Cold morning with lots of snow on the ground NW of Piedmont. I sat in a stand over a feeder heavily frequented by doe. The snow made it bright enough that I could see well by 6:10am. Starting at 6:20am, I had little bucks cruising by every 30 - 40 mins, noses on the ground, checking the feeder, freshening scrapes, then trotting on along the field edge until they went out of sight. 5 bucks by 9:00am and not a single doe. Then a doe and 2 fawns came in at 9:20 and stayed until 10:00am, but nothing ever came by to check them. Finally headed out at 11:00am.
Cameras show the big bucks checking doe at the feeders at daylight, but not during the day yet. Caught a good fight on camera between 2 mature bucks. Seen several that are all roughed up, and one of my big 8s lost one of his antlers.
Rut is not quite here yet, but it is getting dang close.
Cameras show the big bucks checking doe at the feeders at daylight, but not during the day yet. Caught a good fight on camera between 2 mature bucks. Seen several that are all roughed up, and one of my big 8s lost one of his antlers.
Rut is not quite here yet, but it is getting dang close.
