With your report in mind and my experience this past Saturday, plus the other recent reports here, it makes for a very confusing analysis of the rut, indeed. I heard numerous times that the rut really started picking up the last weekend of bow season. That made sense to me because on opening day of muzzleloader, I tagged an 8 chasing a doe. Maybe he was a 7. I digress. On Saturday, I passed on a 6 and a spike that passed within 10 yards of my stand. I thought "bachelor groups". But then, posts by ADVWannabee (is that a semi-auto?) and cpljbuck seem to contradict the notion of "bachelor groups." Is this the second rut they are seeing??

Indeed 7.62NATO. I even reported bachelor groups on this past Friday when I shot that 9 pt that I posted. However, the very next day, it was hard to keep up with the chasing that was going on. Mind you that this is in Fauquier County and I can't speak for counties south of me. The rut report on F&S showed peak rut with the winter movement moving in. One thing I did notice on Saturday is the front moving in. It has always been productive for me to hunt on the front side of a front moving in. It was warmer in the early a.m. than it was at noon. As much information that we all gather and try to understand these great animals, I think the unpredictablity is what keeps me coming back for more. You NEVER know what you are going to come across in the woods!!!!

It wasn't that way down here. Saturday continued to warm. We have a 40% chance of rain tomorrow with a high of 61 (it was 70 here yesterday), and then the low tomorrow night will hit below freezing. I am going to hunt tomorrow afternoon/evening and Thursday morning. I hope to see a few does. I haven't been to Pocahontas to scout in a couple of weeks though, so I hope they are still concentrated in the same area.

Cpljbuck,
Sorry for the slow reply; the stink bugs got me! Or rather my internet. It seems a stink bug got into a piece of my internet supplier's equipment and fried it! No internet for Drox for a few days.

Anyway, wow that was a really nice buck you took last week. And if I only knew that taking down a stand would result it a buck like that, I would drag my stand through the woods all day long! Well, I did go out last Friday, and saw eight does all by themselves!? I hunted both morning and evening; eight all day long! No mating going on, no chasing, no mounting, just eating the green grass. I think its this weird weather we are experiencing that has the rut freaked out! Both Saturday and Sunday's weather was beautiful as long as a person wanted to harvest their pineapples. But no bueno for rutting deer.

I'm thinking 7.62NATO may be on to something with the idea of a second rut!

I took this guy on 12/1 chasing a doe in Lunenburg. I think this was the second rut. We experienced a lot of chasing on opening day of muzzleloader and I mentioned to my buddy on Friday that it was about time for the 2nd rut. Then the next morning this guy comes in grunting and chasing a doe.

Good looking buck bowhuntr09. Congrats!

Bowhuntr09,
Thats a nice animal. Those antlers seem tall. Maybe three times as long as his ears? How old do you think he is?

Thanks! He was very tall. I have no idea on his age, I didn't even take a casual glance at his teeth. His main beams were about 22 inches each side.

Is anyone seeing any rut activity in the Stafford or Prince William County areas ? I hunt Quantico and it seems to have died

My neighbor shot an 11 pointer this morning. I did not see it, however, other neighbors did and they were impressed. I believe, as the legend goes, the buck was walking by himself; no does around him.

I hunted all day and only saw a small doe bedding down near by tree stand. No activity! Last year my spot was "deer central" this year its a "deer desert!" Oh, don't get me wrong, there are deer around. Other neighbors are getting their's. It just seems that either my timing is all wrong or I got "the stink" on me!

Drox, to funny. I think I'll try switching stand locations again next season too. Hahaa. Funny about the stink bug. Tell you what, don't ever trhow a stinker in the garbage disposal. I had to use bleach and a lemon drain drop to get rid of the stench after chopping one up the other day. A second rut would be nice, unfortunatly, I have not a single buck tag left, but I am happy as can be about this season. I have one doe tag left and I want to use it if it snows.

Almost done with my european mount of my nine. I have cleaned and bleached him. All that remains is a plaquered to mount him on. I'll post that when it's entirely finished.
This is while still cleaning. Happened to have the grill going to BBQ. I'll post one next of the bleached, but unmounted mount... and if you"re wondering, that happens to be a potatoe launcher in the background.LOL.

Finished but unmounted.
Pic didn't upload. check next thread.

Here we go.

That's a real nice size rack...congratz.......and you did a good job on the mount....looks great....

Thanks. I like the European mount better than a full mount, but I also don't likepaying all that money either.

That looks cool.....I'm gonna have to try that one time....I also like saving the $$$$$$$

That looks nice. Great job. Is that your bong in the background during the cook? Were you baking, grilling and boiling all at the same time?? :D

We're in a cold snap! Hopefully a few days of this weather will get the deer moving again. I'm able to hunt a half day (morning) tomorrow, and can't decide between Pocahontas and Powhatan. Powhatan is bucks only right now, but I haven't seen squat at Pocahontas lately. I just realized the other day I haven't killed a doe in three seasons. If I don't this season, it will be the fourth!

Too funny. It's my potatoe launcher. I had some friends over and my Goddaughter. We were grilling, boiling, launching and watching football.

After boiling it I use a peroxcide solution form the hair dresser supply store. Its number 40. I'll try and remember to take a pic of it so you know what to buy unless you already know and have doen it before, then I apologize and didn't mean to offend you.
I still have to put this one on a mounted board, but i am going to do something different there too. I'll post a pic when I am entirely finished.

Never did it before....let me know what I'll need so I get the right stuff....look forward to seeing the finished product....

No problem brewmann555. Unfortunatly I had my fiances brother over this weekend form Sweden and didn't get anything done. All you need is the following:

A pot to boil in. I use one medium size pot just for boiling the heads. If the pot is too big, you will need to lay something across the top of the pot so that the base of the antlers don't get boiled. Don't stress if the antlers get intot the boiling water, I have never seen a coloration change, but you never know.

I use a stand connected to a propane tank to provide the fire to boil and I always do it outside.

As far as tools, I use a knife, a fork and a pair of pliers to pull off all of the meat and skin.

I have found that soaking the head in ice water and making slits in the skin, make the removal of everything on the skull easier once you boil.

Be patient. The process can take anywhere from three to eight hours just to clean the skull.

Once dried for at least two hours after cleaning and boiling, I ususally apply three coats of bleaching. Just go to a supply store for hairdressers or to the salon itself and ask for hair bleach. It's peroxcide and the number on the bottle is 40. Getting this stuff form the supply store is cheaper than the solon. Once I get the mount done, I will post a pic of the mount, on the backboard and a seperate pic of the bleach.

Thanks for the info cpljbuck....

Anyone been out this week? Any movement?

I'm headed out tomorrow morning! I'll let you know what happens, however, at the rate I'm going this year I may already know what's going to happen. How's that for thinking positive?

Went out this morning. Saw one going in, about 20 yards from my stand. I have decided to rename my favorite spot from "Deer Central" to "A Dry Hole!" Ain't no oil there!! Tomorrow, if the weather is decent, I will move to another spot to finish out the year.

I don't mean to sound like a cry baby, I just want to finish filling out my tags! Now, what self respecting deer wouldn't want to help me out? I ask ya'?

Haven't been out in a long while. I did go out one day so my brother could hunt but I slept in the truck. Looks like I'll be back out in January and February.