Rut and Mast status in VA?
 

Looking forward to Bow season starting. Havn't seen any rubs and havn't noticed a huge amount of acorns either. Ones I have seen were small. I am in Chesterfield. Anyone else in Va seen any rubs, or spied any bucks without velvet?

RE: Rut and Mast status in VA?
 

I am in Southhampton and we are seeing some very big bucks and they are still in velvet. I have seen a few smaller deer out of velvet but the bigger bucks have still had velvet. They are still hanging around together also.

RE: Rut and Mast status in VA?
 

Thanks for that info. That's good to hear. I want to put meat in the freezer mostly, but wouldn't mind a nice Buck. Heh heh.. Since that would be my first deer, I won't be too choosey.

DPV

RE: Rut and Mast status in VA?
 

I live near Danville and its about the same here. The mast crop here is spotty but where there are acorns they are loaded.

RE: Rut and Mast status in VA?
 

Well I work in No. Va. and the trees with mast are loaded and starting to drop. I live in Fredericksburg and there seems to be a heavy load of mast on the trees down there also. I haven't seen any bucks yet, but if last season is any indication the bucks will still be hanging in bachelor groups in the early part of bow season. Last year the rut started about mid Oct. in the fredericksburg area and considering right now it looks like it will be warm again this fall I doubt if it will change much, I would geuss the rut will be going full bore come black powder.

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club

RE: Rut and Mast status in VA?
 

Charles Alscheimer, who Im sure most people know if they read any of the major deer hunting publications, says the rut will be late in va. Who knows if he's right, but his article was pretty in depth on how he calculates it.

RE: Rut and Mast status in VA?
 

Here in southern VA there are lots of acorns. They are beginning to fall. Rut usually starts about the second week in November.

RE: Rut and Mast status in VA?
 

I am also in Chesterfield, been doing some scouting lots of acorns on the ground, I have seen about 10 fresh rubs, one scrape,watched a clover field sunday evening saw one buck with left beam missing riht was 3 pt. no velvet, saw a nice eight pointer no velvet either, while they were in the field there were also 2 buttons and one doe, the bucks didn't particularly seem to be very interested in them.