Are they rutting in this area yet? Head to Oak Mtn next week and wondering what their activity will be like. Thanks!

From what I'm seeing and hearing, they are about 2-3 weeks away. Still getting pics of bucks grouped up with 2 and 3 bucks running together. Not the big bachelor groups from a month ago but they are still hanging together some. Scrapes are starting to show up, but no harassing, pushing or chasing yet. Maybe some others will chime in. Update this thread with how your hunt at Oak Mountain is going.

Had a grown deer on camera all last night with a doe. Usually Christmas is pretty wide open. I'm on the bibb Shelby line

The data says no.......

It's normally wide open from right around Christmas through the first week in January for the B'ham area. Then another flurry mid month when the unbred does cycle back in again in Jan.

That place gets good once the leafs drop.

Been hunting Shelby for years. Bucks still together. Little ones sparring a bit. Just starting to see new scrapes. Best time for me is right after Christmas until 1st week in January every year.

Thanks all. Will report back, hopefully with good news.

Killed one chasing this afternoon

The key is trying to find a hot doe or a rutting buck out on the prowl not on lockdown .

After couple days of scouting, confirm there are only two types of deer at Oak Mtn. Those going up uphill and those going downhill. These rock bluffs are steep!

What unit did you get?

I got a pic of a very young buck chasing a doe yesterday in Shelby County. A little early but he is young so maybe not too far away

North Bibb, South Shelby is usually around Dec 13 to 31st . I live just a few miles from Oak Mountain and our deer are more in the Jan 10 through 31 window. Just starting to see a few scrapes

Unit 6. Belcher Rd

Saw a bachelor group in Liberty Park last night with a couple of big bucks in it. It'll be another week or so and they will start running hard on the Jeff/Shelby line. Does will start littering the side of 459.

Saw a cowhorn spike chasing a doe by publix in Pelham last night

Any luck?

Saw 2 deer and not much sign. Couple old scrapes, one decent new-ish rub, and one pile of droppings. It was a grind. The zones nearer the campground and golf course would be better, I think.