I have a limited understanding of hunting, however I try to learn more from watching, reading and of course this site. I have not been hunting for many years, only about 7. Florida hunting was really bad with limited deer and a bunch of black bears. Hunting in GA/AL close to stat line I have killed 5-7-8 point bucks but don't see many deer in the wild. I got a really late start hunting due to service time and my job working on ships. For the last three years I have been hunting Randolph county on family land that we got back from timber co. I was clear-cut before we got it back but they left plenty of trees in the bottoms. I really haven't been to lucky with food plots even though I put time and money into it. I have does together early season, I think this would mean before the rut. Seen does without there yearlings and fawns plus bucks by themselves, thinking this was the rut. This year I wont get off my ship until the 14th of January and am thinking the rut would be over, what will the deer be doing?? I saw on this post where the breeding time for my area is mid jan thru 22 feb, that seems late. Anyone hunt Randolph county and know when for sure the rut happens.
Thanks for any help,
Charlie

sounds like you might be getting off ship at the right time! Not sure about where you hunt, but optimal time to be in the woods where I hunt is the last 3 wks of Janurary... Good Luck!!

Feb, then turkey season.....

Lots of Bucks smoking Marlboros..

I've had really good luck in January catching some very tired and worn down bucks slipping up and showing their faces in daylight hours. On our property, we have a very high concentration of does, and the one's that don't get bred the first time around, come back in then. One of my favorite times to hunt

The last 2 weeks of January should be good in Randolph County. Good luck to you.

Thanks, too all.
That gives me hope and excitement to get done with this trip and get home. out of 17 days I should be able to get in 14 of them in the woods hunting. Good wife, very understanding after working 42 days straight. Would ya'll use doe in heat scents or rattle those last two weeks of season?

The pictures on here of what people are looking at while hunting is very cool.

Fishing

I wish, Chief Engineer on cargo vessel...

Turkey season

X2

I don't rattle and very seldom use doe in heat. The bucks will be chasing so I would just hunt heavily traveled trails or twenty to thirty yards in the woods off your favorite field. Keep the wind in your favor and stay in the stand till dark thirty. Good luck!