Alabama Rut Tracker Thread

With the month of December in full force I think it would be a great tool to have a thread to keep check of the rut/rut activity here in Alabama. Let's try and keep this thread going throughout the year. Format posts as in the example below so that we can stay organized.

Location: Selma, Cullman, Aliceville, etc.
Date: 12/7/14
Rut activity: scrape checking, increase in rubs, chasing does, etc.
when was last year's rut?
Photo: show us your trophy
Kill info: what were your keys to success? Rattle, scent, decoy, call, does, food source, etc.
Other: any additional helpful information.

Spread the word. Let's get some mileage out of this post and help each other out.

Still grouped up in lee county

Saw a lone doe yesterday here in walker county. Found 2 scrapes that has been made in the last week.

All the bucks are still in bachelor groups in Macon county.

No deer in Coosa County to report on but the hog rut is drawing near.

Jefferson county

Young bucks scraping and chasing in the bessemer/mccalla area. Only heard of one deer older than 2.5's have been seen chasing. Older bucks are still with other bucks.

Prelim scrapes by young bucks in Dallas County. Bucks are no longer in bachelor groups but no major rut sign. Yet...

Cameras in St Clair showing older bucks still feeding together. Haven't had any time on stand to comment on any chasing.

Guy hunting coosa near the mgt area killed a buck with a swollen neck and dark glands today. Chilton very few rubs no scrapes yet that I've found.

Winston Co. Young bucks chasing, found 80-100 scrapes last Thursday and Friday had a buck come to doe pee Friday. My best friend killed a mature buck chasing in this exact same place a year ago from this past Thursday. Pretty consistent year to year!

Where I hunt in St Clair the bucks are still grouped together. Seeing no sign.

Colbert County - new scrapes just showing last couple days. Very little daytime movement

not even seeing scrapes in lamar co. yet. kinda strange

Dang, a sticky for your first post, cool. Still in groups in barbour

Scrapes started showing up this weekend in Perry county. Bucks fighting about to seperate.

In Marshall County they are still in the smaller 2 to 3 groups except, the larger bucks are in that vanishing stage until Christmas probably. Predict to be cold winter, don't skip that 10-2 window.

Shelby county

Saw three bucks together dearlier this week. Found a fresh rubline. No scrapes yet.

Found two old scrapes today at Lowndes WMA. Last weekend in Blount it was the same story old scrapes...

Together. No sign.

Few scrapes starting to show up in Fayette county but that's it and not seeing very few deer

Just a few scrapes in Morgan county- Still getting pics with bucks together.

Actually saw a scrape in North Baldwin on Saturday.

had a small 6pt harassing a doe yesterday evening.she didn't want anything doing with him here in the NE AL. I usually see small bucks start chasing around the 19TH of this month.Seeing more scrapes and rubs here in the swamps of Ball Play.

Dallas Co. bucks are fading from bachelor stage. Trail camera pics are showing prelim sparring. Found a few freshly checked scrapes close to the river. This is my first year hunting this part of the state, so the trail cams will be the tell all. Great post ALarcher.

Saw a buck and doe together this morning up in curry around 9:30. I was at work when I saw them. They walked threw a cutover to the hardwoods. About 5 minutes later I looked up to where I saw them and one was Getting it across that cutover. Don't know if it was the buck chasing the doe around or what. The one deer is all I saw when I looked up. It was the first buck we've seen in a couple of weeks. Anybody around that area been seeing anything.

Elmore County - The last pictures I have on camera of bucks together were on 11/30. I check it every week so I should be able to give another update this weekend.

Still together on our place in Chambers.

Northern Eastern Madison county, 3 miles from Jackson Co border, finding lots of fresh rubs

Also, I assume we are talking about peak rut activity here?

Yea hoping to be able to track peak rut across the state as it moves south. Pre-rut reports are probably just as important. Keep em coming.

Perry Co.
3 yr old buck half heartedly bumping does off a plot today.

Light scrapes and rubs just starting in North Randolph county

Limestone/Lauderdale Co line and ruts almost done. Hot weather and full moon got us this time. Not totally done but close.

Any update on Jefferson co? I had a couple bucks on camera I haven't seen before. I will try and make it out this afternoon. I will let y'all know if anything is chasing.

Going to be in Jackson county tomorrow, hope to have an update.

10 point buck comes busting down the mountain this AM. Stops, looks at me opening my protein bar, then keeps on trucking down the mountain to an area I know does are using heavily. He had something on his mind and it wasn't food ...

Anybody know when the peak rut is in the southeast corner of Shelby county, just south of Columbiana?

Christmas time from what I have heard

North Sumter County-Saw a 2 1/2 year old buck chasing 7 does yesterday afternoon around 4:00pm.

Nothing but does browsing in Henry county and a couple small scrapes

Thanks Ben2

Chaseing here somewhat

Chasing hard in our part of Winston. Big 10pt killed Sunday and a big 9 killed this morning chasing. I've seen chasing for a week now just no shooters for me.

Which part of Winston are you in? I hunt around Natural Bridge some but haven't been this season. Sounds like I might need to go.

Where I hunt in Bibb; The bucks are no longer in bachelor groups, does walking around together with not trouble from the bucks, found first scrape made between Wednesday evening and Friday morning.

bucks working scrapes pretty hard in Jackson Co., but does aren't ready. Bucks still hanging together. 16 days and counting til it should turn on

Same for me in Bibb County. Found two fresh scrapes today that weren't there two days ago.

Yep scrapes showing up in all the normal places starting this week. No chasing yet.

Elmore County - Friend of mine killed a very old rack buck behind Nail's Store near Lake Martin yesterday, and it had a swollen neck and black hind legs.

I killed a rutted up 7 in Jefferson yesterday evening, following 3 does

Thanks Atoler

no signs of rut in St. Clair

Good chatter on this thread. I spoke with a processor in Cullman on Saturday and he said he's starting to see rutty bucks coming in. He said he'd almost guarantee that by this Friday they'd be in full rut.

Summary: if you hunt around Cullman take a few days off work at the end of the week or start of next week and go kill one.

Randolph County near Wadley. Nothing No rubs or scrapes as expected.

I've got some scrapes getting worked regularly, had several bucks standing around each other as of a week ago according to trail cameras. Several new rubs in my AO in Jackson County.

The rut is on in Coosa and Chilton County. I shot a doe last week and she was all swollen. Shot a nice buck on saturday the 13th. He was working a scrap line. His neck was all swol up.

I hunt in paint rock on Bengum mountain and have seen several scrapes but have not seen any chasing yet!

Watched a decent buck chase a doe this afternoon in south Shelby County. Seems like the rut's getting started around here.

Nothing going on in Mobile County...

Checked the cam I have on a new scrape here at the house in Shelby County. Buck and does checking out the site in the day time. I don't live in a sub-division but I don't live in the big woods either.

Northside, Tuscaloosa- as of yesterday evening per my uncle and co-leaser. Seeking has begun. Bucks on cam in daylight cruising. Two plot watchers out on largest greenfields show that does starting to move around food sources and bucks are skirting edges. Fresh scrape lines laid down this week on a few fire breaks and draws.

Next two weeks starting tomorrow will be spent logging long hours with the binos. Will be moving a few stands to better positions around mid-day tomorrow.

Here in Bibb; not much, found new rub, scrape from last week looks to have been made a little bigger. Other than that nothing happening.

I hunt over that way and had no activity as of last Sunday. But I'll be sure to check my cams tomorrow, rain or shine!

If you hear somethin bark between daylight and noon it could be me.

Scrapes showing up and small bucks moving and grunting in bibb

Killed a 201 pound buck in Dallas County on the 14th that was rutted up big time. Neck swollen, stunk, dark tarsals.

He had been doing a lot of rubbing, his bases were full of pieces of wood.

Does are still grouped up with yearlings. Bucks are alone. Havent seen any chasing though.

According to my camera pics bucks are still in bachelor groups in Mobile County.

Seeing scrapes in paint rock valley but have seen no chasing!

Saw a fresh Rub,
Nothing else

fresh scrapes and a fresh run in lowndes today

Ditto two hilltops to the west of you. Lots of rubs and several scraped

After no activity for weeks, deer were moving this am, rattled in a spike.

Bucks still bunched up with other bucks,does, yearlings in Wilcox county last week.

Big Buck hauling arse across large field in Athens off of I65 at 11:45 today, not sure what got him so excited.

Rattled in 2 this morning on Cahaba WMA at 7am but blew both opportunities. One 6 and the other was much larger but couldn't get a clear count, just lots of mass and outside of ears by quite a bit. Got down from stand and walked for a bit to scout for afternoon and at 11:10am I caught a 6point with 4 on the left and 2 on the right working up a clearcut, decided I wasn't going to blow that opportunity and took him down.

Son rattled in a 4.5 yr old 7 point, couldn't get a shot on him from the way he came in.
Seems like the deer on edge of breaking loose but they are not showing any real sign of aggression. They come in but very timidly, no new scrapes or rubs.

Buck came out to check group of does then kept on going. Starting to cruise in Perry co.

Several new scrapes showing up in Shelby county.

I second that Found three scrapes within 30 yards of each other n a fresh rub in shelby county. First scrapes I have seen this year

Had a small buck on Cahaba cruise by me on his way to some sign on the ridge above me. Let him live for another day.

Northern Madison co I'm standing here looking at a 2-3 hour old scrape

Edit

Lots of new scrapes here

Driving down the road I watched a 120s inch 8 point run a doe all over a hay field at 12 noon yesterday near Walker-Cullman county line. She finally jumped a fence into a pasture, then jumped it again into a grown up cutover. He was 20 yds behind the whole way.

A few scapes and rubs showing up in Clarke County.

BigT Ill let you know when they start here (probably March 15th :D) cause I watch the aiport deer a couple times a week. Its like a petting zoo out there and seen plenty of chasing last year there.

That is so sad but a lot of truth....

any reports for sumter county?

Found fresh scrapes and a couple new rubs in Cullman this am. Heard some vocalizations which is rare.

Sounds like things are getting started up over at least the northern/central part of the state. Keep up the good posts.

Nothing new to report in Dallas County. Co-lessee saw a nice buck poke out on the edge of our bean field and watch some does. Bucks we are getting on camera have huge swollen necks, but aren't chasing or anything.

Neighboring hunter shot (and wounded) a monster 2 weeks back that was in the field with 4 other bucks. Safe to say they haven't started yet around Selma.

Checked a camera yesterday that has been out for 5 days on a new scrape. I had several 1.5 year old bucks hitting it, but nothing mature.

Hopefully they hold off a a few more days. I found some new scrapes last Sunday and saw three 2.5+ year olds and rattled in two of them on Saturday, killed one of them. Things seems to be on the cusp of going off in the Montevallo area. The only doe I have laid eyes on in my current spot had just been running through a creek and was drooling like she had been chased for a while.

Northport on the back deck. Had a buck grunting and chasing 5 or 6 does through the back yard. Never got a good look at him but he was a dark looking deer

Any Morgan County Reports?

Here in Bibb Co. I rattled in a spike in the am and again in the pm on the 19th, the next day my son rattled in a mature 7pt but he came out almost completely straight forward with most of his body behind a tree he couldn't get a shot on him.
On the 21st(Monday) I had a doe come out to a food plot at 1pm by herself she took the time to check out my trail camera before she left.
Found a new rub on the 24th,I thought things were about to crank up but it has been pretty dead for the last couple of days, I am thinking that my idea of when the rut happens here is off. I thought that it was around Christmas to the first of January but it may bee more like the first couple weeks of January.

Found a fresh rub today in south Marengo county. No scrapes yet. I suspect they will start by mid next week.

what makes you think it is not going on right now?

First round come and gone here in North Cherokee County.

Lots of dead deer on the highway south of us in the Feb. hunt zone. Very few around here. Some biologists use this a semi-half azz factor that they "have" or "are" cranking up. Seeing some scrapes now in Chambers. 3 other quys plus me have put in over 50 hours in the woods in the last 2 weeks and haven't seen a deer except for late afternoon and evenings in greenfields. Hope it's the lull before pre-rut kicks in..

Cahaba WMA last week:
I found many new scrapes, was lucky enough to witness a mature 9 groul and roar at another buck, was able to rattle a mature 7 to within 30 yards, some light cruising, very light rubbing. Lots of buck activity on cameras at all hours but mostly mid day.

Cahaba WMA this week:
None of the scrapes have been touched or revisited and cameras have been very dead, slowest of the season actually. Bumped several scouting but they just aren't moving much at all.

That's what Im afraid of, I was thinking that they are chasing and I'm not able to get to where they are (our land butts up against someone else's and I can't get permission to hunt it).

For those that hunt Jackson Co. where breeding is right around 1st week of Jan. you better get in the woods and hang on after this weekends rain. Gonna be on next week.

oh how i hope so!

Deer have become Ghost. Seeing fresh rubs but no deer. Wilcox county.

How do you think the flat rock/ Bryant area will be dec 30 - jan 2

K
Unfortunately Skyline doesn't have another rifle hunt scheduled until 9 Jan.

The 2.5 year olds and younger are on their feet in chilton cnty so big boys should be moving by the end of the week.

on my way home yesterday I saw three dead bucks on 65 just south of Clanton.
Usually a good indication they are getting stupid.One of the bucks was a good eight pointer.

Not sure about the Flatrock area, but I think it's roughly the same time. There's a pocket of deer in lower PRV that peek breeding is more towards the middle of Jan.

call me stupid, but what is PRV? im in Bryant gulf if you know anything about it.

Paint Rock Valley

thanks

I have seen no chasing in central al yet. Ive seen some smaller bucks start to move around in the daytime but nothing 3 years or older.

Any new updates on New Year's activity. I'm seeing some photos online if deer getting killed further south that appear to be rutted up pretty good.

Deer have disappeared in the Selma area. Sure shot places for deer sightings have yielded no results past 2 weeks. Pre rut lull???

I thinks it's over here in Bibb Co. No rubs or scrapes in about 2 weeks, no deer activity seen or heard while in the stand. Had a doe by herself in a food plot on the 21 and the 30.

I've still got them making new scrapes and chasing on camera in southwest Bibb.

Getting close in Lowndes county. Fresh rub lines established, scrapes n younger bucks on their feet harassing. Week or two away

Agreed bucks haven't hit scrapes since the 22nd on camera

Northport Al, Smaller bucks are starting to get shot moving in the day and harassing does. Started Getting bigger bucks that I haven't gotten all year on camera In the last 4 nights. No daytime pics nor has anyone shot a mature buck running any does here yet though.

Perry Co: big deer started getting shot on the 30th according to the processor would be wide open now.

Ventured into the lower delta WMA yesterday and there were a ton of fresh rubs & scrapes. Guess that means that BigT's bears will be on fire any day now.

NOW ! Big bucks have been hitting the ground last few days in Ol' Hi-Jackson.

Same thing in northern Washington County. And those geniuses said that the rut doesn't happen until February down here.

Where at in Washington county u hunting?

Just walked in the freezer at Backwater Outdoors, nothin to scream about but they're starting to get some bigger bucks. Hopefully the cold will flip a switch for this weekend.

I got Bucks moving on camera in New Market but haven't been able to hunt much there, might be starting to slow down there

Scrapes that appeared last week haven't been freshened up after the rain in western lee county. I'm thinking a week or 2 away here. Processor at sportsmans outpost said they're starting to see bucks come in but not the big boys yet. On a side note I'm about to try their burger for the first time tonight. Will report back with a rating

Rocket if you need someone to take care of em for ya, I'm your guy!

I saw five rack bucks together yesterday. Same ones I have been getting on camera since November.

I saw two diffrent spikes chasing two diffrent does on a field this afternoon in autauga county

Scrapes starting to show up in Mobile county. Did not see any sign in Baldwin County today.

First, I'm not really adding to this topic in reporting on the rut, but I want to say I read aldeer.com forums weekly from Virginia, and enjoy. I hunt in Alabama every year around Perry Mountain area on the NF. My question is anyone hunting around there and what kind of activity are you seeing. I will be in Alabama Jan 19. From the posts on rut tracker thinking I may be too late. Again, thanks for the feedback. If I'm in the wrong topic, sorry, this one seemed to fit. Ruthy.

Hunting with a friend near Linden this week. Is the rut there similar to south/central AL? Just curious what to expect.

Just watched a nice 8pt chase a doe all over a field inside the Brent city limits in Bibb county. I pulled over and watch him for a few minutes and he couldn't care less. He was definitely rutted up,
neck was swollen.

Maybe they are "special", bucks

Has anyone seen any chasing in shelby county around Chelsea ?I saw first scrapes n rubs about two weeks ago but yet to see anything chasing n does still grouped up.

Anything in Tallapoosa County yet?

Tallapoosa- hoping this cold spell will kick it off.

Says the guy named ButtHunter! You'd better have some thick skin with a name like that in this joint.

Crimson, we have lots of scrapes just south of Linden. Small bucks have been harassing the does. The big bucks are still just kind of laying low.

Hunted south Sumter county last week, no sign of rut, talked to a buddy north of York , very little sign of rut there either

I watched 3 young bucks chase does for an hour yesterday afternoon off 231 close to Montgomery, may bust loose within next few days around here

Maybe he can change his name to "Gerbil Rancher"

Saw two different bucks harassing two different does today in southern Autauga County. They weren't really chasing but rather following and harassing them.

Don't push those Autauga bucks into rut yet...need to wait until Monday so I can be there.

No doubt. I can't hunt again until the weekend. It's killing me.

Anyone seen any rut activity in Elmore county? I've been seeing a lot of buck tracks crossing our logging roads and walking down the middle of them which is good since I haven't seen any signs of bucks at all not even tracks til yesterday. Hope they get started soon.

Asked a couple of weeks ago about Ragland Ashville line. I was told last couple of weeks of January. Any other opinions on this area? First year hunting here and just want multiple views. Thanks in advance.

my experience has been from 1/10- on

I had pictures of them chasing at the end of February last year. As of last week I only found one small rub when I walked around behind the house.

Watched an 8pt chase a doe for about an hour back and forth in the woods behind my house in meadowbrook on Tuesday.

Seems to be some chasing by at least one mature buck near us in pike county. Maybe some does are getting close.

Thx Luke and 85...It's crazy, we found scrapes and rubs first couple of weeks in December which is when I typically find them in the areas of Etowah and Calhoun county in which I've hunted in the past. So my line of thinking was mid December through first part of January rut. Hunted it hard during these times and sightings on camera and from stand were nonexistent. I have not touched the land going on 2 weeks now and hope and pray you guys are correct. May have to go slide out there tomorrow midday and check some cam's. Been a slow season (zero success) so anxious to get some meat at this point. Thx guys and I hope we all have some success very soon.

Well, in the past, good scrapes and rubs haven't shown up for me until late dec/ more of early jan.

I found 3 scrapes in North Shelby County right around 12/16. I was out of town the week before Christmas, came home with the flu and haven't been in the woods until yesterday. The scrapes were in 2 different locations. Hwy 41 had 1 and Hwy 119 had 2 about 15 yards apart. They were fresh when I found them and don't look like they have been touched since. There was doe scat in 2 but it was old. Watched a yearling spike for about 20 min this a.m. near the 2 scrapes on 119. He kept looking past me up the hill nervously but kept doing his thing, milling around like he had no place in particular to go until he finally smelled something he didn't like and left. My first thought was that it was me he smelled, and it may have been, but I also had a doe estrous scent wick hanging from a limb not far away so I don't know if maybe that was it (he being a yearling maybe figured he might get in trouble for being there, I don't know). Anyway, my fear is that its over here and I missed it but for all I know it hasn't even started yet. Can anybody from this area confirm or deny?

I too found scrapes pretty much the same week as you in Chelsea on hwy 11 and county road 43 on my little pieces of property. I checked them after hunting this morn n it looks like there is still some activity around them. I saw two small bucks cruising a ridge this morning. One of them followed 6 does down into the bottom but not aggressively. I can't say if it's over around here or not. I hope not. I did find a new rub about 10 yards from an older one that has been made in the last week

Keep me posted about anything else you see please and I'll do the same. Thank you.

Anybody else that hunts hwy 119, 41, or 43 areas please share with the class. How about some of you folks in the Oak Mountain State Park hunting club? What are y'all seeing?

Cahaba's rut is finished. Definitely peaked the week of christmas while I was out of town. At least I got one two days before I left.

Anyone know how things are going down in Macon County? I'm going to sit on Tuskegee NF on Monday the 19th and hope I'm not too late there also.

[s][/s]Rut is starting up in Dallas County. On 1/9 I shot a nice 9 point at 438 yards that was cruising a pasture. Food WAS NOT on his mind but he wasn't "nose to the ground" yet. Hunted yesterday morning and had a small eight chase two does past me. Small bucks are in it full force. Next weekend is going to be the weekend.

[img]http://imgur.com/Je8vnEj[/img]

Still not on in Wilcox where I hunt

Found lots of scrapes last week in Wilcox County. Had pictures of Bucks still together

Any rut action in Elmore county? Heading down Wednesday might gonna hunt through Saturday. Hoping they a getting up on their feet and chasing

I've seen some young eight points and a few six points with there nose down trailing a doe and spikes and other little bucks are all over the does where I hunt in autauga county

Baldwin County...Shot a six point last night right after he made a scrape. Bucks Just starting to move from what we are seeing.

only seen small deer in barber co. wma does any one know the rut times

Same for me in Autauga.

Saw a small buck harassing some does in a field on the side of the road this afternoon in western Marshall county. The big boys should be on their feet within the next week, right on schedule.

Usually late jan for us here in pike, Barbour and dale county. I hunt in all three and have seen a few good bucks this week and a lot of small bucks starting to move! Seen a 4pt bumps 2 doe around today and a good 8 at dark but no interest in them yet!

In conecuh county bucks are still grouped up.

Seen lots of sign this past weekend at lease. Beginning to scrape and Rub in South Perry County. Bucks were seen pushing Does and the Buck my wife shot was Nose down searching. I suspect within the next week Does should go in Estrous.

Saw and 6 and 8 point walking together yesterday evening...tallapoosa-Coosa county line.

Anyone have an update in the Lee/Macon county area (Notasulga)?

Saw a decent buck chasing in lowndes yesterday. Few more small bucks were cruising around with their nose on the ground.

Macon: Just about to happen for us. Young bucks are getting crazy. Tarsals are black. Bucks starting to scent check green fields. I'm headed to camp for a solid week this Friday and hoping my timing is right.

We are seeing solid signs of pre-rut near the Russell/Macon county line in Hurtsboro. The younger bucks were actively chasing does throughout this past weekend (10th and 11th). Have also had a few bigger buck sightings during the day, one of our guys dropped a nice 8 pt. His tarsals were getting there, but he definitely wasn't in peak rut yet. Couple shooters on trail cam during the day as well. Also found fresh scrapes and rubs. This is all a big change from what we have been seeing in December and first week of January. Our best guess (and hope) is that the last 3+ weeks of the season are going to be very eventful. Heading back down on Friday, will update with any new info if it's helpful to anyone else in the area when I get back.

Anyone hunt in Dallas county. We hav not been seeing the deer movement we are accustomed too and not seeing the deer on the food plots. Anyone else having this issue?

Thanks man. I'll be down there Friday to pick up meat from a deer I shot a couple of weeks ago. Hoping to get some hunting in while I'm down.

Whats going on in Wilcox county? I'll be headed down there late this week or next.

Anyone seeing a change in Cullman County?

Anyone know how things are in St. Clair and Blount county area

I killed a 131 BC this morning just south of the Alabama line below Brewton. It was with another eight point and no chasing was going on.

Pics or it didn't happen

I killed it before work and have it hanging right now so that I can clean it after work. I will try and send a pic of it in the back of my truck but have no idea how to do pics on here. Im old and didn't grow up in the computer era!ha

The rut is in full swing in Limestone Co. Got busted my a buck chasing a doe hard. She was dang near sprinting to stay away from him! He came back 45 minutes and made a scrape after knowing I was there.

If you are willing to send me your cell number, I will text you a picture of it right now.

C:\Users\peaches\Pictures\IMG_0096.jpg
Tried to post a picture of the buck I killed this morning. See if this link works. I am having trouble posting the pic from my computer.

Sent you a Private Message. I can post it on here as well once I get it.

Here ya go Peach ...

Nice deer, congrats!

Great deer Peach!

Killed a 180 lb, 3yr old, six pt. Saturday evening at 4:15 working a scrape in Northeast Butler County. Starting to stink but hocks not soaking or completely black. Bucks were up and moving. It is not here yet but very close. MLK weekend should be some good pre-rut action.

Thanks for helping me post the picture. I am on a high school computer and it was blocking us from posting. Thanks again!

Sure thing!

Anyone have an update on Sumter County? Specifically north of York.

nice buck peach!

Another pic of same deer w/Peach

Thats a good deer! nice thick beams Peach!

Nice. I had a 6 or 7 point come through scent checking this morning about 7 or so.

Planning on driving down for an afternoon hunt tomorrow and a full day hunt Monday on Tuskegee National Forest. Anyone know what kind of activity is going on down there?

Hows the rut in north perry county? Are they done yet?

I'm a Dallas county hunter. Killed a 140" 9 point last weekend, but deer movement has been funky. Haven't come to food plots all year. Had 62 pics on trailcam in a field over the past week. In the previous week had some corn out and had 1500+. They're going where the corn is, which is unfortunate. Some prerut signs down here but have see. No bucks harassing does, unless they were small bucks. Weather maybe? This is our first year down here and we've heard the rut is around this time every year. Not believing it right now.

Macon County. Spike, small 8 Nd a pretty decent 8 chasing this morning.

3 bucks killed in Notasulga, AL last night. None by me, because I was on the only field that was extinct of deer. One was a 10pt, and two 8pts. All of them had super dark tarsals and stank.

Killed a 8pt Saturday in Chambers county, also has super dark Tarsals and stank badly, heard a lot of grunting Sat morning.

In the woods this evening scouting!!, seen a lot of older scrapes and a dozen or so rubs that looked fresh. I'm around Stanton area on NF. Seen several does that gave me the blow.

At our place in Chambers near Cusseta we are seeing plenty of young bucks cruising. There are still some bachelor groups.

Anyone know what they are doing in area around where Tallapoosa, Chambers, Randolph counties meet?

saw bucks all weekend cruzing, members saw bucks all weekend cruzing, Watched a young 8 make a scrape and then killed a big 8 making scrapes and rubs sunday afternoon in SE butler county line.. getting close, I'm thinking after this front comes through on Thursday or Friday it will bust loose

Mistook a spike for a doe yesterday in Tuskegee National Forest at 11:15 with the bow from 45 yards. Stunk and had stained tarsals, I would guess the big boys are going to be getting close in Macon county soon.

Saw a lot of spikes last week in Wilcox County. No big boys yet.
Our Does have seemed to change their travel patterns also.
Not sure what that means.

Saw a small buck chasing yesterday in Blount County

Bibb county rutt should be over but I'm still seeing scrapes being used. Buck to doe ratio is not close so I'm sure breeding still going on. Most buck activity at night. Our rutt was poor at best on club.

Finally saw the first good sign of rutting activity in Autauga county last evening...had a 3.5 yo 8 point come in checking scrapes and seeking with his nose on the ground...It appears to be starting a week or so late this year.

Marengo County anyone? I see rubs and scrapes but no chasing at all around Dayton

What about Clarke County? Anybody have any reports or sightings? I hunt in between Grove Hill & Thomasville. Thanks.

any word on St Clair co?

I'll let you know next Thursday.

We are just inside perry co line rut usually peaks about Jan 1st, but they normally start scraping and rubbing and cruising now looking for the next ready batch of does. Hunted yesterday and saw best sign (big rubs) and new scrapes. Watched 4 bucks harass does all afternoon and all 4 worked scrapes. This time of year can be dead or wide open depending on if a hot doe is near your location.

Excellent thread.... all deer of both sexes have been abducted by aliens in Dekalb co.

Anybody got anything on lower Choctaw County?

My buddy hunts around gilberttown said his club killed 3 good bucks chasing does since Tuesday

Pelham Al, shelby co. Just had a broke 4 and a 16" wide six point cruise through the woods behind the house. First bucks I have seen behind the house all year. Usually an indication of a hot female close by.

10-4. Thanks man. What club is he in if ya dont mind me asking?

My wife is in helena and she is hot. That is close to Pelham.

Don't forget.

Asheville/Ragland area should be good....seen smaller ones roaming and couple of pics of big boys when I'm working of course. Anyone else having any signs in these areas?

Shot a decent 8 pointer in Barbour County that was pushing a doe. His hocks weren't stained, but he was glued to her. First rutting behavior I've seen in five days of hunting.

A buddy of mine saw 2 yearlings fight a few days ago an a spike chasing hard In Ashville.

This was a good weekend in Western Coffee County.

Saw young bucks cruising all yesterday morning, no big boys though. Henry County.

Congrats. What part of Barbour? I'm trying to time when to head to my camp to try and catch the rut.

X2 starting to get good

Five miles north of Clayton just east of Rte 51

[quote=BamaGrad85]What about Clarke County? Anybody have any reports or sightings? I hunt in between Grove Hill & Thomasville. Thanks. [/quote

Hunted Near Thomasville last tues-sunday....Does still in groups..active scrapes and rubs but no chasing...deer were nocturnal in food plots...

saw one doe swishing her tail as if coming into heat...I'll bet next week will be hot there....]

Bucks sporadically chasing still in perry county. Hammerdown killed a mature buck chasing a doe wide open on 1/26/15.

as of saturday en evergreen young bucks were cruising but no chasing

It's been dead in sweetwater in Marengo county.,

Its been some kind of dead in South Sumter Co, near the river, this week. I talked to two guys that pulled all day hunts 4 days in a row, with virtually zero rutting or chasing. They killed one good 8 that was involved in a multi-buck chase, but other than that highlight, they said it was extremely slow. Trail cams blowing up at night with several good bucks, 10 pm-4 am. The deer are there there are just not moving??? Im headed there tomorrow hoping things improve

I hunt in sweet water we have killed 3 bucks in last 2 weeks they were all chasing and had swole necks good stinking glans

Been seeing very good rut activity around sweet water. 3 bucks killed last week they was all swolen necks good smelling glans and also heard 2 fighting very aggressively yesterday evening

Our place in Chambers has does with little ones, some bucks together, and some chasing (young bucks).
Confusing!! Seems like something different each year.

Shelby county in the Indian Springs/ Oak Mtn Park area must be going strong. I had a nice long tined 9 cross in front of me at 8:00am, would have hit him if I would not have stopped.
I have him and his running buddy, another nice 9 on camera behind the house from back in Nov.
Good luck this weekend, heading to S Lowndes to try it again! The young ones were running but the ones I am looking for were still running at night last weekend.

I guess I completely missed eastern Lee County (Salem) rut. Let a fair 9pt walk on Sunday at 35 yds. His neck did not appear swollen either. He also had no interest in my attempt at calls once he moved off a little. 7 does came out of the same thicket 20 minutes later and I watched them feed for an hour with no further buck activity. Oh well....