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Middle TN Rut

nmhyde

nmhyde

New Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2024
Messages
4
Location
Cheatham County
Let the chaos begin.

Is anyone seeing true rut activity yet?

I have seen scrapes explode about 1.5 weeks ago. I had 2.5 year old, basket 7 harassing a group of younger does two days ago. But have yet, to see the true shift.
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Two mature bucks this morning already locked down on does. I fired at one but only the cap went off, not the powder. He looked up but didn't budge away from the doe at all. When she wandered off, he wandered off right on her tail. Couple hours later I watched another buck tending a doe out in cut beans for awhile. He wouldn't leave her side. Saw some young bucks chasing/pestering does but the big guys were locked on. Figure tomorrow or hopefully this evening they'll be done & searching for the next girls.
 
Yeah, I think the bubble is about to burst.

The past few years I have bounced around in different counties. I have noticed a drastic difference depending on the area surrounding Nashville.

North my brother already had them chasing hard mid week with at least one hot doe. West last week I couldn't find a scrape to save my life, but east sign is everywhere.
 
Seems like Benton county is right on schedule. I saw a lot of scrapes and rubs this morning that were not there 2 weeks ago. 2 does were by themselves. 2 different good sized groups feeding together. 1 good sized Buck and a young 6pt. Next few weeks ought to be interesting.
 
SE of Nashville.

Strange year. Most mature bucks are still in bachelor groups. BUT, they aren't completely nocturnal!!!

Buddy passed up a 4.5yo 8 with 2 small bucks feeding yesterday am on a plot. Another Buddy passed a 4.5yo 8 that was with a 3.5yo 7 on a plot. I hunted a pond yesterday pm and had a group of 6 bucks come to drink, best was a 4.5yo 10. Passed him as he was only 13 inside and 16in beams.

Have seen 4 bucks in a bachelor group this morn, they are 2.5 and younger, slightly pestering does, but not chasing unreceptive does.

Have had a couple chases on camera by young bucks.

No acorns, I have the only food and water around so I think they are having to spend more time feeding in daylight than normal.

I will say this... activity has dropped to complete
 
megalomaniac said:
SE of Nashville.

Strange year. Most mature bucks are still in bachelor groups. BUT, they aren't completely nocturnal!!!

Buddy passed up a 4.5yo 8 with 2 small bucks feeding yesterday am on a plot. Another Buddy passed a 4.5yo 8 that was with a 3.5yo 7 on a plot. I hunted a pond yesterday pm and had a group of 6 bucks come to drink, best was a 4.5yo 10. Passed him as he was only 13 inside and 16in beams.

Have seen 4 bucks in a bachelor group this morn, they are 2.5 and younger, slightly pestering does, but not chasing unreceptive does.

Have had a couple chases on camera by young bucks.

No acorns, I have the only food and water around so I think they are having to spend more time feeding in daylight than normal.

I will say this... activity has dropped to complete
Click to expand...
Weirdest season I can remember for mature buck behavior. I'm having a heck of a time figuring out what they're wanting to do…
 
megalomaniac said:
SE of Nashville.

Strange year. Most mature bucks are still in bachelor groups. BUT, they aren't completely nocturnal!!!

Buddy passed up a 4.5yo 8 with 2 small bucks feeding yesterday am on a plot. Another Buddy passed a 4.5yo 8 that was with a 3.5yo 7 on a plot. I hunted a pond yesterday pm and had a group of 6 bucks come to drink, best was a 4.5yo 10. Passed him as he was only 13 inside and 16in beams.

Have seen 4 bucks in a bachelor group this morn, they are 2.5 and younger, slightly pestering does, but not chasing unreceptive does.

Have had a couple chases on camera by young bucks.

No acorns, I have the only food and water around so I think they are having to spend more time feeding in daylight than normal.

I will say this... activity has dropped to complete
Click to expand...

Not entirely different than I'm seeing. Mature bucks aren't together anymore but younger ones are and they all get together for social hour with does and fawns. I've seen two in lockdown and pretty sure this fawn doe is laying beside me right now because her momma is locked down.

It's like they're getting the rut stuff done like a chore but it's not their big focus. I'm seeing them eat more than anything.

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Few rubs and almost no scrapes this year. My food plots are all different. Just saw my first chase in a short pause in rain. Been raining here for 30 hours straight. Only seen 2 bucks all weekend. Never seen it this bad hopefully it pops off tomorrow.
 

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