Hey guys, just wanting to know if it's the same where you hunt? I hunt in south Montgomery County on the Crenshaw County line. Last year in November we had rubs and scrapes everywhere. One food plot had 14 scrapes before the end of November. This year we have counted 3 scrapes and very few rubs. We had more bucks on camera this year in Sept-Nov than we have ever had. Come December like always they are gone. Usually, they come back the last week of December but this year its crazy. All our bucks that we are getting are still together. Their hocks are not dark yet. Just a weird year.

Now the great part, I have never seen so many turkeys. They are everywhere. Can't wait for March!!

I definitely have noticed the lack of rubs/scrapes.

Been a lot of bucks shot over the last few years

Our rut in Lamar has traditionally been best around Dec 23-26, I shot a 7pt last Saturday absolutely no smell or dark hocks, and I know of a few more the same way.

I hunt in Talladega county. Similar situation.

Very few scrapes and slower to appear than years past. Hocks not anywhere near dark. We usually kick up now thru the end of the month.

Rubs and scrapes all over our place when we were there last week. Should be many more when we get there this weekend. The 2 bucks we killed had a little smell to them and their hocks were a dark. Right on par for our place.

I wonder if it has something to do with corn, it is the same at our place as well

Fixed it for you!

CNC was right the first time. These feeders has got an ass load of 2.5 year old racked bucks killed. Or that’s my opinion lol

To the OP, they about right in northern Randolph county and northern Tallapoosa county. Same as they always been. They rutting right now in northern Randolph and starting to rub and scrape in northern Tallapoosa.

Do you think bucks killed at feeders out number the bucks that were killed back in the bucks only days or dog hunting days?

I’ve heard stuff like this being mentioned by a lot of folks……My theory is that its due to a change in population dynamics caused from the additional harvesting of more bucks over the last few years……A worsening of the buck to doe ratio in many places so less “sign” and intensity.

They have where I hunt. One reason is the amount of people that hunt. Everyone hunts now days, it’s easy and they can display it on social media.

Throw in corn and cell cameras. I know guys that kill big bucks every year and don’t hunt 5-6 times. A year. They running 10 plus cameras over feeders, they hunt 24-7 from their phone. When he shows up, they go bust him. Lol.

same here in ramer. the last 2 weeks seeing very few deer. saw 2 fresh scrapes this past week. zero fresh rubs.

Hunted in Barbour County this past weekend and did a lot of scouting. Zero fresh buck sign. We normally start to see scrapes and rubs by the first week in January with rut taking place late January. Watched a 6 point and 8 point in a field with about 14 does and they showed no interest. The bucks came in separately but fed next to each other and did not display territorial behavior. Seems we are a little behind.

I think we're just behind. I know the lack of scrapes isn't for a lack of bucks b/c I have them on camera and seen a number in person. Had a group of 3 on camera, so still running around together in some cases. Conecuh county.

You gonna take me this year? I've always wanted to kill my first turkey

Very slow for us. Normally see 20-30+ deer. Went yesterday and saw four yearlings. I don’t believe anything is “wrong”. Just a much slower developing year. I believe two weeks from now to end of season will be good. But as of now I’m not even getting deer on camera.

Hmmmm OP Didn't mention nothing about NOT seeing bucks deers (the complete opposite) but i've noticed, this seems to be your answer to all of Bama's problems 😏

Year before last was like that for us, and we started hitting the woods and YEP there was all the deer! Bastages just wasn't hitting the fields much at all. Of course the neighbors to the north have several of those fancy feeders that hold a ton of feed and open and close, that kinda changed things too lol.

The reason I asked is because we used to be neighbors with some big dog clubs in Georgiana and they all mentioned killing hundreds of deer per season. Mostly bucks. Also I’ve been knowing people that’s been hunting in Alabama since the 80s and heard the stories of all the bucks killed back then because there was only a few doe days. Most hunted in Clark co. and would haul corn by the trailer loads. They’d kill them day and night. Can’t say all the stories were true but I’m sure most were.
In our case, corn has helped us be more picky on which bucks we want to kill. We actually kill less bucks per season now then before corn was legal. Cameras helped a lot with this also. Definitely no lack of bucks on our place. Especially they younger age class bucks.
I can see how it could negatively affect areas with lots of small properties that all have corn piles and every deer seen is shot. But however, the whole state is not that way. Especially South Alabama. If a goofy coonass non resident can figure this out, anyone should be able to.