and stop.

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

What county????????????

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

Ok so I just joined. I'm a member of another popular hunting forum but they don't have anyone near me on there. I'm on the edge of barboursville and the green county line. I've only been hunting since thanksgiving and all I seem to be doing is scaring them off. Every time I go out, about 30-45 minutes later I can hear gun shots going off all around me.

I make sure that I'm scent free and I'm in a groundblind. I'm hunting with a borrowed savage .308 on my private land, of which only about 2 acres are wooded and most of that is VERY thick brush, briar patches, and thin (6" or less) tall trees that the deer mainly use for a bedding area.

Any suggestions?

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

Last Friday was in caroline county, Saturday was in Chesterfield County, both had active signs of the rut.

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

Deerdoghunter,

Thanks for letting us know about the activity in your neck of the woods. Good luck the rest of the season.



Gary22923,

Good things come to those who wait. You need to continue spending time in the woods. Scouting the area for deer signs and trails will give you a better idea of where to set up. Don't try to set up within the bedding areas. All you will do is flush out the deer in that area. Get in the woods early and set up near thetrails going to and frombedding and feeding areas.Look for funnels and pinch points for good set upareas. You may want to consider tree stands. Get up off the ground and you will see so much more.Best of luck during the rest of the season. Let us know how you do.

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

tourangeaud, where are you hunting in madison? what's your name? I was born and raised in Madison and still hunt there. Right now I'm in school at Va Tech. The rut activity we've seen on the land we lease has been pitiful this year. The last week of bow season and opening day of ML was good, that's it.

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

it's cool how we can find neighbors we never knew we had on here

RE: VA Hunters, bucks still rutting hard?
 

does anyone knows where the rut is in augusta county??