Unbelievable Found First Scrape Already!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/100932276@N06/9610694019/
Check out this picture of the First Scrape Already on 8-25-13. We couldn't believe our eyes when we came up on this fresh scrape and it's just the end of August? But I did have a couple of Bucks on my camera's that have lost their velvet and they say once that happens their harmones start to kick in so I guess that's what has happened? It just really seems a lot earlier this year... really weird? Has anyone else ever seen a scrape this early?

Image not working

Not too surprising for ETX IMO. I thought I saw the makings of one off the tractor this weekend in an area this is used heavily for scrapes every year.

Pic is copyrighted. That's why it wont post here.

Here is a link.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/100932276@N06/9610480165/lightbox/

wow. i wouldn't have believed you without the picture.

I actually found one in South Texas about 7-8 years ago now the first week of Sept or so after a rainy spell and much cooler temps. Freshly pawed out scrape on the edge of sendero under some blackbrush.

what part of ETX?

I'm guessing southeast Texas?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100932276@N06/9610480165/" title="securedownload[1] by nickkickrn, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3829/9610480165_b44a875fdb.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="securedownload[1]"></a>

Sorry about link not working hope this one above works...It's not easy to get pictures on here...takes forever to remember how and several tries before I get it right each time exspcially when it's been awhile inbetween each time...wish there was a easier way...

Actually the scrape was in Polk County.

found 3 yesterday myself.

This proves my point that last year, the "experts" who predict when the rut begins stated that most of east Texas was rutting the last week of August.

Now of course, there will be deer that did not get impregnated that will come back into estrus 28 days later, so the last week of September will have some rutting activity again. Then those deer that don't get impregnated will come into estrus again 28 days later, putting them in the 3rd or 4th week of October FINALLY when we are allowed to hunt. But, for the most part, all of us will have missed the majority of the rutting activity as most deer will have been bred long before any of us are allowed in the woods with bow or gun.

This explains why a lot of us here in East Texas never see any true rut activity during hunting season. Well, the timeline explains it, and the fact that most breeding takes place at night.

To me what would shot when the rut started is when the first fawns hit the ground. No debating it then.

Not sure they exclusively go hand-in-hand with the rut.

I have seen or read where Greg Abbas has observed scraping as early as April. Granted, he hunts in Michigan, but I think there point/possibility is still valid.

Ive noticed about half a dozen here at Horseshoe Bay have already shed thier velvet.

When did yal see fawns this year, if tail end of August is the rut then you should have fawn in march.

Just to follow up, I found 6 scrapes yesterday in areas that we have scrapes year after year. They were not large, but they were obvious and maintained. Houston County.