This has been the worst year ever for me in Alabama. I have 233 acres in Blount County that I hunt along with my cousin and uncle. This is our third year on the property and I shot my best buck here last year. We are flat out not seeing any deer. Since opening day of bow season, I've hunted 50 times minimum and seen a grand total of 7 deer, all bucks. 4 of those deer were jumped going to/from stands or checking cams. I have not seen any does at all. My cousin saw 3 does opening day of gun and not a deer since. My uncle's seen two small bucks. We have approx. 4-6 big 3.5 yr old plus shooter bucks on cam but for some reason all of the does have disappeared. We did not see a single deer all rut, its like it didn't even happen. We had a ton of scrapes and rubs, but usually every year we have plenty of community scrapes bucks check daily for 2 weeks but we didn't have any this year. Every scrape was made and never checked again. We've never shot a doe on this property. We've always struggled to see deer here but not like this. We've got everything deer need here. I cant imagine another piece of property in the state being thicker. We have some open hardwoods, green fields, ridges, some pine thickets, hardwood bottoms, 50-70 acres of tornado damage and ive hunted all of it. Mornings, mid day, evenings, everything and it is getting so frustrating. I was just wondering if anyone else has had this problem or knows anything I can do to help.

Sincerely,
Extremely Frustrated Hunter

Sounds like y'all are putting too much pressure on such a small piece of property.

If you are jumping deer going to and from your stand, if possible you might look at accessing the stand from a different route. You are probably jumping more deer than you realize. Also, agree that hunting 50 times on 233 acres is probably pressuring the deer to much. If hunting fixed stands, access from different route, mix up your tactics, deer pattern people more than most know.

I was probably exaggerating when I said 50 but I am out there a lot no doubt. The other 2 have hunted maybe 10 times a piece. We did the same last couple years and at least had pictures of does like crazy. We thought maybe neighboring properties are laying the smack down on everything they see or have feeders out everywhere, but who knows

I feel your frustration....we too have had a horrible season thus far in sw colbert county; makes it difficult to keep kids interested. We have lots of deer on cameras (at night no less) and almost no movement during the day so you are not alone in this endeavor. Very few does on the cameras this year; young bucks are numerous at night. Last year was excellent with deer seen almost every hunt....been a weird year - 3 hunts this weekend with 3 of us and 0 deer seen, amazing...guess it makes me appreciate those years that are good.

Human pressure and the neighbors are putting corn.out by the barrels.

I don't have any advice, but clearly be selective when you pull the trigger. I have had many years like yours. I think the "kill dem does" crowd should hunt places like this to see what the herd reall looks like a lot of places.

Me and my wife are having the exact same problem. Used to we would see at least 2 or 3 every time we went. Now if you see anything at all you got lucky. I been getting pictures of a pack of dogs running around since August and they ran through my wifes food plot with her sitting there. I don't know what's going on with the deer this year but in my opinion between the dogs running around and still having acorns on the ground in January can't be helping the matter any.

It's been bad in a lot of places this year. I've seen more young bucks then ever but does have been scarce. Last year I saw deer almost every hunt this year I've had few good days but when I see deer I see good numbers.

X2

Where in Blount County? Deer populations are really low in parts of that county now becuse of all the does getting hammered for years.

We have the same issue, and we barely hunt our 300 acres. Tons of night pictures and our plots are ate down to the ground. Tracks all over the place, but no deer sightings.

Hwy 79 about 15 miles south of Guntersville. Like is said, we've got some really nice deer. Biggest is a 4.5 year old 10 that's pushing 140. Got 30 pictures of him from August until last week. We've got daytime pics of bucks too in the past month just no does anywhere to be found. I'm one of those guys who lives for deer season and hunts every chance I get and its just really depressing having a season like this after all of the hard work we've put into that place. I took the ole flintlock to Wheeler yesterday and saw 7 and it was like Christmas

What he said....

North Blount county?

Yeah, about 5 miles south of the Marshall Co line

I think the new "feeding" laws have changed the patterns up. Now instead of moving around looking for food, they know exactly where to go to get it. Whoever has the most corn wins i guess. Thats my opinion on it.

This is our problem as well...I see tons of crows crossing the line plus the gun shots..I know there's corn out there.

I agree and concur. Checking game camera's and filling up feeders, put a lot of pressure on a property, besides the hunting. Place your camera's, where you can check them when you hunt an area. You may not have a feeder, i don't know, i figure i'm the only one in the state, not putting out corn.

Yep, corn!