This is the place to post your observations about rutting activity in Vermont or simply find out what other hunters are seeing in the woods. Be sure to tell us the area of the state, indicate the date of the observation and describe what you've seen "bucks chasing does, fresh scrapes, etc.".
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Hi Im from South Burlington VT and Im hunting currently in Richmond/Hinseburg area and I've been out about average, when Im not working. We have this field that we've been hunting in for a while now and have only bagged a spike horn my second year. I think the spot is dry but others beg the differ. We went out opening day and got seated at 5:15am. We dont use tree stands because we have a field that we sit on the wooded edge and there really isnt a place for a tree stand. Well the first day I noticed trackes, and droppings which were frozen so that told me that the deer were moving early am. About 20 minutes after the sun broke we heard a gun shot. After about 2 hours I figured I would walk the sides near the little stream that moves through the back area twords the woods and I noticed that there were some tracks too. But that day we didnt see any day movement. The next day we were in the woods at the same time and by 9:30-10:00 am I wanted to do some more walking so I headed up tword another field area with somewhat tall grass and as I was walking I heard something so I turned enough to see a deer turn and bolt, but it didnt have horns. After about an hour of walking and not seeing anymore I walked back to our field and my partner said that he saw a spike horn cross the field and stop and then book up the hill tword the woods. So we sat the rest of the day and again didnt see anything. So by the 5th day of going in I decided to invest in the "Can" call by Primos and some doe estrus with Tink Bombs. We hung up 3 and waited, but it started to rain pretty decent so we had to call it a day. Still by day 6 I was only able to hunt for 3 hours and so I used the calll for a little bit, nothing. Im thinking it has something to do with the weather because we have had some warm day's with some heavy rain. Also with work schedules we usually are out of the woods at 1pm so if something is crossing we dont see it. Im not sure how the Rut is in this area but I really havent seen much movement and activity during the day besides the one I scared. They dont seem to be responding to the call also, I havent tried rattling yet not sure what success I will have.