BeenThereDoneThat.

Whitetail will, if not caught the first time, come back into estrus 30 days later so, I am told. But I will venture to say, the rut didn't start till late the second week and not heating up till the third week of Nov. this year.

 
2 and 4 years ago, my son killed bucks on the second Monday of the gun season that were dogging yearling/that year's fawn does.  Same exact spot both times.  The bucks fell about 10 yards apart.  
 
Very low pressure area though, and we were pretty much the only ones hunting this 25-ish acre block of timber during gun season.   
 
I hunted a backyard/suburban type spot in 2B on Friday with the crossbow that I haven't hunted in a few years, and saw two 1.5 year old bucks that showed absolutely no signs of rutting behavior.  No does were seen on the hunt, but there are plenty around, hence my invitation from a friend to please shoot some of the deer that are overrunning and destroying his and his neighbor's yards and landscaping.  Both bucks just slowly meandering and browsing on their way to feast on the back yard buffets.  

r3g3
 
 
Good luck out there Square hope your son connects again.

He broke his middle finger and had to have some pins put in it 3 weeks ago.  Pins came out yesterday, but it's his dominant hand and he's not ready to shoot a rifle yet.  Doc thought that wouldn't go too well - either control or recoil in that hand, even though he shoots a .243.
 
He can still shoot a crossbow though, and was doing it with the surgical wrap.  A bit awkwardly, but it worked since his pointer finger and thumb were free.  Have a few spots where he can hunt with that that are too close to houses for the rifle anyway where we'll hopefully get him set up in the blind on Saturday.  Archery safety zone in PA is now 50 yards.  Rifle is 150.  Can set him up about 100 yards from other houses in a few spots that should still be holding some deer even with all the gun hunters out and about.  Heck, both of those bucks he shot he could've shot with a crossbow anyway.  Both were under 30 yards broadside standing still when I stopped 'em mid chase.    
 
If he doesn't want to hunt, I've got 2 doe tags to fill in different management units.  One tag is in all season.  The other, doe doesn't come in till Saturday.  Wouldn't feel right for me shooting a buck with him in his situation.  Though I'd be awfully tempted if it was a big one.
 
Hope those bucks get back on their feet for you R3.  

I don't know about Sugar Grove but I know what I use to see in my little piece of Penn's Woods and last evening was the first time I've seen anything similar over the past several years.

Don't know if it's because of the mild winter, changes in the antlerless Doe regs, the logging that took place East of me or a combination thereof. But it sure was exciting to see so many deer on opening day.

Now if they would just do away with the stupid antler restrictions.

I would be eating backstrap for dinner.

Relocated to my ground blind for this afternoon. Hoping any deer the Dutchman chased out might return along the bayou's edge, making their way out to do some munching in the field.


Believe it or not, I just heard six shots fired in rapid succession coming from my West.

Can't wait till next year when all the boys will be hunting "The Pennsylvania Wilds" with their AR15s. JOY!!!

Would be something like Veal I would think, being from a very young animal.

That liver thingy though.... Bleah!!. You can have my share but the heart, now that there is worth arm wrestling over.

My nephew took a nice buck today and earlier in the day, got some super video of two black bear around his stand.

Now that's hunting to remember.


Hang in there r3 I'm seeing some pictures, coming from your way real soon.

Good luck.

Been out a lot this muzzle season and have been passing despite saying brown and down every am to myself.
Saw 7 flatheads today on a mid day hunt.
One year and a half old doe approached to about 30 yards several times as I stood against a tree. She barked several dozen times at me.
Couldn't bring myself to shoot.
She would approach, bark,stomp and stare at me then turn and hop off to about 75 yards-sneak off a few yards to my left  and repeat the whole approach.
She did this many times over about a half hour until a mature doe approached  and the two walked off together
Think she may be the same one that kept approaching my blind -leaving and returning -on opening day - barked many times then too until a doe came along and took her away.
That old ma ma doe has her work cut out for her with this curious blabby daughter lol
Good thing there is no other hunting around that area- haven't heard a shot in 2 years.

break out the smoke poles
 

wanted to shoot mine in today but have gut issues....it still should be on with 70 gr. 50 cal. round ball. Pa hunter carbine
 

Hadnt been out to the back line since meeting with Blabby last week.
They like to feed and bed up there around midday so kinda snuck in  SLOW  around 11 AM today.
Ice age left huge rocks all  over the place -some the size of an Suv-amid the many large Oaks and Beech in the area. The young Beech are still holding leaves and its a place where Deer can jump out real close while still hunting.
 Got near my sit spot on a blowdown and took a long look at the South East facing hillside opposite the rise I was on- fresh sign had been abundant all the way in.
A Doe stood up angled very slightly away at about 70 yards. Put the scope on her aiming at the far front leg and fired.
She buckled, turned, and ran off with her tail up- Four others stood at the shot and were with her as she topped the hill and disappeared.
Gave it a half hour and went to the shoot spot to find zero blood or hair.
Then tracked over the hilltop-they had run together so couldn't tell whos tracks were whos.
Took three that had angled off together on the far side and went about a hundred yards on them-on top of the 50 to the hilltop- no blood.
Went back and took a fourth  track and  after about 50 yards found ONE DROP of blood.
Ok -----a LONG day ahead.
Went back to the beginning and retraced this particular Deers sign. YEP --ONE DROP.
OK-- VERY slooooowlly tracked and looked around constantly. NO more blood.
After a while she started to stumble and leave scrapes in the leaves on the hard to follow track.
NOOOO not a broken leg low shot ???
Many yards further she lay dead.
Shot had been perfect  in the ribs and low - out right behind the far leg- right where I wanted it.
Not a drop of blood on either the entrance  or exit holes or on her mouth- nor was any on the ground under her.
When I gut - her heart was ripped all up by the shot and her front cavity was full of blood. ( 50 cal sabot)
NEVER had a heart shot deer go so far or bleed so little.
Had I not seen her buckle at the shot it woulda been real easy to say - oh well - a miss- after the hundred yards she ran (before the one drop) with no indication whatsoever of being hit.
Homey don't play dat though-  always follow up as long as possible.
Got a week or so left but may not be out again- never saw a horn all year.
(cept in turkey season lol)
But what a really GREAT year -sometimes the Deer gotta win.
 
 
 
 
 

Nice shooting....good tracking is a must for sure...good job

RUT--
Ours was pretty much over before gun season started and I never saw any indication of the usual second rut.
Last year in the same area fresh scrapes continued through mid December and Bucks were seen throughout the season-both rifle and muzzle.
This year- other than scrapes a few days old on the first day NONE were found.
After shooting the Doe a day or two ago -while dragging- saw a NEW scrape with only one leaf laying on it.
The area had great mast crops, many Doe, both years and there is Zero hunting pressure all around.
My Deer are natural movers and not pushed so I see it as it naturally happens.
Bucks were seen early during Turkey and none seen all gun season.
Season to season things can really change.