South

southsticky

Joe_Cermele — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:55:56 -0400

All about the Dixie deer rut, from the swamps and pines to the beanfields and the Ozarks. Rut Reporter Eric Bruce has been writing about hunting and fishing for newspapers and magazines for 25 years and hunts deer all over the South, including near his Georgia home. States covered: AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, SC, FL

Likely The Biggest Pure Kentucky 8-Pointer Ever Measured

Dave_Maccar — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:08:22 -0500

Eleven days after an Illinois hunter tagged the pending Boone & Crockett world record 8-pointer, 32-year-old Kevin Peak shot another great 8 that should take the title as the biggest Kentucky 4-by-4 ever officially measured and recorded in the Boone & Crockett record books.

Bruce: Hot Rut, Where You Can Find It

Sarah Smith — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:22:06 -0500

Overall Activity Status: Activity is excellent in areas where the rut is kicking in, which includes Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. Bucks are actively cruising and seeking, with some chasing ongoing. Look for rut-related movement to peak very soon if not already.

Fighting: Some fighting will break out if rival bucks are after the same doe in estrus. Some bucks may respond to rattling if they have not located a hot doe. Bucks are no longer trying to establish their pecking order as this has already been settled earlier in the season. Most fighting will be between mature bucks that have wandered out of their home range in search of does.

Rub making: With the rut on in Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi, bucks are more intent on finding a doe than laying down sign. Still, some will take out their frustration or try to impress another deer by making a rub in their presence.

Scrape making: Bucks are seeking and chasing does and not using scrapes regularly. However be aware of a freshly worked scrape, which may indicate a buck still in the area.

Chasing: Shane Dempsey reports that “the rut is wide open here in northern Alabama. We've seen nine bucks chasing chasing does in the last two days.”

Daytime movement: Deer are moving well in rut states and it should increase during this chase phase. Does and bucks are moving as they're trying to hook up with each other. Kyle Dempsey was hunting in Madison County, Alabama last week and spotted a buck nicknamed “Bullwinkle” that they had been hunting for some time, and had seen on numerous trail cam pictures and video footage.

The buck was exhibiting serious rutting behavior, grunting and chasing does. Dempsey missed the buck two days before seeing him bedded in a doe bedding area and finally put him down for good with his Sako 7mm-08. The 150-class 14-point buck, pictured here with Dempsey weighed 175 pounds dressed.

Estrous signs: Definite indications of does in estrous in Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. It's rut time in these states and most of the does will be in heat now or the next week or so.

X Factor: Hunt open fields, doe feeding areas, and travel corridors to intercept some chasing action. Rutting bucks can be unpredictable and the best strategy is to spend as much time as you can in the woods and stay ready.

Bruce: A Hodgepodge of Rut Action

Dave_Maccar — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:22:22 -0500

Things are heating up in some areas of theSouth, others are slow, while others are hoping for just a little action before the season is over.

Typically the rut should be getting cranked in Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi in January. The problem with predictions is that deer herds can vary so much from one county and region to another. Some portions of a state may be experiencing rutting frenzy while others have already had their rut come and go.

In Florida, particularly the panhandle, the deer are in pre-rut while it’s over in some parts of the state. Trevor Fitzgerald operates Southern Arrowhead Outfitters in the Florida panhandle and says that “our deer are in pre rut. They are rubbing and scraping a lot. It won't be long before it kicks off. Here is a picture of one that was killed last week just after he made a rub.”

Just across the stateline in southwest Georgia’s Decatur County, hunters are seeing some increased rut action. Apparently the southwestern Georgia deer are more in line with the Florida rut times that the rest of the state of Georgia, which sees a mid-November rut. A Decatur County hunter reports seeing about one-third of the scrapes in his hunting area freshly reworked after a recent rain. Another saw two bucks running does and is seeing lots of good bucks on their feet now. Still another hunter harvested a good buck this week that had dark smelly tarsal glands.

In Mississippi, a hunter in the Arkabulta area, the northwest portion of the state, is also seeing fresh buck sign and increased movement in the area. The Alabama rut should be heating up now but some are seeing unusually slow action, particularly the southeastern part of the state around Midland City. Much of it boils down to your specific deer herd in your area, their health, food sources, and buck to doe ratio. If you’re seeing increased movement and buck sign, the rut is close.

For those areas of the south where the rut has already occurred, there is still the possibility of some second rut action. Georgia State Wildlife Biologist Don McGowan says “it can vary by local herd and conditions. If there is a decent buck to doe ratio, it will be minimal. However if the ratio is skewed with more does, you’ll see more late action. It’s mainly adult does that missed being bred the first time.”

The best way to tell if you’re going to see any second rut action is to look for buck sign. “Bucks play off of does if they’re in estrus. Bucks will display rut behavior if does are in heat,” McGowan said. “It’s mainly a reaction to estrous does. A doe-in-heat is a ‘releaser’ which will cause a buck to exhibit rut behavior.”

Wherever you hunt, if you’re seeing buck rubs, scrapes, and movement, that is when and where you should be hunting.

South: Any Day Now It Will “Break Wide Open”

Sarah Smith — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:05:23 -0500

Happy New Year to all deer hunters across the south. Many of us were shopping, visiting family and eating too much last week, and now we can get back out in the woods for some late season action and possibly try out any new gear that we received during the holidays.

There is still some hunting left in Louisiana, Arkansas, South Carolina and Georgia, but the rut is over and hunters should focus on food sources. In the metro Atlanta area, the extended archery season continues through the end of January.

High energy food sources found in food plots and remaining crops like corn and beans should be a magnet for whitetails. Some areas that had a bumper acorn crop may still have some nuts left under the leaves that hungry deer will be searching for. Look for stirred leaves where some acorns remain. Water oaks often drop later and can also be a draw for deer.

There is always the possibility of the second rut, but it can be very spotty. Concentrating on food sources again is the best chance to see some late second rut action, brought about by does coming into heat a second time if they were not bred the first time, or by young does going into estrus for the first time.

Shane Dempsey from Alabama reports that “sightings have been down the last two weeks in northeast Alabama. I'm pretty sure we are in the lull or lock down period and expecting things to break wide open any day. I talked to several hunters in Marshall, Jackson, and Madison counties. They are reporting the same thing. Rubs and scrapes are everywhere though.”

Farther south, Tyler Casper shot his first buck ever, the 198-pound six-pointer shown here, in south central Alabama's Pike County on December 30. Eight-year-old Tyler was hunting in a shooting house over a food plot with his grandfather. He used a .308 to make the 160 yard shot. The buck was fat on a good acorn crop and the lush food plot.

Florida's rut is later this month but pre-rut action should be hot now. The rut is imminent in Alabama and Mississippi, but bucks are already moving well from various reports. Mississippi continues to see some giant bucks being harvested this year. Prime time is just ahead, and hunters in these states should be out right now.

Bruce: Rut Cranking in Deep South

Sarah Smith — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 10:00:39 -0500

Rut Reporter Eric Bruce has been writing about hunting and fishing for newspapers and magazines for 25 years and hunts deer all over the South, including near his Georgia home. States covered: AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, SC, FL.

Overall Activity Status: Things are really starting to crank up in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida as reports of buck activity and hot hunting action are coming in. Gun seasons are now open in these states and hunters are out in force. Though the weather has been fluctuating between rain, cold and unseasonably warm, the deer still seem to be moving and hunters are seeing and bagging some good bucks.

The state of Mississippi has been giving up some monster bucks over the last few weeks. On the Morgan Blake National Wildlife Refuge in Holmes county, Andy Lloyd harvested an 18-inch giant on December 7. Scott Champagne bagged a 220-inch buck in Jefferson county on December 8 and two days later his 14-year old son, Hunter, took a 140-class 10-pointer. Dewayne Wiggins was hunting in Carroll county, and moved from the fields to the acorn-heavy woods where he shot a 14-pointer that scored 184.

Gary Counts was hunting a food plot in Yazoo county and killed a 190-inch triple-beamed buck that was pursuing a doe on December 8. Another 190-class buck was taken by Stephen Henderson in Laflore county on December 16. Henderson had missed the buck earlier in the season. On December 20, Elmer Busby shot a 17-point 178-inch stud in Leake county. Clearly the Magnolia State is producing some whopper bucks this season. ms-sportsman.com has details on some of them.

Fighting: Fighting is increasing as these states are in pre-rut. Most fighting is brief and at night and may not be observed. Still, the pre-rut stage is one of the best times to rattle, as bucks are breaking up from bachelor groups and are becoming more interested in does and battling their peers.

Rub making: Rub making is at its peak now in Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. Bucks are marking their territories and taking out their frustration on saplings and trees. Look for any accumulation or a line of rubs to pinpoint buck travel or staging areas.

Scrape making: Scrapes are transitioning from casual hoof marks to serious messages. Bucks are returning to scrapes and leaving additional sign. Posting on scrapes now may be productive. Better still, place a trail camera over an active scrape to get the best picture of current activities

Chasing: More hunters are beginning to report chasing. In the New Lexington/Berry area in Alabama, a hunter reported seeing an 8-pointer chasing a group of does. A hunter in Calhoun County, Alabama reported seeing five bucks one morning. Most does are not yet receptive but some bucks, mainly younger ones, will still follow them.

Daytime movement: Daytime movement is increasing in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi, as pre-rut conditions urge bucks to move and search for other deer to fight or follow. Mississippi hunters are seeing an incredible acorn crop this year and the best strategy is always to hunt near such food sources.

Estrous signs: The majority of does have not yet been bred in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi, but its getting very close. A few older does may come into estrous early, but most are still a week or two away. The main action is coming and may only be days or weeks away, depending on your region.

Bruce: Signs of the Pre-Rut

Online Editors — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:46:19 -0500

Just like much of the country was gearing up for the rut in late October, Mississippi, Florida and Alabama are in the pre-rut phase right now. The excitement and anticipation of the upcoming rut is upon hunters from those states as the rut edges closer and closer. Typical pre-rut behavior by bucks is being seen in the woods now in these areas.

A hunter in Benton County, Mississippi commented that he grunted in an 8 pointer last week and is seeing lots of fresh rubs and scrapes. Another hunter in the Alcorn area has observed young bucks chasing and increasing fresh scrapes. Likewise a Chickasaw county hunter is seeing young bucks chasing. As is common in the pre-rut phase, the eager inexperienced young bucks will be out chasing and harassing the does even though most of them are not ready yet.

The older and wiser mature bucks are still waiting for the actual rut when the does are in estrus. Instead of exposing themselves unnecessarily and burning energy, the mature and bigger bucks are waiting for the prime time. These older bucks will be hanging out in thickets and laying down some rut sign at night. Much of the rubs and scrapes being seen now are from younger bucks, but it's still possible to catch an older buck making sign during daylight if you're fortunate enough.

Mississippi hunters are anticipating increased rutting activity starting around Christmas and continuing into February. That is true with Florida also, particularly the panhandle section. Trevor Fitzgerald of Blountstown, Florida, 35 miles west of Tallahassee, has seen the rut in his area heat up in late January and into February, but is seeing rubbing and scraping now.

Bruce: Woods Changing, but Bucks Moving

Sarah Smith — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:56:25 -0500

By now the woods across the south are colder and most all the leaves have dropped. The green forests of September have given way to the bland gray of December. While the deer are still out there, the change in seasons calls for a somewhat different change in a hunter's strategy.

One of the most striking changes are the lack of foliage in the treetops. Tree stand hunters are noticeably more visible in the trees, and this is not unnoticed by whitetails. Back in October, hunters could set up in a tree and let the numerous leaves hide his silhouette. Not now, a hunter trying to hide in the bare branches sticks out like pumpkin in a pea patch.

To compensate, hunters should be using a branches-style of camouflage instead of a dark green woodland pattern. Look for trees that have multiple trunks, branches, or some leaves remaining. Avoid being silhouetted against the sky by placing a thick evergreen tree or a hillside behind you.

Bucks are still active and are looking for food or does. The peak rut has passed in South Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas, and Louisiana, but bucks are still being seen and harvested, just not as much. The days of frenzied chasing is over for the most part, but bucks will still check out does when the come across each other.

Robert Deaton was hunting over a large food plot in Morgan Co., Georgia last Saturday when this beautiful 12 pointer stepped out to feed. Normally a mature buck does not walk out into an open food plot during the day, but this one did. Likely the buck was worn down from the rut and needed to refuel. The 16-inch wide buck weighed 156 pounds.

Also Saturday morning, I watched an 8 pointer come under my stand. He hung around my stand for several minutes, due in part, I think, to the several scent bombs around my stand. It was hard to pass the easy bowshot, but I let him walk off in hopes that my buddy's 15-year old son would get a shot. He did, but the arrow missed the mark.

A hunter on a public hunting area, Redlands WMA in central Georgia, killed a super 12-pointer last week that green-scored 147 5/8. There is a report of a 185-inch buck also taken in Georgia last week that we're researching. With duck season also open, the flurry of shots and activity at dawn around marshes may move a buck to a deer hunter which is what happened to a Thomas County, Georgia hunter who bagged a handsome ten-pointer. Bucks are still out there and some are active, but you may have to alter your tactics to score. It's not too late to score on a trophy, target food sources which is where most bucks will be.

On the other hand, Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama hunters are just getting started. Their rut is just around the corner and traditional tactics should work. Look for rublines, scrapes, travel corridors, and doe feeding areas to target pre-rut bucks. The woods are colder and bare, but your buckpole doesn't have to be with the right strategy and persistence.

The Great Escape: How a Second-Season Hunter Unknowingly Tagged a Louisiana Pen-Raised Monster Buck

Dave_Maccar — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:52:29 -0500

When she spotted a jaw-dropping 31-point buck in mid-November on the Louisiana farm she hunts, Jacey Broussard vowed to do everything she could to get her hands on the giant’s gnarly rack. After an obsessive three-week hunt, she finally tagged her trophy—and that’s when things got weird. The 22-year-old novice in only her second season of deer hunting discovered that her buck was an escapee from a high-fence operation in nearby St. Charles.

200-Class Missouri Monster Buck Ends Hunter's 13-Year Quest for a Booner

Dave_Maccar — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:49:09 -0500

Zach Gadberry was a 10-year-old tag along too young to hunt when his dad killed a Boone & Crockett buck on the family farm. He’s been looking for his own Booner ever since. Thirteen 13 years later he found it, downing this 200-class nontypical on that same farm with a 200-yard shot during Missouri’s rifle season.