Looks like the rut is in full swing here is southcentral New Mexico. Thats good for our deer herd bad for us bowhunters since the archery doesn't start until the 8th of January. Oh well.
The good news is that any doe that doesn't get bred will re-cycle in about 30 days. That means there will be some does ready to breed again in January!!!
I was driving through Cloudcroft from Artesia Saturday (After watching Artesia hand Silver City there a$$ in the AAAA state championship football game, but we won't go there ) and I saw a mature buck chasing does. I figured the rut was going to be early this year. J- and I are heading up to Coues country again this weekend to see what's going on. It's been snowing quite a bit so maybe we can find some scrapes.
Here in SW NM it seems as though the rut is also starting up. Just last Friday saw a big 5x5 and a forky with 12 does. Today on my way in to work saw a really nice 4x4 sniffing a doe. A little later saw a big forky tearing up a bush with 5 does around him.
Hey when you have lived her for over 19 years you get used to the smell. And yes there is nothing to do, but we play some damn good football and that will never change.
Shane,
P.S>
Quit talking about our ladies.
Off the subject of football and cows, but what time of year do those deer shed their antlers. I was down there on a piggy hunt at the end of Feb, and was surprised to see them still running with antlers. Just curious.