Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Serious Deer Talk Forum Cleburne rut/processor

Im new to hunting cleburne county, im on the north side off of county road 49 at oak level. Ive researched and talked to neighbors and cant get a straight answer of when the most chasing takes place. Some say week of thanksgiving then they say mid december. Just trying to pin point the heaviest chasing. Im seeing very few scrapes now, so im guessing it may be awhile off. Also, which processor in cleburne do you recommend? I hear good things about the trails end processor. Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks

I’m very familiar with that part of Cleburne. They gave you the correct answer with both replies. The pre-rut chasing phase will kick in over Thanksgiving and come back around in mid to late December. My personal best buck came from some forestry service land around there, and he was rutted up and cruising on Jan. 4th. You likely won’t see a ton of sign until right at the gun opener. After that there ought to be ample sign to key in on. From what I’ve experienced there’s a lot of does out there that either don’t come into estrous until that December time period or just don’t get bred that first go around. But you need to hit it hard from turkey day until the first week of January as chasing can/will happen at any time. After about 1/10, may as well start squirrel hunting because the deer don’t move a ton.

As far as processors, I haven’t heard anything bad about Trails End. When I used to hunt out there a bunch I’d always take deer to Jerry’s in Oxford, but that was close to where I lived at the time and probably the opposite direction from home for you. Plus I think he is shutting things down after this season (but the man makes some damn good summer sausage if you can get a deer to him before he closes).

Steven Cavendar
Brought 2 Life Taxidermy and Processing
256-591-5751