RE: VIRGINIA RUT WATCH!
 

Get ready Get set GO GO man was it on today. three does came by and then a buck came in right behind them 30 minutes. I would have to say the rut is on in south King George. I did see a sign the said Richmond county when I cross a creek but my friends address is King George. ether way that buck was on them good,follow the same place they walked. step for step. check out my post under My first buck for 08.

RE: VIRGINIA RUT WATCH!
 

Rattled a monster in to 20 yards today....then was winded as he circled. Bummed to say the least.

RE: VIRGINIA RUT WATCH!
 

I feel your pain Brett, thats how i felt when i missed that 8ptr last weekend. I was supposed to go out tmrw morning, but i must go in to work...plus the area I wanted to hunt is closed in the morning. Looks like saturday morning I'll be going out. I'm debating on wether or not I will use my bow or the smoke pole. Heading to prince william county.

RE: VIRGINIA RUT WATCH!
 

Hoyt---you would be surprised at how close we both think about certain areas on Quantico. From reading some of your stuff, I can tell we hunt around some of the same areas...areas not many people hunt. I was in a place you described on a map today :) SHHHHHH. Have fun and good luck Saturday. I have to work Sat/Sun then my vacation starts on Monday.

RE: VIRGINIA RUT WATCH!
 

ive saw two bucks spar off today nothing aggresive just messing around small eight and what looked like a small six or seven ive even nodesed scrapes are starting to get worked real hard and even some bucks chasen does late in the evning but other than that every thing has been kinda lazy

RE: VIRGINIA RUT WATCH!
 

I keep an eye on areas where alot of people hunt. Then i look for areas where i don't see cars parked, check the topos, scout...and usually i get pretty lucky:) Sounds like you got that kind of eye!

OUR POWERS COMBINED!!! LOL

RE: VIRGINIA RUT WATCH!
 

went out yesterday eve. to my black powder stand which starts saturday morning here in virginia, just to see what was going on. I took my bow but nothing came close enough. this is an open pasture with about 3 feet tall grass on the edge of a soybean field and thick woods leading to a huge swamp. I have killed 2 wallhangers there the last 2 seasons. saw a big 8 chasing 2 does around and running another nice 8 back to the woods. i think they are real close to being in full rut! CANT WAIT TILL TOMM. MORNINIG!

RE: VIRGINIA RUT WATCH!
 

Guys- I'm just as pumped as you are, bucks testosterone levels have either just peaked or will peak today or tomorrow, they are jacked up now! I really expect a lot buck activity this weekend. BUT- I am going to warn you guys that, with the rutting moon being later this year than normal, this 'flare up rut' as I call it will die down as the week progresses next week. So, as good as the action has been this week it may not be as good next week. Don't worry though, the week after next with the rutting moon falling on November 13th, chaos will return to the deer woods!

Just a little info. I thought would be very useful for this weekend and going into next week. Personally, I am going to hunt very aggressively tonight and tomorrow morning- a lot of calling and rattling and I'll be hunting over a buck decoy tomorrow morning. With buck testosterone levels peaking they should be very susceptible to calls this weekend.

HOWEVER, next week I am going to back off a bit as the bucks will still be jacked up but very few does will be coming into their cycle. During this time I'm going to be patient, hunting does and learning their patterns cause the following week 10-15th they should still be on their same patterns except then, they will have a buck with them.

I don't want to sound like a know it all everyone, I've just done a tremendous amount of research and reading on the rut and have applied it to our property and in the past I have been able to predict buck and deer movement down to the day. Again, I don't want to sound like a know it all, I just feel like I have a pretty good understanding of the rut and its dynamics. Then again, I also thought I knew our herd's early season patterns very well up until this year, when they have completely skunked me!

RE: VIRGINIA RUT WATCH!
 

Thats some good stuff to know RockinChair....I will definitely be out in the morning, I'm gonna try calling and rattling. Keep us posted!!!

RE: VIRGINIA RUT WATCH!
 

Wednesday night was hot for me, last night was kinda slow, I saw 10 does, no bucks. Hunting tonight gettin off work early, im going to try a little rattling and see what happens. Saturday im hunting my dads farm in Prince william and then mine in Loudoun in the evening, hoping things get good this weekend