I was coming home yesterday in my Honda Accord listening to a Merle Haggard CD when I experienced the best deer sighting I've had in years. At Fikes Crossing just a mile from my house, I saw a healthy 4-point chasing a doe on the side of the roadway. I slowed down to watch the chase as long as possible because that may be the only deer I see this year.

I guess the rut has started early!

I almost want to take you hunting.

Almost huh?

I might find enough compassion one day.

VT your "huge ego" owns me. You got to be the most humble person I know.

Come on Matt mites grown on chickens asses. Vt if you make it down this far I'll put you on a deer. If you are in as long a dry spell as you say I can find a blind deaf and dumb one for you. If not headlights can make them stand still long enough for a shot.

Hey, Turkey Neck. Here's the sad truth about the dry spell. The last deer I shot was at the end of the 2006-07 season. No kidding -- instead of deer meat I've learned to enjoy (and I know this is pathetic and sad) turkey SPAM. It's not bad on home-made biscuits.

Dang, I thought deer were scarce here in Etowah and Marshall Counties.

Vernon. I love you man.

Don't feel too bad VT, my dry spell has been longer. I see deer but they are either a hundred yards away, they walk past the tree that I was going to put my stand in or they bust me before I bust them. To give you an example, this past weekend at Oakmulgee, I saw one deer crossing the main road, the next one was standing on the side of the food plot, never saw it, the third one was again standing on the side of the road and lastly there was a fourth feeding on the side of Hwy 25 as I drove home, it's like I am cursed or something. I am beginning to think it would be more fun to fish all year, a lot less headaches.

Y'all boys ain't holding your mouth right. I averaged 4-6 deer a year hunting public land and that was just a few I had shots at I let a lot of deer walk.

I have seen 34 deer in three hunts in Etowah county so far this year.

We have a big public land reserve near us, but I've never hunted it. I'm not sure how you would keep from stepping all over bunches of other hunters every time you wander out into the woods. I imagine public land would be a sea of orange hats and vests.

In the two trips that I have made to Oakmulgee I haven't seen that many vehicles, of course when the guns come out it will be a sea of orange and I will be home.

It ain't that bad on gun hunts. I'll be there on the thanksgiving hunt maybe a few more.

oh I know there may not be too many gun hunters but it is the skill and safety factor with the gun that bothers me.

You must be hunting in the southern part of the county. I have 20 acres on sand mountain that is about 3/5 woods. In three years, I have seen three small rubs and one pile of deer pellets. Good thing I hunt elsewhere.

no rut this early.

I've been out five times both morning and evening. Haven't seen a deer yet. No tracks either. These are previously good areas.