Rut In January 2025

[Yuma Outdoorsman]

I went out NYE and found small spikes/forks with does but nothing shooter size. I went back out on Saturday and found a nice buck with a herd of 10 does. They spooked about the time I saw them but ran to about 800 yards and stopped and looked back and the buck was sniffing a few of them. 
 

As of a few minutes ago, the units I’ve hunted have reported deer being shot in them. I even saw 46A&B had 1 buck being reported. I would love to see what that buck looked like.

Anybody else been out and seen any rutting activity? 

[Adicted]

Been out 5 times now. Central units. No rutting here.  Small bucks with a few does. Any mature bucks alone still.  Maybe just me

[Big or Bust]

It's been hit or miss down south. Some big guys, some small bucks with does, some does and no bucks. Typical trickle rut with poor doe health and inconsistent cycling due to drought. 

This may be as good as it gets down south I'm afraid....

[Yuma Outdoorsman]

1 hour ago, Adicted said:

Been out 5 times now. Central units. No rutting here.  Small bucks with a few does. Any mature bucks alone still.  Maybe just me

Typical, the rut happens in pockets down here in my desert. Some areas it’ll be full on and other places non existent. 

41 minutes ago, Big or Bust said:

It's been hit or miss down south. Some big guys, some small bucks with does, some does and no bucks. Typical trickle rut with poor doe health and inconsistent cycling due to drought. 

This may be as good as it gets down south I'm afraid....

For as much of a drought as we had in my unit, the deer health is very good. Big bodies on the bucks and the does all have looked healthy. Just hoping this next full moon really gets them going. 

[CatfishKev]

Had a buddy and member here in a central unit making stalks and seen and and heard a pretty gnarly buck fight.  I know 1 was killed maybe 2 That day.  I was surprised to hear the story but it's not mine to tell.  I can at least say this guy's word is honest. This was like 1.5-2 weeks ago

[creed]

Someone post a picture of what a deer looks like. Only thing I can find is pigs. 

[wildwoody]

Wheres the pigs?

[creed]

Unit 42.  Freaking 4 bucks have been terrorizing my yard. I could shoot them out the laundry room window but they only come in after dark. Heard a commotion the other night and had 5 pigs destroying anything that was in their reach. 

[dsotm]

Seen a ton of does this weekend but no bucks, winter needs to get here already

[Yuma Outdoorsman]

11 hours ago, CatfishKev said:

Had a buddy and member here in a central unit making stalks and seen and and heard a pretty gnarly buck fight.  I know 1 was killed maybe 2 That day.  I was surprised to hear the story but it's not mine to tell.  I can at least say this guy's word is honest. This was like 1.5-2 weeks ago

I know a couple guys that shot bucks in December and they snuck in on them when they were sparring with each other. One of the ones they shot was broke off. They were around farmland though and my theory is with so many does around the farms, those bucks tend to rut a little earlier as it seems the higher amount of does, the more likely a few are to be hot.