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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 45
spike
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spike
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 45 |
It's getting close to that time y'all! I've been bowhunting since the opener and have seen enough does to last me the rest of the season... haven't seen much in the way of headgear. What are you folks seeing out there as far as rut activity? Any chasing yet? Rubs and scrape action? The doe tarsal glands I've been able to observe have started to turn a little, but to me it seems a little early.
Talk to me fellas... what y'all think?
2003 Hoyt RazorTec Bone Collector FlightWire String Beman ICS 400 Magnus Stinger 2-Blade Apache Drop-Away Rest TruGlo 3 Pin Sight Paracord Wrist Sling tied by Yours Truly...
PETA really means, "People Eating Tasty Animals"
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 45
spike
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spike
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 45 |
Oh by the way... I hunt Dekalb County in North Alabama
2003 Hoyt RazorTec Bone Collector FlightWire String Beman ICS 400 Magnus Stinger 2-Blade Apache Drop-Away Rest TruGlo 3 Pin Sight Paracord Wrist Sling tied by Yours Truly...
PETA really means, "People Eating Tasty Animals"
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,477 Likes: 88
Old Mossy Horns
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Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,477 Likes: 88 |
I know the rut is different up there, but this is kinda early I would think.
Dr. B
AKA: “Dr. B” Aldeer #121 8-3-2000 Proud alum of AUM, UAB, and UA 2023-2024 ALdeer Deer Contest Champions 2024-2025 ALdeer Deer Contest Champions
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 45
spike
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spike
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 45 |
It may be... I haven't hunted up here for very many years. I know this is about the time I start seeing buck activity pick up a little
2003 Hoyt RazorTec Bone Collector FlightWire String Beman ICS 400 Magnus Stinger 2-Blade Apache Drop-Away Rest TruGlo 3 Pin Sight Paracord Wrist Sling tied by Yours Truly...
PETA really means, "People Eating Tasty Animals"
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,053
6 point
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6 point
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,053 |
I found a smokin' scrape yesterday. I set up a camera and scent on a timer to see whats up. I was on a rub line..... I will give it a few days and check back. I am in Southern Cherokee/northern Cleburne....
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 314
4 point
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4 point
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 314 |
I've always been baffled by rut activity In the south. I started to learn about hunting in Virginia and new jersey about 13 yrs ago, and the rut up there was about the same time...November. From what I was taught, the further south u go, the later the rut. In Georgetown, South Carolina where we hunt for a week each year, the rut comes in mid-late october. All I've been told since I started hunting in tallapoosa co, Alabama 3 yrs ago is that the rut starts in January. I've not seen any proof with my own eyes though...haven't seen any deer chasing or anything related to rut-type activity in january. Not to say it isnt happening, I just haven't seen it for myself. Now I'm hunting some new property in st Clair co, and I saw 3 scrapes along a fire lane where there wasn't but 1 scrape 2 wks ago, and they all have been worked in the past week since I hung a stand nearby. I'm still confused. I thought this kind of scrape activity is only during the rut.
On another note, should I pour some buck urine in the scrapes? Should I use a drag rag with doe urine on it?
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,494
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,494 |
I've always been baffled by rut activity In the south. I started to learn about hunting in Virginia and new jersey about 13 yrs ago, and the rut up there was about the same time...November. From what I was taught, the further south u go, the later the rut. In Georgetown, South Carolina where we hunt for a week each year, the rut comes in mid-late october. All I've been told since I started hunting in tallapoosa co, Alabama 3 yrs ago is that the rut starts in January. I've not seen any proof with my own eyes though...haven't seen any deer chasing or anything related to rut-type activity in january. Not to say it isnt happening, I just haven't seen it for myself. Now I'm hunting some new property in st Clair co, and I saw 3 scrapes along a fire lane where there wasn't but 1 scrape 2 wks ago, and they all have been worked in the past week since I hung a stand nearby. I'm still confused. I thought this kind of scrape activity is only during the rut.
On another note, should I pour some buck urine in the scrapes? Should I use a drag rag with doe urine on it? Welcome to hunting in Alabama!
"After all, it is not the killing that brings satisfaction; it is the contest of skill and cunning. The true hunter counts his achievement in proportion to the effort involved and the fairness of the sport." Dr. Saxton Pope
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 40,058 Likes: 138
Freak of Nature
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Freak of Nature
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 40,058 Likes: 138 |
If Dekalb is same as Jackson and east Madison,prime breeding period is gonna be Dec.27-Jan.6. It can shift a few days either way and of course weather can effect movement. But if you hunt hard those days you won't miss it. Pre rut (scraping) peaks bout Dec.15-20, if you're hunting scrapes get it done by Dec. 25. If you're gonna hunt scrapes close to and on the front end of the breeding priod , should be a HOT primary with does bedding right at it. Once breeding starts don't waste the breeding period hunting scrapes! After that hunt family units of does. This year with lots of acorns they won't move much. Bedding and feeding basically the same place. Know your does!No charge.
"Why do you ask"?
Too many people spend money they don't have , on things they don't need, to impress people they don't know.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,264 Likes: 2
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,264 Likes: 2 |
The bucks are tearing it up in North Georgia near Rome. I saw three rack bucks chasing Saturday morning. I missed a 130-135 inch 10 point chasing a doe wide open. Killed a nice 9 point 10 minutes later chasing a different doe!!
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 45
spike
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spike
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 45 |
Nice to hear some of y'all are starting to get some action. I ran into a nice scrape yesterday on the Little River WMA. Look like the buck had also worked a nearby tree with his horns. Nothing that indicated a big deer, but you never know. Was nice to see something anyway
2003 Hoyt RazorTec Bone Collector FlightWire String Beman ICS 400 Magnus Stinger 2-Blade Apache Drop-Away Rest TruGlo 3 Pin Sight Paracord Wrist Sling tied by Yours Truly...
PETA really means, "People Eating Tasty Animals"
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 45
spike
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spike
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 45 |
As far as scrape hunting goes, I've had some luck in the past hunting over or near scrapes I've "freshened" with Buck Fever Synthetics. I like this stuff cause it's not old pee thats half way broken down from the ammonia by the time it gets to the deer's nose. Smells real to me and the deer seem not to notice. They put out a pre-rut/post rut as well as a gland scent to spray on the licking branch. Works real well in a mock scrape too.
2003 Hoyt RazorTec Bone Collector FlightWire String Beman ICS 400 Magnus Stinger 2-Blade Apache Drop-Away Rest TruGlo 3 Pin Sight Paracord Wrist Sling tied by Yours Truly...
PETA really means, "People Eating Tasty Animals"
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,190
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,190 |
Alabama has Nov, Dec, Jan, and Feb ruts depending on the zip code you hunt. 10 miles to my west they rut around Dec 10-17, here they rut around Jan 10-17.
We have it better than Florida though, google their rut map sometime, its like July-March.
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,921
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,921 |
I had a scrape right by my stand last week, i pee'd in it now there are 6 scrape's there all in a row.
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Edmund Burke
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