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180class

180class

Well-Known Member
I've only been out 3 times so far this season. I'm trying to pace myself as to not burn out my stands until "prime time". Within those 3 times, I've seen a total of 2 deer. I know this time of the year can be slow and activity is at a minimum, but what surprises and frustrates me, is the lack of sign I'm seeing. Or not seeing for that matter. After my morning hunt this past Saturday, I took a stroll around the outskirts of the property. This area is usually tore up with sign. I didn't find a single scrape while walking around. This is extremely odd, and it's got me kind of worried. Anyone else experiencing this? What are your thoughts? I keep telling myself to be patient and not worry about it, but with the decline in numbers I've witnessed in this area over the past 5 years, I'm starting to get very concerned.
 
Read the STOP shooting does thread......your making my point for me. Many hunters are experiencing this same problem. It wont be long until those out of state Non Resident money maker tags are left un-purchased because the natural resource will have been depleted.
 
..... and the end of the world is coming...


its very common this time of year to not see an abundance of sign. There will be hotspots of activity and active scrapes, but because you are not seeing it yet doesn't mean you won't. I have had a few slow sits too, but I know the deer are there but my cameras are saying all the activity is at night. pictures don't lie. I think this early October full moon changed the movement patterns and have the deer on an after dark pattern. I'll bet in another week things are totally different for you. Stay patient!
 
I have run trail cams on my farm for that past several years. Going through past photos the other night I noticed that this year is way behind on scraping activity. At least two weeks behind compared to some years. I have scrapes that open up under certain trees every year around the last week of Sept. and they are just now starting to rake the leaves out of them half way through October! I think the warmer dry weather has made a difference in this to some extent and also agree with Thomas on the recent moon phase slowing daytime activity. With the current scattered showers and cooler temps things should start kicking in. I watched a 3 1/2 and a 4 1/2 year old buck mingle in a corn field filled with does last night and there were no signs of testosterone at all. In fact they acted border-line queer! :D Don't panic yet, the best is yet to come! :way:
 
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Skully said:
I have run trail cams on my farm for that past several years. Going through past photos the other night I noticed that this year is way behind on scraping activity. At least two weeks behind compared to some years. I have scrapes that open up under certain trees every year around the last week of Sept. and they are just now starting to rake the leaves out of them half way through October! I think the warmer dry weather has made a difference in this to some extent and also agree with Thomas on the recent moon phase slowing daytime activity. With the current scattered showers and cooler temps things should start kicking in. I watched a 3 1/2 and a 4 1/2 year old buck mingle in a corn field filled with does last night and there were no signs of testosterone at all. In fact they acted border-line queer! :D Don't panic yet, the best is yet to come! :way:
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I agree. It's not far off boys.
 
180, what's the crop status in your area? If there are still a lot of acres of standing corn, no need to be alarmed:way:
 
Lance. The full moon and the warm dry weather has the deer moving at night. This cool down will help. I agree with these guys. The woods will soon be rocken!!! The scrapes are just now starting to show up on my ground.
 
180class said:
All the surrounding crops are out in my area, which isn't too far from your area Turtle. ;)
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well okay...next statement to make you feel better :D is, it's early. I've seen a lot of does hitting picked corn right around dusk...the bucks are following them, but arriving on the fields an hour or two later (I'm assuming) putting it well past dark.

The movement will pick up. If you haven't seen anything by Halloween, I'd be really really surprised and then I'll be telling you to be worried. hang in there man:way:
 
I call it the "mid October blues". I seem to experience it every year. Only a small percent of the corn is out in my area so I feel that has in influence on it. I am going to lay low for a week and hit it hard after that.
 
I think this cooler weather is going to get stuff going too. Had a lot of stuff showing up late at night on the cameras. I expect it to pick up here in a few days. You'll be sending out BBD texts before you know it! :way:
 
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