Well my last few trips have been afternoons. 3 trips and I never even saw a deer. Then yoshi gives me a hint to go try the morning hunt. (Thanks yoshi) What a difference and what a fantastic day. I show up to my forest road gate at 5:45 and it takes me about 15 minutes to get dressed and ready. I m sure a lot of you do the same thing as me where I dont put on my hunting clothes till I get to the spot. Anyways about 6:35ish I finally make it to my spot. About 7am I've got 2 deer coming across the hill in front of me straight towards me. So they get to about 60 yards in front of me and I lose them behind some scrub. I am already in a firing position and ready to go with plugs in and after 5 minutes I just dont see them or hear them. All of a sudden boom there they are 35 yards in front of me. The deer looks kind a small so I bring up the red dot and see through the magnifier it is a 1.5 yr old buck. Him and his brother were just hanging out eating acorns until one finally busted me taking pics of them at 35 yards. He just ran off and his buddy went with him. Great start. 20 minutes later Ive got another small deer about 140 yards away but it moves away. Then 30 minutes after that I have another 2 deer come run 50 yards in front of me but I didnt get a good look at them to see what they were. They ducked down in to the creek and disappeared. Then the last deer (10:30ish)I saw had a nice sized body but not much of a rack on him. he had me busted from 120 yards away. He must have smelled me because he was staring at me and stomping as I watched him through my monocular. That was about as fantastic a day as I have ever had while hunting the SAM. I cant wait to get back out there again on Friday morning.

Hard to notice the second deer on the right of him with his head down feeding but he is there. The other ones body is silhouetted by a tree also.

Wow, good deal. You've obviously found a good area.

Went again today and it was much slower. I only managed to see 3 deer and only 1 was in gun range. probably the same 1.5 yr old buck I took the picture of a few days ago. not a shooter

At least I am seeing deer.

Hey! Glad you got out on a morning hunt! Looks like rut is kicking in still. I'll be out next weekend having a go at it!

When is the rutting period usually in SHNF? Thank you.

nice report...Some times it just about being in right place at right time... Some areas good for morning, some evenings... Just gotta be out their...

Today sucked! Never saw a thing! It was windy so I am hoping that was it. 6 trips now and not even a shot. Starting to get frustrated!