November is here! For all the hype, the woods should be a vertible meat market right now. According to hunting media, testosterone is running high, and big bucks are dumber than ever! (Have you noticed how the bucks pictured on the internet are larger than anything you’ve seen in real life?) Working my way in on Saturday morning, I felt optimistic that my hunt would be akin to visiting the walk-in refridgerator at Costco: uncomfortable, but brief.
Unlike a walk-in refridgerator, the temperature on Saturday morning was in the mid 70s. Additionally, I had set up to ambush cruising bucks, but I observed no cruising activity throughout the morning. Neither did I find any supporting sign. In hindsight, some of my optimism was largely unfounded. Once again I was reminded that the middle Tennessee rut runs a few weeks behind the rut in other areas. That, paired with very warm weather, set me up a for a dead morning.
Now, I’ll take a step back for a moment and acknowledge that I could have just been in the wrong spot. Since I’ve been hunting, I haven’t taken much time to scout. I’ve preferred to stay still in one place, rather than bouncing around looking for deer. In the thick Tennessee brush, travelling by foot reduces your chances of connecting exponentially. You might bump something, even within range, but it will likely disappear before you even get a look at the animal. There could be a deer party going on someplace I haven’t discovered yet.
I did come across a gut pile, likely from the night before. It was surrounded by a massive swarm of vultures. This was both encouraging and discouraging. It made me feel like the decision to be in the location I chose was not completely unfounded. But at the same time, also wondered if the deer in the area would had cleared out after a such a recent kill. I was also disappointed to see that the hunter had left trash behind with the gut pile. I picked it up and continued on my way.
Though Saturday’s hunt didn’t live up to my dubiously high expectations, the optimism continues as we head deeper into November. The rut will kick in eventually, regardless of the weather. Deer are out there, and, if I play my cards right, I may connect. In the meantime, I’m trying to focus on the beautiful fall colors, the earthy smells, and the scampering wildlife I encounter every time I get out. Successful or not, the hunt is always worth it.
Persistence Outdoors 