Came home from the Mariners game Saturday night around midnight. Pulled up to my parents house and there is a monster 3x4 that is easily 16 inches tall and almost touching at the tips, And a very nice forkie walking through their field. These deer are not residential deer like you see in Ocean shores or in town. These are deer who live in the timber patches around the farm lands and are hunted by the locals. I have never seen these two bucks before. Not only was I surprised to see those bucks, but what surprised me more was that they were both extremely puffed up, and their necks were swollen. Now I know some people say that they have seen deer with what they thought were swollen necks. And every year we hear about an "Early Rut" kicking in, but I usually don't look much into it. Although they were swollen and puffed up, I still didnt believe it as they walked over the hill. As I was outside getting my stuff put into my truck, I heard a noise about 100 yards over the hill where they walked. I stopped, I listened, and sure enough, they are sparring. It sounded pretty intense too. Not like a couple young bucks playing around, they were getting at it. I have never seen rutting activity this early, but it was very obvious. I am not an exaggerator at all, and I am usually skeptical when I hear others make this claim, but it was very obvious. I am curious if anyone else has seen any rutting activity yet???
