Haven't been in the woods this week, but things seem to be heating up around my area rut wise. Saw the two fawns that were with the doe I passed on the day I shot my buck all by their lonesome in the field Monday leaving for work. Must have gotten the boot from mama. Checked the cam today numerous pictures of doe traveling by, only to be tailed by a decent 8pt not too long after. Few pics of bucks showing up cruising around noon. Good luck to you guys still looking to arrow one. Planning on being out Friday morning looking to add a doe to the freezer.

Just for fun and to get the blood pumping ill share a pic my buddy sent to me. He moved to Wisconsin this year. Pic of the buck his girlfriends nephew got Monday night. I might crap myself if I ever saw one like this come thru my neck of the woods.

Tonight's camera pull from a different spot in southern 2B.  They are definitely moving more.
 
https://youtu.be/rrsv_CcAKNg
 
https://youtu.be/N7WF0j5AafI
 
https://youtu.be/VpeiEdexQ1I
 
https://youtu.be/Nq1I6cFVyUI
 
https://youtu.be/e7kv4KNFb_Y
 
https://youtu.be/UjmD7QLlfyE
 
https://youtu.be/Z9Pbr3ME7gE
 
https://youtu.be/JJwm-sfxJoc

Congrats MG!

Moses I know you've probably heard this but, Nice deer. CONGRATULATIONS. 👍

I enjoyed the hunt.

Congrats Moses......

There is nothing remotely resembling what all y’all are describing as rut activity going on around here — in person or pictures.

Three or more weeks ago, it was typical to pull camera cards and see 5-7 different bucks on each camera in a 10-14 day time frame. Since then, maybe 3-5 total bucks on all cameras — all at night, except a single one horn on Saturday.

None of those photographed, however, were making or remarking existing scrapes, just moving through and feeding. Same with does, just hanging, eating, or traveling — none with bucks in pursuit.

Yesterday, I spent before dawn until unable to see in the best spot on the property and I saw one spike in the AM just wondering through and two does in the evening, just feeding through. None paid any attention to the scrape line I could see (which hasn’t been tended for three weeks), nor the mock scrape I added to the end of the line.

Grunting, bleating, rattling, bring completely silent did nothing at all.

I can see a 60 acre field to the south which is surrounded by woods and not a single deer entered nor crossed it.

There certainly was no does being pushed about or bucks chasing does or bucks challenging one another or bucks marking territory— in person in two days or on camera in more than two weeks.

When last our female Pointer was in heat, the boy dogs were losing their ever loving little minds. They had to be separated; couldn’t be left out together at all; jaws were popping; noses were running; every place she peed, they had to cover with their own; they just wouldn’t give her a minute of peace. This is kind of what I expected with the deer, but on a more subtle scale. But nothing.

Maybe this week with it getting colder.

At least I hope.

The pictures I posted yesterday all took place within the matter of minutes.

I've posted pictures of doe only, that show up daily, for better then two weeks. Then suddenly one day last week I catch sight of a buck cruising through the area. Not stopping, just nose to the ground following the same paths taken daily by the doe.

Since the buck passed through, my wife and I have kept a constant watch, knowing the buck would return.

Yesterday was the first time we saw him but this time he would stop and put his nose to the air then back to ground.

Disappearing into a grove of trees and underbrush, it wasn't long before he busted a group of doe plus a small wye-buck.

It was like a "Chinese Fire Drill" we would pull at stop lights with car full of people. Deer busting from the woods, running around the fields, back into the woods, and back into the fields.

Some seconds later, out popped the buck and the pictures tell the rest of the story.

Plenty of doe in the area so I'm suspecting this buck if not overpowered by another, will be working his scrapes for awhile.

More interesting will be the doe as they come into estrus and work the scrape.


Speculation from earlier articles written this spring/summer. Full moon coming, time to go sit in a tree and swing your feet.

Good luck to all that seek, the elusive PA White-Tailed Deer.

I hope younz get a Wallop-A-Loser. 🏹

When ya say 'plenty of doe' remember the mature doe are the ones that count for this rut-not the skippers.
If they go in at about the same time your rut can be fast -last years doe will make it  last a while longer.
Therefore ya cant count all the flatheads as doe that could go into heat.
At least not this early in the 'first rut'.
Some of the first born skippers and the year and a half olds could  go in later.
Have seen some go in as late as Feb.
Thats why ya see some spotted fawns so very late in spring into Summer.
Heck  a few years back watched a new spotted fawn walk under the doe first week of bow.
Point is that from now on there can always be a buck chasing, even well beyond whats considered the normal rut time.
This is why as the seasons  go on into gun ya often see bucks wandering- lookin for love- that haven't been in your area before- some have been known to travel many miles.

When started hunting Deer in the late 60s with a bow we had no trail cams or devices to help- heck we didnt even have camo clothing- cept military stuff..
Began a lifetime adventure of scouting pretty much year round.
One very important thing I found about Buck hunting is that- after the majority of the rut in very late season- they come back home- if they lived through the seasons.
Had enough pvt property locked down to be able to find a target buck and pretty much have HIM on my to do list. Didn't always work out but often enough to make it a routine.
If he left pretty quick early he generally came home late.
With multiple tags each year it didn't mean no deer but it meant I could hunt HIM throughout the seasons-
Took a lot of Hims over time- now time is getting even-passed all last year waiting out HIM- zip- don't care it was fun- all from the ground as I don't feel right in a tree anymore-but took 2 nice shooters ( and a lesser couple) in the past 5 years.
Knew where he hungout but also knew I couldn't get him out anymore lol.
Sooo waited on the fringes- nada -and passed lesser deer- loved it.
It aint about the meat.
Welll- now I'm out so something is gonna hit the dirt this time around.
 

It has been a great year for you and yours. Congrats!

GREAT 5 min. hunt.
Congrats.

Thanks guys and congrats Anz, nice buck.

Been seeing some pics of some real bruisers being taken in the big woods up north this week.

Mopars..... I been keepin my fingers crossed for you, maybe I should uncross them and wish you bad luck. Reverse Psychology🏹

Good luck it's your turn.🦌

anzomcik
Lead this fella to a 6 yard shot. Piled up 50 yards later. Was not in the stand 5 minutes maybe.

Might not be much of a story buck a heck of a fine buck is the result. Congrats man!

Genetics has come up here from time to time and here may be an example--
A friend has a great piece of Pvt agricultural property here in Ct locked down and takes shooters every year with bow and gun.
This year he has seen two very odd sets of horns on mature bucks throughout the Summer into fall.
One has 8 pt. horns crossed at  the base and then they appear to look normal from a distance, each standing up on the wrong side.
The second, also an 8 pt., has a normal side and the other base goes almost straight down with normal looking points on it sticking straight out.
He took that second buck in early bow and the cross horn is still out there.
Today he went out and took ,a heretofore unobserved,  magnificent 190 lb buck with large thick heavily palmed horns and large thick drop ties with kickers on them , it was very nontypical.
Depending on how ya count its a 12 or 14 point even with obvious breakage on the drops.
The latter (todays harvest)is a 4 1/2 year old at the very minimum and the others are 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 year olds.
WE kinda think it may be  the older one that has spread the unusual gene pool.
If so its kinda nice because even if there are no more bucks displaying ( beyond the one still out there) they had plenty of time to spread the pool - not to mention does that likely carry it.
Todays buck was VERY heavily necked with dark tarsals and came to a grunt.
He has hunted there for many years and has never observed horn oddities in the past.