Pre-rut activity ...

[Bob B.]

Just wondering what tradgangers are seeing in their woods this mid October.  Last night ( after 2 days of rain), I sat a funnel in between 3 ridges and had 5 deer in my area over the course of an hour and a half.  I was tickling antlers(not often) and grunting softly.  I did have 3 first year horns come in to investigate.  They were about 30 yards out and the wind switched ... they left.  I had two does, at different times come looking for me as well.  I did not see any 2nd year horns or bigger last night.

I am thinking of using some ever calm or herd in a bottle type of scent next week to see if I can further arouse curiosity.  I may even use a bit of vanilla.  I am a ground pounder and do not use a blind.  It is a rush getting deer close, being eye to eye while trying to draw undetected.

So, what are you seeing in your woods?

Bob.

[woodchucker]

Tyler and I hunted with some of the Gang on the Stewart Air Base Co-Op this past weekend. We found an early scrape on the edge of a cornfield, with an overgrown stone pile for a blind. I figured it was about a 10 yard shot for Tyler, and I was PRAYING a buck would come along to check it!!! Well, we had a nice morning anyway... Probly alittle early.

[twospots]

They do seem to be changing from their summer pattern righ not in SW Ohio. Weather getting cooler and had a few frosts already. Been seeing two bucks come into neighbors yard every day around same time early in the month but not since. I know they are coming in but not together and at differnt times.

[NBK]

Found 3 scrapes yesterday.  First of the year for me.  In funnel areas that have scrapes annually so it's always the first place I look.

[kennym]

Scared the crap out of a 140 ish 10 pt with a grunt but he came back in a few minutes. He wouldn't commit tho, but lightly sparred with another buck a lil later.  Saw 8 bucks in 3 sits last weekend, so they are movin in MO!