Guys, this is all part of a perfectly normal rut! They pull this disappearing act every year, about the same time. On my way to the farm I saw 2 dandy bucks crossing the road. That RARELY happens around here, there are not many deer and they have better places to be than near a road. It's not like I'm driving through woodlands around here... After seeing them, and the position of the moon, I expected a slow morning. Mark my words, Wednesday morning will be awesome. Every day, deer movement is altered by nearly an hour due to the moon, IMO. When I see them on my way to hunt, it's a guarantee I'm not going to see as much after sunrise. Deer move in relatively short burst, about every 3 hours. If they are wiggling around at 6, they will be wiggling again at 9, but being well after sunrise, they aren't going to wiggle far, usually. This is exactly why I went to Fayette today. I can see a LONG way from my stands up there. Hunting close to home most lately, my stands don't provide the view I have up there. I went up there to get a pulse on activity. I feel confident that Wednesday is going to be good, really good. If does were moving early (I only hunted until 9), I would have seen them this morning. Coincidentally, on my way out at 9, I bumped two sets of deer, that were likely on their feet in the woodlots I passed by... so they were probably feeding around where they were bedded.
Wednesday, I'm waiting on Wednesday... Deer are most comfortable with their winter coats on at 40degress and under, and the moon will be right for daylight movement. I will probably go back to Fayette in the morning, just to watch the goings on. Wednesday, I'll be back in the brushy hole hoping to get a look at one of the two Mason and I are hoping to kill.