Deer Rut Just About Done

 

With only two of the six scrapes showing rut activity I pulled all the trail cameras. After getting home and giving it some thought , that was foolish . I returned the next day and set two trail cameras up on the two active scrapes, I'm sure glad I did !

https://youtu.be/95lgAIEd6uc

Tomorrow I start making my winter TC sets, 

Jim

 

MA 2025 Whitetail Deer Rut

 

My Massachusetts Whitetail Deer Rut project is winding down

In early October the first of six scrapes were found spanning approximately three hundred yards across an open hardwood ridge. Trails Cameras were set up at each of the six scrapes .Numerous Bucks and Does have visited the scrape line. Trail cameras were checked on a regular basis with several cameras needing minor adjustment and one trail camera was moved. There will be more to come on this “ Whitetail Rut Project” when the last trail cameras are taken in.

https://youtu.be/_JZeYIwQD-Q

Jim

Deer Scrape Activity Very Good

 

There was a nice turnout for my Mustelid Presentation yesterday. Thank You to all that attended ! Stay tuned for future presentations.

The Whitetail Scrape project I have been working on is going very well. I learned new deer behavior and never expected the level of activity, more to come on this soon.

While bushwhacking another area last week, I came across a number of new scrapes and set three  trail cameras up to monitor.  I figured why not but cameras likely won’t get anything with the rut winding down. I couldn’t have been more mistaken. One trail camera captured the most handsome 10 Pointer I have ever seen on video ( cover pic)

This morning’s adventure took me to a new area; I found a new beaver bank lodge and a bear marking tree. TC’s will be set in the coming week.

Jim

Active Scrape Line Slowing Down

 

It’s been one month ( Oct 15^th ) since starting to watch  ( trail cameras) five whitetail buck scrapes ( one scrape line) . Eight different bucks have visited the scrapes. Three bucks were very respectable . The largest of the three only gave a quick glimpse. It had a very impressive rack and only visited this scrape line once. Activity at and around the scrapes has slowed significantly, with only an occasional  scrape being freshened mid-November. The dominate buck of the area ( 7 Pointer) abandoned the scrape line for ten days. He finally showed back up November 13^th during the day to freshen a scrape.

Next Saturday @ 10:30 I’ll be presenting “ Mustelids of Massachusetts” . at the Rutland , MA. Library

There is still a sow with two yearlings roaming around . On November 14^th the bears triggered a trial camera. The acorn crop is becoming scarce. I wouldn’t be surprised if that was the last video of them for this year.

Jim

Deer Rut In Full Swing - Still A Few Bears Active

 

My  deer scrape trail camera monitoring project is going well. The chart shows  highlights of the last few weeks. I have lots of details to sort through. No surprises with the peak rut dates.

Bears still active in central Massachusetts. Over the last three days a sow with two yearlings and two different single bears have triggered TC’s.  Acorns are becoming scarce.  Deer , bear and turkey’s are cleaning the hardwood ridges.

I welcome the first snow so that I can start tracking. This morning, I set two trail cameras for fisher , more on that in the coming weeks.

Jim

Primetime Deer Rut In MA

 

Primetime Deer Rut In MA

 

Mid-October I found my first decent deer scrape of the year. My plan this fall is to find an active scrape line and set TC’s. That has worked out well. Over the last two weeks five scrapes have been found on a hardwood ridge that spans just over three hundred yards. Activity along this scrape line was slow , that was until this morning’s check. One scrape had eighty-five videos with fifty-five of them deer over the last two days. I find watching both buck and doe behavior around a scrape interesting. Buck tally since setting up on the first scrape.

-          9 pointer

-          7 pointer

-          6 pointer

-          Small 4 pointer

-          4 Doe’s near one scrape. There are many videos with Doe’s, I can’t tell them apart

Jim

Might This Be A Den Tree ?

 

Some years back I found a big ole white oak tree while shed hunting It had a large hole ( opening ) near the base of the tree. It looked like a classic cartoon bear den. I have had a trail camera watching this tree for years with an occasional bear and other wildlife checking it out. Last month I decided to hike in and remove the Bushnell Aggressor TC . It would be better used elsewhere. When reviewing the SD card that afternoon at home there was lots of bear activity. A sow with two cubs , sow with three yearlings and a single bear had visited the hollow tree late Sept and early Oct. All three bears showed interest in the tree and one sow climbed into the hole to check the inside out. Needless to say, I returned the following day to set the trail camera back up again in hopes that a   bear will use it for a winter den. Ill head back in November to check again. I wedged two small sticks across the top of the opening. I can see these from a distance

Stay Tuned

 

Jim