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| Key Feature Homepage Stories |
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| Reports From The Deer Woods |
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| By AON Staff |
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Originally published in the February 2010 issue of AON
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Tim Fields, of Bankston, killed this giant Fayette County buck on Jan. 5 as it chased a doe into a green field. The buck has 198 7/8 inches of bone, which includes an 11-inch circumference measurement.
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One of the great things about AON printing on newsprint, verses glossy paper, is that we get to bring you timely hunt reports. What better time to bring you timely information than the final days of deer season?
Hunt reports have been mixed. Several hunters have said it’s been the worst season they’ve had in a number of years.
“As bad as I hate to say it, it is slow, slow, slow. Everybody I have talked to, including a couple of club presidents, sporting-goods-store owners and game wardens say the same thing,” said Brandon Johnson in Tallapoosa County.
On a positive note, there are a good number of hunters who were beginning to see signs of the rut when this issue went to press.
“The necks are beginning to swell, and the rut should be in full swing the next week or two,” said Darrin Jarvis in Sumter County.
Clarence Mayes in Lowndes and Dallas counties said his local cooler is bringing in more deer than average, and the best days of hunting are still ahead.
“The young bucks were starting to chase a little this past weekend. If the weather holds out cold like it has been for the last couple of weeks, the last two weeks of the season should be outstanding. The deer are really hammering the food plots, which is where I will mostly be hunting the rest of the year,” said Clarence.
Below are the reports from our hunt advisors.
Bullock Co.: Jeff Baker with “Livin’ it Outdoors” T.V. reports, “What a difference a week makes. Things really picked up at our club after Christmas. All of a sudden we are seeing bucks every day. As of Jan 10, the bucks are cruising and checking does on food plots. I saw a few bucks this weekend bumping does around when coming to the green fields. This cold weather has the deer moving. We also saw deer moving this week around 10 and 11 o’clock. The next two weeks are going to be on fire. Hunt every day you can, and hunt the does.”
Dale/Coffee Co.: Bernett Jergenson reports, “It has been a very slow season here on Fort Rucker and surrounding areas, but that could be about to change as the bucks are really scraping now. With this cool weather, the does could be coming into estrus the week of Jan. 8. A hunter called me today (Jan. 8) to inform me that he had just seen the first buck chasing a doe, so I guess the rut has finally arrived. This should mean the rut will be from now until end of season. It will continue on into February as this is normal for this area.
“After the season is over we will start to hunt our large coyote population here in this area. They have really hurt our fawn population, and action must be taken now to get them under control.”
Colbert Co.: Mitch Clifton reports, “It’s been real slow in this corner of the state. The normal seeking and chasing phase of the rut hasn’t seemed to occur. Hopefully it will pick up soon. The only pictures of mature bucks I have are after legal shooting hours.
“The deer I’ve been seeing have been sticking to cover until last light. So, hunting natural food sources in or near thick cover should work well. With two full moons occurring this month, the last of the season should be a very good time to hunt.”
Cullman/Blount Co.: Nate Ayers reports, “Over the past couple of weeks the extreme weather has had the deer in our area on lock down with only a few sizable bucks taken.
“Green fields will start to play a large role in the last couple of weeks in the season since most, if not all, of the natural food has long but gone. The next couple of weeks the rut in our area will be in full swing, especially since this arctic cold front has come through and put a damper on the activity here of late.”
Jackson Co.: Don Wilson with Big Daddy’s Outdoors reports, “The hunting pressure has eased up on the Jackson County deer after the holidays, and the main rut has passed. But January can be an excellent time to take a trophy buck. The does that didn’t get bred the first time around will be coming back in heat the last two weeks of the season. Hunt the food sources really hard, and the bucks will be around close. The blast of cold weather the first week of the new year really put the deer on the move. When this season is all said and done, it is gonna be a good one as far as big bucks harvested.”
Jefferson Co.: Brian Marquis reports, “Hunted the last three mornings (Jan. 9-11) in Jefferson County, down around the Adger/Shoal Creek area just off the Warrior River. Deer movement has been great the last three mornings. I’ve seen a total of about seven different bucks and 15 does.
“Bucks seem to be just checking does right now. I haven’t seen any chasing. They were scraping wide open last week before the ground froze up. Right now the deer are focusing on food sources. I’m seeing a lot of deer in honeysuckle; some of the powerlines I am hunting are full of it. The deer are really knocking it back. I had three bucks and five does come out and feed on them for an hour this morning (Jan. 11). Movement started about 7:15, and I saw the last one about 9:15. Movement in the evenings has not been very good at all.
“If you are in a club where there are several deer being killed, always check to see if they have full bladders and stained tarsal glands, bucks or does. If it’s not your deer, just ask your friend or club member if he minds if you take the urine and tarsal glands. Nothing beats fresh urine or tarsal glands. Proportion the urine in small bottles. Freeze the urine, and mark it as buck or doe and date. This way it will always be fresh. Only thaw out enough to last you for the amount of time you are going to hunt. Always keep refrigerated at the end of the day. Do not let the urine be exposed to heat. Fresh urine will usually last about seven days. After that discard or pour in a scrape.
“For the tarsal glands, skin them off the legs, and apply salt to the back side and freeze. Mark as buck or doe. Also, you can cut a small hole in the tarsal gland, and hang it out in front of your stand. Any passing deer will come by and check it out if winded. Use this urine in mock scrapes and for cover scent. Use especially in areas where this deer was not harvested. Deer are very curious animals. If they smell a deer that’s not from the area, they will investigate. During the rut, use both buck and doe. Bucks are just as likely to check one another as they are does.
“If you will practice harvesting urine and tarsal glands, you will greatly increase the chances of taking that trophy buck.”
Lamar/Marion Co.: Michael Perry reports, “I will be going to Sam R. Murphy WMA Jan. 23-31. I will be hunting thick transitional areas between bedding and feeding areas. Both of these areas the bucks will be cruising looking for does. Anywhere you find does hanging out at ( cutovers, honeysuckle, etc.) would be good places to watch all day. Due to previous hunting pressure, I prefer the thicker areas.”
Brian Marquis reports from private land. “I hunted last week for four days and saw plenty of deer. Bucks have quit scraping and are cruising for does. Concentrate on clearcuts, which is where the only food is right now. All the acorns are gone. The deer are relying on saw briars and honeysuckle. That’s where the does are at. Find the does, and the bucks will come. I killed a 130-inch, 8-point last Wednesday at 4:30 that came out of a 5-year-old cutover into a 2-year-old cutover cruising for does.”
Lowndes/Dallas Co.: Clarence Mayes reports, “The hunting has been good for most of the season, so far. Most of the processors I’ve spoken with are having better-than-average years. I saw a couple of really nice bucks the first week of January at Central Alabama Processors outside of Selma.
“The young bucks were starting to chase a little this past weekend. If the weather holds out cold like it has been for the last couple of weeks, the last two weeks of the season should be outstanding. The deer are really hammering the food plots, which is where I will mostly be hunting the rest of the year. Hunting the does and pinch-points is the place to be as the rut kicks in to full swing.”
Macon Co.: Jim Hardee reports, “Strangely, the deer activity came to a grinding halt for me the last two weeks of December. In fact, I hunted hard the week after Christmas and saw two deer in five days. Full moon hurting? Maybe, but I saw a few real good deer at Buck’s Deer Processing just down the road.
“Trail cams are picking up a lot of deer in the middle of the night. There is absolutely no food on the ground by way of acorns. There is some browse left, and the deer are hitting the plots. I’m hoping it picks up the last few weeks of the year, especially with the continued cold weather.
“Tons of rubs are being made, but I’ve only seen very few scrapes. I will probably hunt fresh scrapes and rub lines for a short time. Then the last couple weeks I’ll get somewhere where I can see a good ways near some of my thickets. They really should be coming to the plots during shooting hours, and I’m not entirely sure why they are not. I guess that’s part of the challenge we love about hunting.”
David Brasher reports, “Good deer sign is pointing to the peak of rut. I have seen does being harassed by little bucks. I have seen several rubs and a few scrapes. Our rut is typically during the middle of January on my tract of hunting land. I do think the cold weather we have been experiencing has triggered the hormones a little earlier on the deer.
“I have seen a good number of deer on green fields and long clearcuts looking for late-season browse. I have been hunting transition zones from feeding and bedding areas all season, and even though I have not spotted the boss buck, I have seen a lot of what the boss bucks will soon be looking for. It is all now a waiting game and shear luck.”
Pickens Co.: Tri Kinard reports, “During the last few days of deer season the rut is beginning to dwindle. However, it is still not too late to catch those bucks looking for the last does to come into estrus. In the mornings, I like hunting scrape lines using an estrus scent. Calling is also very effective this time of year. In the afternoons, I concentrate on food plots or travel corridors leading to food plots.
“With deer season winding down, remember there is still plenty of action left in the winter woods. Squirrel, rabbit and quail seasons are still in full swing. Now is a great time to get kids outdoors and introduce them to the fun that can be had small-game hunting. Now is also a good time to get out and scout for turkey season. I use game cameras in known feeding areas to try and get an inventory for the upcoming spring season. March 15 will be here before you know it!”
Randolph Co.: Chris Edmondson reports, “The first scrapes began to appear the last week of December and first week of January. We are seeing more turkeys than deer in food plots.
“Our chasing, when we’ve actually observed it, is historically the middle to end of January and into February. Based on fawn sightings, we believe some of the does are not bred until well after season closes. So, fingers are crossed the action will pick up. It’s been an off year.”
Steve Keling reports, “I have been seeing some does and some small bucks. The bucks are chasing does, but I have not seen any in the daytime. Some scrapes are being opened back up, but it’s all at night.”
Russell/Barbour Co.: Jeff Honnell reports, “Hunting has been enjoyable but dismal at the same time. While I love to be in the outdoors, the amount of deer I have seen has been troubling. I am not sure if the coyotes have hit our herd, or if last year’s rut was unusually hard on them. I have never seen so few deer in the woods.
“I will be hitting our tract in Barbour County the last few weeks and see if the rut brings out the nocturnal monsters. I am definitely not holding my breath. I will be breaking out the .17 HMR to do a little bushytail hunting after the rut. Hope everyone had a great season and had the opportunity to take a kid hunting. They are the future of our sport.”
Sumter Co.: Darrin Jarvis reports, “We are starting to see the bucks chasing does in the hardwoods. They seem to predominantly be staying in the hardwoods, and they’re still not as active as normal in the green fields for this time of the year. I observed an 8-point chasing multiple does last Friday afternoon (Jan. 8) within 100 yards of a green field for around 30 minutes, but when I circled the field there was nothing in the green field. We had approximately 20 people hunting our place, and the most we saw on a field was about 15 per hunt (morning or afternoon), but no bucks on them chasing except small 4-points and spikes.
“We also aren’t seeing mature adult does on the fields, so it seems they are still browsing on green vegetation in cutovers and eating acorns. The necks are beginning to swell, and the rut should be in full swing the next week or two. I am also noticing more movement later in the mornings around 9 a.m. and later. We aren’t seeing much before that time. I saw an 8-point around noon crossing a green field probably checking his scrapes.
“I would suggest hunters who want to hunt longer but aren’t able to hunt all day go in later than normal but stay for the rest of the day. They are on the move. Forget normal patterns, and hunt the does. Where the does are, the bucks will follow.”
Talladega Co.: Ben Richardson reports, “Buck movement has really picked up in early January, and I expect it to continue to get better throughout the remainder of the month. I have been in the woods as much as possible. The recent cold snap has put deer on their feet in search of the food required to keep them warm. During that cold snap, just after the first of the year, I was seeing a lot of deer up moving in the middle of the day. Over a week’s span, I saw five or six nice bucks cruising between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
“On Jan. 5, I finally got off work in time to hunt. At 3:15 p.m. I saw a buck trailing a doe. I tried some calling with my Flextone grunt call and Primos bleat can. The buck showed no response at first. He was studying that doe. However, about 15 minutes later he came back to check out the sounds. He was a young, double-beam 9-pointer, a very unique buck. Our management strategy for the farm is strict, and he needed a couple more years to grow, so I had to let him pass by at 35 yards.
“With all the midday action everyone was seeing, I decided to hunt the midday on the weekend of Jan. 10-11. On the 10th, I stalked along logging roads and saw a good 8-pointer at 10:15 a.m. but didn’t have a shot. At 10:40 a.m. I was able to get a doe that was standing on a south facing, pine-strawed slope soaking up the sunshine.
“The next day my girlfriend and I hunted together and decided to try midday again. We got in the woods around 11 a.m. with plans to hunt until 2 p.m. Driving into the hunting area, we saw two does feeding in a cutover, and about 500 yards down the road an 8-pointer trotted across the dirt road. I decided to stalk.
“After about an hour of slipping around in a small creek bottom, I caught movement from a doe. I immediately took a knee because she didn’t appear to be spooked. I scanned the woods for a minute and caught movement back to my left. Another doe bounded off away from me. I scanned around the fallen tree where the deer had vacated from and saw a dark body. It took one step into the sun, and through my scope I could see a wide chest and dark tarsal glands. I knew I had to decide fast, and with a quick glimpse to the rack, I took the 80-yard shot. The deer hit the ground.
“As I approached, I saw how lucky I really was. The 7mm-08 bullet had centered a small 2-inch sapling, splintering the tree and still dropping the buck. I was pleased with the nice 7-pointer. It appeared the deer at the fallen tree had been feeding on honeysuckle and briars that were growing around the branches. The doe I got on the 10th and the buck I got the 11th had a lot of green coarse fibrous material in their stomachs, along with small twigs. Each had several chestnut-oak acorns in their stomachs as well.
“I have talked to several people and everyone is optimistic about the remainder of the season here in Talladega County. Don’t forget: find the does, use a little calling, stay in the woods, and be ready any time of day. When I looked at my watch after I killed that 7-pointer, it was 12:01 p.m. Good luck to each of you the rest of the way. I hope you get that buck on your “hit list.”
“And oh, I heard three gobblers get fired up on Jan. 6. Even with it being in the 20s, these gobblers cut loose about three gobbles each! I’ll be listening again March 15.”
Tallapoosa Co.: Brandon Johnson reports, “As bad as I hate to say it, it is slow, slow, slow. Everybody I have talked to, including a couple of club presidents, sporting-goods-store owners and game wardens, say the same thing. I have tried it all, and the deer sightings are fewer this year than I can ever remember. I have seen some big deer killed around some green fields, but my game cams are still showing very little daytime movement.
“On Jan. 2 I saw countless tracks in roads, and you could tell they were running tracks. I feel like I am hunting hot and fresh sign, but deer movement seems to be limited to nighttime movement.
“Being a weekend warrior, you are truly at the mercy of the weather, and weekend weather has been terrible to say the least. Early January brought bitter cold temps and some snow and ice. Temps in the teens and very high winds seemed to shut down deer movement.
“If you can find the does, just stay on them and be patient. A good friend of mine, Joe Perry, told me the best lesson he ever got was ‘The amount of deer and especially big deer you see and harvest is in direct relation with the amount of time you stay in the woods.’”
Mark Thomas reports, “I wish that I had a glowing report, but I don’t. I have hunted only a couple of times over the past couple of weeks and haven’t seen much. I am getting lots of new buck pictures on my trail cams, which tells me they are cruising a little more. However, the vast majority of my pictures are still at night. I am going to focus on hunting in the thickest stuff that still has browse, because the deer are not making it to the food sources until well after dark.”
To inquire about becoming an AON hunt advisor, see the inset on page 13.
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