|
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
|
|
20 members (AWT6, Bake, Dragfan66, RebFormanUDA, TurkeyJoe, Tree Dweller, Dean, SC53, Tree Hanger, StateLine, Ron A., Bustinbeards, jaredhunts, kpswihart, !shiloh!, chris18, Gulfcoast, Irishguy, 2 invisible),
530
guests, and
0
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 154
3 point
|
|
3 point
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 154 |
I hunt in Escambia County, and have for my whole life. Our season plays like this-
Opening weekend- piles of does and young bucks, every few years a big one will slip up
Thanksgiving- Does does does
First week of December- we kill a buck every other year
December -Jan1- Crap hunting headed towards outright miserable b/t Christmas and New Years. Go kill Wood Ducks
January- very few does seen, but piles of little guys, and we usually kill a buck a weekend the first 3 weeks of January. last weekend of January is usually slow, although this year we killed 2 mature bucks the last weekend of January.
February- Does are back into big groups and bucks are nowhere to be found.
I rarely ever see real chasing like I have in the mid-west. I'm 40, and I can think of one mature buck I've seen with a doe. Lots of bucks killed checking plots and cruising the woods.
Alabama rut isn't like the mid-west for us, but where I
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,458
10 point
|
|
10 point
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,458 |
I hunt the eastern edge of clark county. Had the best rut I have seen in years. Most folks seeing numerous bucks mornings and evenings. It's enough to keep you pumped for a few years. Haven't seen it like this in 15 or so years. Right time right place. Where is Clarke? I'm in walker springs and we have seen some scrapes and only one shooter. Day time movement was very slow for us. I sat all day 3 times last week and saw about 5 deer. One was a spike
Don't blame me for your bad decision-
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 150
3 point
|
|
3 point
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 150 |
I here what yall are saying but I hunt 90 days a season or more every year and this year just seem slower then most years maybe it's the warm weather or maybe the drought but it just seems like it's geting worser every year
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,175
8 point
|
|
8 point
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,175 |
Yep. The rut or what there was of it sucked
Two roads diverged in the woods and I took the one with deep ruts,hills and mud.It may be bumpy but WHAT A RIDE!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 17,067
Old Mossy Horns
|
|
Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 17,067 |
We're I hunt in Central Alabama it almost seems like the rut never happen I only see a few scrapes all season nobody seen any chasing at all we've killed some good bucks but none of them look like they was in full rut I just don't no about em one of the slowest seasons I've seen in a long time
See my post from the other day titled "Crazy Season." I feel your pain. Dr. B
AKA: “Dr. B”
Aldeer #121
8-3-2000
Proud alum of AUM, UAB, and UA
2023-2024 ALdeer Deer Contest Winners
2024-2025 Aldeer Deer Contest Winners
Glennis Jerome "Jerry" Harris
1938-2017
UGA Class of 1960
BS/MS Forestry
LTJG, USNR
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,595
Bright Eyes
|
|
Bright Eyes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,595 |
We have this argument each season on here (I clearly remember taking my side, and getting creamed for it like I always do  ) Every year I always say, "If you're basing your hunting season on the rut, you're making a precarious gamble!" I think we talked about this in the adnauseum posts about extending the season. I have hunted every corner of the state since the late 80's, and sometimes you see it, sometimes you don't, never the same time, never the same strength, never the same spots, just risky and undependable. Oddly enough, I hunt right now in Calhoun Co along the I-20 area and our rut was off the charts bonkers like a 3-ring circus this time!! Every day for two weeks it was like a TV show. But guys 10 minutes away didn't see ANYTHING!! Got buddies in Eutaw, AL who said their deer were chasing and fighting from Christmas till New Years (and those deer aren't supposed to rut till April according to most people). Friends have a high-dollar Marengo lease, they ain't even got a scrape on the place yet. And folks wonder why I say I have ZERO interest in the rut. Meanwhile, I probably saw 30+ racked bucks in October. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, 101% predictable, do. You are right. I'm tired of reading your holier than thou tirades. But, I'm sure you will be expounding on your vast knowledge of what other people want or need in the future. I look forward to root canals and your pompous attitude.
Matt Brock wears knock-off Crocs.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 9,375
14 point
|
|
14 point
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 9,375 |
Didn't see crap for a rut in Fayette county except for rubs and scrapes and there were more than previous years. Just never saw any action or many deer for that matter. We did kill one buck right in the middle of the rut on a food plot. That buck was shot 1 year to the day of the buck I shot last year on the same property on a different plot.
Hunted in Dallas county 2 weeks ago and watched a 3.5 year old 8 spend over an hour in a food plot trying to get some off each doe that came in the field. In between does he would make scrapes (5 total). On another sit I watched 2 small bucks spar for 10 minutes. On the next morning I watch a small buck chase a doe hard across a river crossing and shot a 7 point (5 year old) while he was making a scrape at 11am.
Last edited by joshm28; 02/01/17 02:56 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,074
12 point
|
|
12 point
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,074 |
I have always seen a solid rut in Alabama. I've actually seen a more rut action in Alabama over the past 5 years than I have in the Midwest. I've have several good hunts with chasing, grunting and multiple bucks running the hair of the does. One very old 6 pt didn't fare to well either during one of these hunts.
The key I've found to seeing a visible rut is don't freaking pressure your property before the rut happens. I started hunting my littlecplace a week ago and they are swinging from the trees and waking in daylight. I should have killed two 5+ year deer this past week but one got lucky.
"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life.
Comes to us at midnight very clean.
It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands.
It hopes we've learned something from yesterday."
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 15,105
Old Mossy Horns
|
|
Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 15,105 |
I saw more scraping and chasing this year than I have in a while. Deer rubs were on the low side, though.
83% of all statistics are made up.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,095
ishootatbux
|
|
ishootatbux
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,095 |
We have this argument each season on here (I clearly remember taking my side, and getting creamed for it like I always do ) Every year I always say, "If you're basing your hunting season on the rut, you're making a precarious gamble!" I think we talked about this in the adnauseum posts about extending the season. I have hunted every corner of the state since the late 80's, and sometimes you see it, sometimes you don't, never the same time, never the same strength, never the same spots, just risky and undependable. Oddly enough, I hunt right now in Calhoun Co along the I-20 area and our rut was off the charts bonkers like a 3-ring circus this time!! Every day for two weeks it was like a TV show. But guys 10 minutes away didn't see ANYTHING!! Got buddies in Eutaw, AL who said their deer were chasing and fighting from Christmas till New Years (and those deer aren't supposed to rut till April according to most people). Friends have a high-dollar Marengo lease, they ain't even got a scrape on the place yet. And folks wonder why I say I have ZERO interest in the rut. Meanwhile, I probably saw 30+ racked bucks in October. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, 101% predictable, do. You are right. I'm tired of reading your holier than thou tirades. But, I'm sure you will be expounding on your vast knowledge of what other people want or need in the future. I look forward to root canals and your pompous attitude. 
We were on the edge of Eternia, when the power of Greyskull began to take hold.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,539
14 point
|
|
14 point
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,539 |
I think hunters that don't get to experience a real rut are "probably" hunting land with a lot of pressure or land with high doe to buck ratio or land with a low number of mature bucks or all of the above. Our land years ago met all 3 of these and I never heard a buck grunt, it was extremely rare to see a buck chasing a doe, fighting etc. Now, 20+ years later we fortunately don't go a season without seeing some pretty good rutting activity. It does vary a little from year to year depending on weather, moon phase, etc. but I feel lucky to be able to experience a real rut. Nothing else like it.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,539
14 point
|
|
14 point
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,539 |
We have this argument each season on here (I clearly remember taking my side, and getting creamed for it like I always do ) Every year I always say, "If you're basing your hunting season on the rut, you're making a precarious gamble!" I think we talked about this in the adnauseum posts about extending the season. I have hunted every corner of the state since the late 80's, and sometimes you see it, sometimes you don't, never the same time, never the same strength, never the same spots, just risky and undependable. Oddly enough, I hunt right now in Calhoun Co along the I-20 area and our rut was off the charts bonkers like a 3-ring circus this time!! Every day for two weeks it was like a TV show. But guys 10 minutes away didn't see ANYTHING!! Got buddies in Eutaw, AL who said their deer were chasing and fighting from Christmas till New Years (and those deer aren't supposed to rut till April according to most people). Friends have a high-dollar Marengo lease, they ain't even got a scrape on the place yet. And folks wonder why I say I have ZERO interest in the rut. Meanwhile, I probably saw 30+ racked bucks in October. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, 101% predictable, do. exact opposite for us... I can guess right now what our best 5 days will be next year, and I would be no more than two days off on the front or back end. Have some friends of mine come up every year. This year they had to leave on the 29th of December (which during some past years has proven to be a great day) but I told them it was too bad they had to leave b/c it was about to get really good. 2 days later it did.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 12,788
Booner
|
|
Booner
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 12,788 |
I hunt the eastern edge of clark county. Had the best rut I have seen in years. Most folks seeing numerous bucks mornings and evenings. It's enough to keep you pumped for a few years. Haven't seen it like this in 15 or so years. Right time right place. Where is Clarke? I'm in walker springs and we have seen some scrapes and only one shooter. Day time movement was very slow for us. I sat all day 3 times last week and saw about 5 deer. One was a spike Hunt where the deer are...... Not where you want them to be!!! I saw 19 different bucks from Thur morning til Monday at lunch this past weekend in Clarke County. They are most definitely rutting and breeding!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 12,788
Booner
|
|
Booner
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 12,788 |
I have always seen a solid rut in Alabama. I've actually seen a more rut action in Alabama over the past 5 years than I have in the Midwest. I've have several good hunts with chasing, grunting and multiple bucks running the hair of the does. One very old 6 pt didn't fare to well either during one of these hunts.
The key I've found to seeing a visible rut is don't freaking pressure your property before the rut happens. I started hunting my littlecplace a week ago and they are swinging from the trees and waking in daylight. I should have killed two 5+ year deer this past week but one got lucky. Amen! If you want to see a Rut and enjoy the experience of hunting it, stay away and keep the pressure off until the right time!!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 39,582
Freak of Nature
|
|
Freak of Nature
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 39,582 |
Ours has been a trickle. Just a slow, slow trickle.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 31,681
Freak of Nature
|
|
Freak of Nature
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 31,681 |
The truth is when you are see scrapes during March, it's because not all the does have been bred. Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it did not happen either. A doe has a cycle, if she isn't bred while in estrus she must wait till next month. Then she comes in again. If you are seeing scrapes during turkey season you either have too many does or too few bucks.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,142
10 point
|
|
10 point
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,142 |
Most of our buck daylight activity seems to be 2nd week of dec and peak around last weak of dec as far as my observation. I do notice that once Jan hits my place in the hardwoods I hunt that the does I usually see on a regular basis don't show near as much like a big change in pattern. I'm no deer expert but I believe it's a numbers game if u try to follow how the wind is blowing which a lot of times is impossible. the more days u can be in ur spots the better the odds and as we all know it doesn't always pan out every year. Another note is I hardly hunt over just a food plot unless it's crap weather. See more in the woods.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 24,507
Freak of Nature
|
|
Freak of Nature
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 24,507 |
We have this argument each season on here (I clearly remember taking my side, and getting creamed for it like I always do ) Every year I always say, "If you're basing your hunting season on the rut, you're making a precarious gamble!" I think we talked about this in the adnauseum posts about extending the season. I have hunted every corner of the state since the late 80's, and sometimes you see it, sometimes you don't, never the same time, never the same strength, never the same spots, just risky and undependable. Oddly enough, I hunt right now in Calhoun Co along the I-20 area and our rut was off the charts bonkers like a 3-ring circus this time!! Every day for two weeks it was like a TV show. But guys 10 minutes away didn't see ANYTHING!! Got buddies in Eutaw, AL who said their deer were chasing and fighting from Christmas till New Years (and those deer aren't supposed to rut till April according to most people). Friends have a high-dollar Marengo lease, they ain't even got a scrape on the place yet. And folks wonder why I say I have ZERO interest in the rut. Meanwhile, I probably saw 30+ racked bucks in October. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, 101% predictable, do. exact opposite for us... I can guess right now what our best 5 days will be next year, and I would be no more than two days off on the front or back end. Have some friends of mine come up every year. This year they had to leave on the 29th of December (which during some past years has proven to be a great day) but I told them it was too bad they had to leave b/c it was about to get really good. 2 days later it did. Yep, breeding time is about the most predictable thing we can depend on hunting Alabama. Pressure and weather might dictate daytime activity but breeding is gonna occur pretty close to the same time every year.
" I do view Jim Waltz as a really good Presidential candidate"
Bama_Earl
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 31,221
Grumpy Old Man
|
|
Grumpy Old Man
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 31,221 |
For the first time in my life the deer season is still open on Feb 2nd. Yet I'm sitting here watching old episodes of MASH because its 70 degrees and I ain't seen a deer in two weeks
My opinions and comments are my own. They do not reflect the position or political opinions of Aldeer or any of the Aldeer administration.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,458
10 point
|
|
10 point
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,458 |
I hunt the eastern edge of clark county. Had the best rut I have seen in years. Most folks seeing numerous bucks mornings and evenings. It's enough to keep you pumped for a few years. Haven't seen it like this in 15 or so years. Right time right place. Where is Clarke? I'm in walker springs and we have seen some scrapes and only one shooter. Day time movement was very slow for us. I sat all day 3 times last week and saw about 5 deer. One was a spike Hunt where the deer are...... Not where you want them to be!!! I saw 19 different bucks from Thur morning til Monday at lunch this past weekend in Clarke County. They are most definitely rutting and breeding! I was hunting one of the best spots we have had in the past 7 years. Killed 2 of my biggest deer there in the last 4 years. I know many factors go into the gonkulator to determine where and when they move. I'm just saying that we had more people in the woods last week than all year and didn't see a whole lot. Just not in the right place at the right time, I even tried a spot or two that nobody sits to see if that's "where the deer are". Not saying they aren't on, just that ours weren't seen in daylight hours.
Don't blame me for your bad decision-
|
|
|
|
|
