Bigger deer on their feet the last few days (pic heavy)

[MN Slick]

I'm interested to know what you get between 11/30 and 12/4. Things slowed down the last 2 days but that time slot was hot for daytime movement.

I'll report my findings when I get back. I talked to a buddy in Sullivan County last night and he had quite a few older bucks on cam in daylight over the weekend and rattled in a mid 140's Saturday morning. Every time I think I have a clue about these things they throw me a curve. I guess that is why trying to figure them out is so addicting!!

 

[John-W-WI]

The confusing part to me is if it was 2nd rut, why would multiple bucks be hanging out together? Maybe they were chasing, but some of the pictures look more like feeding/loafing to me?

-John

 

[Phil]

Here in Vermont same bizarre behavior. Glad I'm not losing my mind. The question is why? Something has changed drastically this year, I don't know what.

 

[Bill]

The confusing part to me is if it was 2nd rut, why would multiple bucks be hanging out together? Maybe they were chasing, but some of the pictures look more like feeding/loafing to me?

-John

The first rut was pretty much the same around here. Doe family groups together and buck groups together.
Weird!

 

[MN Slick]

I'm interested to know what you get between 11/30 and 12/4. Things slowed down the last 2 days but that time slot was hot for daytime movement.

I too had some older bucks on cam during daylight around that time frame. Had a big 8 that has to be 4 or older at 10:15 on 12/4, a 2 or 3 year old at 10:15 and another 3 year old at 10:45 on 12/3, nice 3 year old working a scrape at 2:20 on 12/5, and quite a few younger deer at all times of the day. Also had some older deer on plots very early during that time frame. Sure appears to be cruising behavior which I saw little of during the last week of bow and my 5 days of gun hunting.

 

[Bill]

I too had some older bucks on cam during daylight around that time frame. Had a big 8 that has to be 4 or older at 10:15 on 12/4, a 2 or 3 year old at 10:15 and another 3 year old at 10:45 on 12/3, nice 3 year old working a scrape at 2:20 on 12/5, and quite a few younger deer at all times of the day. Also had some older deer on plots very early during that time frame. Sure appears to be cruising behavior which I saw little of during the last week of bow and my 5 days of gun hunting.

Thanks for posting back. Interesting know it wasn't just a fluke at my place. There had to be a few hot does around over those few days. Things have turned back to feeding patterns now. Most older buck are move just at or after dark. Not that I'm done but I'm hopeful for what next season is going to bring. The soft rut left a good amount of older deer alive.

 

[Native Hunter]

No pics from me on this thread. My last mature buck left this year got run over by a car night before last, about 3/4 miles from the farm. Dang second rut.................

 

[Bill]

No pics from me on this thread. My last mature buck left this year got run over by a car night before last, about 3/4 miles from the farm. Dang second rut.................

That stinks!

 

[Mortenson]

Native Hunter, is that your narrow, giant one? I sure hope not.

 

[Native Hunter]

Native Hunter, is that your narrow, giant one? I sure hope not.

It wasn't him, but he is gone too. The last picture I had of him was just before daylight on the gun opener - which I don't really understand, because we heard no shots very close until about the third day of season. But, I'm convinced now that he is dead.

The one that got hit by a car was the wide 8 pointer that ran with him during the summer. That was a shocker to me too because he had been bedding on my place the whole time and coming into the plots right at dark - even during gun season. But, a mile is not very far if a buck want's to go on a little nightly excursion. I passed that deer the second day of gun season, hoping to have him around another year. It was him for sure, because the neighbor sent me a picture. He got run over on a fairly busy highway avout 3 hours after dark.

At least my son got a very nice visiting mature buck this time. That deer was 5 years old and I did a quick taping of about 150 inches. He will make a beautiful mount too. Very happy about our season, but sure feel lonesome without any good buck to start the new year with. We don't have a big wilderness area to draw new ones in from, but maybe there will still be one or two find their way here from somewhere before next season.

 

[buckdeer1]

Here in my part of Kansas sightings and kills have been way down during gun season.This has been the same for the last week on cameras.

 

[Bill]

Abby isn't dead. He's just frustrating you :)

He'll be back. Haven't seen thing # 1 since early Nov but I'm holding out hope he's coming home.

 

[Native Hunter]

Abby isn't dead. He's just frustrating you :)

He'll be back. Haven't seen thing # 1 since early Nov but I'm holding out hope he's coming home.

Let's hope so Bill.

 

[Bill]

Let's hope so Bill.

You just never know. I had one show up this morning that I got my last picture of on 9/11. He's short an antler but it's him.

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[Bowsnbucks]

For those wondering about soft rut, late rut, 2nd rut, etc. - I had a mature 8 pt. dogging a doe on Dec. 7th here in Pa. When she moved, he moved. She bolted - he bolted right after her. Cost me a clear shot at him. Not " normal " behavior here for that date. Late rut ...... 2nd rut ????????:confused:

 

[Bill]

He walked by again this afternoon. Don't know where he went but it wasn't Disney. Came back down an antler and sporting a back injury. Rough fall for him, He should have stayed put.

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[Bowsnbucks]

Fighter for sure, Bill. Great " left-over " !! With your habitat, he ought to shack-up there for the duration of the winter.

 

[Fall's Legend]

Bill,
My farm is in Carroll county. I am not capturing on camera any bucks during daylight, or when hunting last weekend. Whatever you are doing, you are doing it splendidly! Thanks for sharing!! Gives me hope.

 

[MoBuckChaser]

10 degrees out and I saw nothing tonight here in Missouri. Never seen that before! i was surrounded by standing corn while over looking a 2 acre Brassica plot along side the river. I have no idea where the deer are.

 

[Fall's Legend]

If it is too cold, I see less movement. I assume they are conserving energy? I think the cold front this weekend, followed by a slight warm-up beginning Monday might cause some better movement then. At least I hope. I have 3 weeks off beginning at 2PM tomorrow.