MDNorth

Plenty of action this morning. Saw 3 doe early in the morn, followed shortly after by a small 4pt with his nose to the ground oblivious to me standing over top of him.

On my out for the morn, walking up the log road, heard some action just to my right. Sure enough a big doe. Heard some more noise, and sure enough a big buck. Couldn't make out the headgear through the brush but saw plenty of bone. Just then to my left another buck (6pt) is making his way over to the action, spots me standing in the middle of the log road 20yds away and hightails it out of there. Doe and big buck still hanging out. Doe decides to cross the road in the same place, never sees me. Old doe, with wrinkled face like a cow. Could of shot but thought to myself, this big boy ought to follow her.No dice. He strolls directly away in the woods.

All this 40yds from my truck and 60yds from the property owners house.

I didmanage to stalk the big buck enough to run him over into our hunting grounds since he was near the property line. Gonna let him settle down for awhile and hopefully see plenty more action this afternoon. Maybe I'll hunt from my tailgate...

andesman

Thursday the bucks were really moving. I saw 3 2.5 yr old buck literally running around. At 4pm4 does made a made dash to my stand, took me by surprise. I knew there was a buck, No time to study his rack.. I yelled as he too was running by and he stopped on a dime.. I nailed him at 12 yards.. Ony ran 40 yards.A 2.5 yr old6 pt with no brow tines.. Heavy body. Dressed 150lbs, very fat.. I would not have taken that buck if I'd a had more time to look him over.

Today onanother property.. Passed on 4pt and spike at 7 am under my stand.. Saw a few does. No chasing, No grunting. Ive only saw one doe that looked like it was in heat all week.. That was tuesday.No signs of many does in heat yet.

mossy33oak

well, hunting in Northern Carroll and west Frederick has cooled down considerably. It seems last week was the hieght. Saw 7 different bucks from Friday morning till Sat morning. This friday and Sat I saw 0. Nothing was moving, no grunting and the does were kinda hanging out, didnt have that "uneasy" feel to them. I think it might be on the downside here. [:@]

DougMD

My buddy who always gets big bucks shot another one yesterday. I'll have to post a pic when I get it emailed to me.

andesman

ALL The guys I know that hunt the frederick, montgomery county areas said the exact same thing you do!! Very slow friday/sat...

I dont think many does are in heat yet. The big boys know it. This moon phase and prolonged warm weather may be causing a trickle rut??? Many guys say that next thursday-sat will be the peak.?? Thats a little late for MD in my experience.. The few bucks that Ive seen dead have little signs of full blown rut.. Especially the stink they get from scraping, etc.. Of course If all the does come in heat at the same time Ive seen years when its hard to see many buck as they take to outta the way places, fence rows, etc. to hide from the other deer. Also, The does seemed not to want to draw attention by making noise in the dry leaves, guess they get tired of the pestering. The naked woods (no leaves) may also have em spokked a little.. Just my thoughts?? Im going to go back out hard wed-friday.

mossy33oak

you dont know how bad I hope you are right. I took 3 weeks vacation to hunt the rut starting the 14th. I am afraid I may have missed it. [:@]

Steve F.in MD

I bowhunted Thursday and Friday and saw ONE small spike and ONE doe. Spent the day in the woods with my son on Saturday for the youth hunt and saw NOTHING! I felt really bad for him...he's still chasing his first. BTW this was in Frederick County.

tristan1127

I have seen several yearling bucks over the past two days in the woods. Searching for something. I saw one pushing five does yesterday. Have not seen any big ones since last Tuesday at 330 in the middle of the cut corn field. It is definitely happening just the big boys may be hiding a little.

smokyghost

ive seen alot of rut activity,scraping, fighting, doe bleating its been awesome so far for me ive killed 2 in the past 4 hunts. I think the big bucks are starting to hole up with the hot ones now but its going on for sure

DougMD

I got a picture of my buddy's buck. Can I email it to someone to post in here? This guy knows how to hunt!

BTW, smokyghost, my brother coaches Mt. Hebron hockey. Is that school near where you live?