Iron Archer

Guys,


Hope everybody is having a good start to their seasons. Has there been any rut predictions or activity. I'm talking about eastern to mid VA. I hunted Monday last morning and checked for buck sign...nothing. I hunted Friday night wife and she missed an 8 pointer with her bow. On the way to the stand I saw twelve scrapes and they were SUPER fresh and very large. No chasing or any rubs though.

I look forward to your responses.

mackesr

A friend of mine said that Deer/Deer hunting mag predicts an early rut from this past full moon until the next. Not sure. Did see a young buck chasing a doe, but not much else other than a few fresh scrapes.

Invented

No signs where I'm hunting. The deer aren't even moving in the daylight. I hunt east of Richmond.

VA5326

Typically in Virginia, a few days before Halloween to the middle of November, the switch fips. I plan to be in the woods during that time whenever possible. Good luck everyone.

VA

Iron Archer

Do you guys think it's too early for estrus scents? I have noticed the buck groups have split up on my farm. Haven't seen any fighting though.

Eyedr

Alsheimer predicted a late rut this year due to the late rutting moon. The prediction was that the peak would be right around Thanksgiving this year.

Invented

I can say that the cold day today helped. Saw deer moving around at 4:30 until dark. No shooters, but I was glad to see some daylight movement finally. This little cold snap makes for some nice evenings in the woods.

Stonewall308

Man I was hoping it would be early this year.

I went out this morning. I saw two does at 9:30 and that was it. I have not seen a buck while hunting yet this year, let alone any chasing. I did find one very big scrape today. I am seeing a lot less deer this year than last year.

hardwoodhank

Im hunting in western Hanover/Goochland area and have a little honey hole I have been taking care of since August with some various stuff like food plot, corn piles, and getting out before sunrise and in stand. I have seen no less than 7-10 deer in my place every morning where I have seen some chasing, grunting, and mature bucks hanging out later this past week. Today with the cold weather I put out a doe in estrus bomb and had a mature, big rack buck show up grunting, stomping, etc. Unfortunately he skipped out about 5 minutes before I could make his body out in my sight. I did see a lot of rack in the moonlight, but it appears that this snap in weather has got the bigger bucks out trolling more than Ive seen the past few weeks. I did take a small buck today, but as far as the rut, all I have noticed is a small buck chasing and trying to mount a yearling doe. Im not sure if its the so called "pre rut, or if things are picking up, but the weather is going to play a big part of it. Im thinking (hoping) that around Halloween or the week after it should be kicking in, at least in the group that I am seeing on a regular basis.

cpljbuck

Good to see some familiar names here. Haven't been out yet this year. REALLY looking forward to next weekend. Going in late to get a ground blind up and some shooting lanes trimmed. I don't know if this will alert the deer to change as they have been left alone all summer. Hope to see some good pics this season. Good luck to all.