2011/2012 Deer Activity, Hunting Report, Season Information & Rut Report

[ohiohunts]

Our October lull has been going since September though. I think we are fighting land owner contamination though as they are changing the landscape for some reason where we hunt at. We are moving into another area for now to see what is going on.

After sitting in the wind Sunday morning blowing around in a tree (25+MPH) for about 3 hours and seeing no dear (big surprise), we went on a walk in the new area we are going to set up in. Seen quite a bit of tracks and worn down trails, even a couple really nice scrapes. We haven't seen much activity though since about early August when we were seeing a ton of bucks on the deer cams and only a few does. Anyone else hearing reports on the doe population being down?

[Bigcity]

Hunted this weekend in NE Ohio, yes in the gusting wind and rain. Not much rut activity observed, hardly any rubs, no scrapes and very little deer activity. Other posts suggest "October Lull" and I agree. I think the heat from last week plus recent full moon has them moving at night. Historically, activity gets going here around Halloween. I did see some fat squirrels though. Might just hunt them instead until the rut heats up.

[mrbb]

10/18/11
evening, very warm 67 degree's 5-8 mph winds

got on stand a little late today but was settled in by 5;10 pm
beatiful evening, fall colors and all, sat next to a pond, got to watch several wood ducks feeding and seeming to me playing

saw one squirrel, and that was it
was 58 degrees when i left, and wind about stopped
calling for stormy weather tommorow

should have had deer out tonight but!! thats the way its been lately SLOW!!!

[adam]

Same around here in northwest ohio, only been able to get out 4 times so far and havent seen a deer from the stand. Windy and rainy friday a day I took off a month ago of course. Decided to scout instead, found a couple good trails, a few rubs and some scrapes. Hunted again sunday night, didnt see a thing again but did find a new fresh scrape line on my way out. Starting to see a lot more sign new scrapes and rubs everywhere but no deer. Where I hunt lots, and lots of corn around hoping there all just in the corn. Time will tell.

[bludyarrows]

I got back out Monday afternoon wind still honkin 15-20 mph got settled in at 3:45 wind started to lay down around 5. About 5:30 a small 8pnt came in with a jacked up rack. He hung around till two small 10 pointers came in together and and run him off. They were real small racked..looked like brothers(healthy but real young).They were very skittish and milled around for about 20 mins then walked off...looked at clock it was 6 and about 2 mins later a single doe came in. She feed about for 10 mins before giving me a nice 15 yrd quartering away shot and.....WHACK.. I let the air out of her. I got ahold of Great Lakes and after a short 50yrd track we hauled her out. With the threat of rain and temps in the low 50's overnight I took her straight to the butcher. The bad thing is we got no pics, The REAL bad thing is I can't enter her in the challenge...:banghead:LOL... This is a piece of land my buddy owns(Great Lakes) and we see alot of deer here. This is the same spot I hunted in the morning on Monday and didn't see anything close or not running. When the wind calmed down it was like a switch was thrown and they were on the move. Had four deer right in front of me in about an hour. As far as the challenge goes I should put another one down soon as it is also an urban area and we hunt right up to the end of the season...A great place to watch and learn the deers patterns, body language and such....Thanx Kirk...

[hortontoter]

Congrats on the doe. Glad to hear you saw a few moving.

[treelounger]

I drove to Middletown,Ny monday morning. I left before light and got there at 11:30ish. I left there at 4:30 pm and got home well after dark. I didn't see a single (live) deer on the way there and only saw one doe on the drive home. The route we took was I80. I can't believe the amount of ground we covered and saw one deer. There were several one the side of the road dead but, man! I was was shocked.