Most observers, whether they get paid by a state agency to do it professionally or simply do it while they sit on the back porch swing, agree that Nov. 14 or so is usually the peak of the white-tailed deer rut in this neck of the woods.
Well, Nov. 14 was two days ago, so that means that bucks are still pretty active in seeking out female companionship, no matter how brief that liason may be.
The bottom line here is that now is the time to take your bow and arrow and go live in your treestand or groundblind. We all know that it is not the easiest thing in the world to get a very nice buck within 30 yards and then make the perfect shot to claim that animal.
If it was easy, then everybody would be doing it, everybody who bow hunts, that is.
This is a most exciting time to be a deer hunter, this rut period. Even hunters who have numerous trail cameras out are usually surprised by a buck that nobody has seen, either in person or on film.
The bruiser bucks, the ones who have survived a season or three, don’t prance about at any other time of the year, though it is sometimes possible to spot one in late summer, while they are still in velvet.
Ten days ago, while I was driving in the pre-dawn hours on W.Va. Route 93 in Grant County, one of those bruiser bucks walked across the highway part way between the turnoff to Dam #14 and the top of Walker’s Ridge. This is a wallhanger buck with very high tines. Whoever hunts that area has a nice one roaming around.
It was Nov. 6 and the buck was nose to highway, walking slowly across the blacktop. I hope he doesn’t get whacked by one of those coal or log trucks that fly low along that road on a daily basis.
I’m guessing that a doe had recently walked the same path now taken by the trophy buck. He was sure following his nose.
Michael A Sawyers - Outdoors
Bucks on the move
- Michael A Sawyers - Outdoors
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They have their ways
“Brrrrrrrt! Brrrrrrrt!” my phone vibrates in my shirt pocket. Sometimes when that happens I think that I just burped.“Hello?” -
Md. hunt rules being formed
The Maryland Wildlife & Heritage Service, currently in the early stages of setting hunting regulations for the next two years, envisions no changes to the deer bag limits in Region A (Garrett, Allegany and western Washington counties).On the other hand, substantial changes are being eyeballed for Region B, which is all of Maryland from Clear Spring eastward to the Atlantic Ocean. -
Officers allowed to enter
Is it legal for Maryland Natural Resources Police officers to walk onto your private land?
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Wapiti survey begins
What’s up with this elk stuff anyway?
I’m speaking, of course, about the news announced this past August that some folks are going to look around Garrett and Allegany counties to see if it would be feasible to reintroduce Rocky Mountain elk. Elk used to live here, you know. -
Jury still out on Marcellus shale drilling
Mother Earth, having been around as long as she has, should be given the right to choose elective surgery when needed rather than have exploratory surgery forced upon her.
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Gobblers hunted on Sundays; sun still rises
See. It wasn’t the end of the world.
Well, wait a minute. I better check before I speak too quickly.
Getting on the Internet, hmmmm, hmm! Yahoo now. Hmmmm! Nope, nothing there. Checking Bing. OK. Now MSN. -
2011 was a very (insert adjective) year
As January started, grumbling could be heard on both sides of the North Branch of the Potomac River.
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Progress in eye of beholder
Folks in the state-run hunting and fishing industry are always looking for ways to attract new license buyers.
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W.Va. buck kill up
I have always thought that the wildlife biologists for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources were brave. Each year, about the middle of November, they predict the buck kill for the upcoming firearms season.
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And then there were...
I want to start this column by assuring you that I don’t begrudge anybody a buck that is taken by legal means.
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