White tailed deer hunting?

[baylorattorney]

The rut is just about started here in south Texas Jim Wells county. The drought doesn't appear to have effected the deer populations health so far, but wild hogs have bullied a lot of deer away. Hunting today for first time since archery season where I got a spike. How about you?

 

[chevyman097]

I havnt seen a thing yet. : /

Not going so well to say the least. The drought really hit my hutning grounds hard this year. Not even signs of hogs this year.(not that its bad, i wanted those pests gone anyways) There are deff signs of deer moving through but Im just not catching them in the act.

 

[kyle1974]

you're seeing signs of the rut already? typically we don't see the rut in action until the 3rd week of december or so. Lots of hot weather so far this year doesn't seem to be helping.

 

[Flintknapper]

Pre-Rut activity maybe....not likely any true "rutting" going on yet, most places in South Texas.

The drought conditions in Texas this year were pretty much State wide and the wildlife suffered for it...though it might not be apparent some locations.

Locally, I noticed much fewer fawns this year. The Deer themselves...look healthy enough, but the real impact (low birth and survival rates) will show up the next two years, NOT this year.

Also, we started the Season (rifle) with a moon phase that had it up all night for about 8-10 days and are about enter another one. Usually, this encourages deer to feed a lot at night and then not move as much during the daylight hours.

Once the "Rut" does start (South Texas) you'll know!

 

[baylorattorney]

I've seen smaller bucks break off from bachelor groups and breeding with some does. I've also seen larger bucks intermingled with does at feeding spots. Today's hunt was too windy but my guest shot a spike and a big boar. I myself shot a large boar that came out and scared off the deer I was watching. We go again in the morning. Hopefully the wind won't pick up again.

 

[kyle1974]

I've seen the young ratchet heads sparring a bit for the past couple weeks, but certainly haven't see any breeding going on... that's a little strange.

 

[Flintknapper]

If you have Does that are actually in estrous AND "standing"...then the larger bucks should be on them. Normally..what you'll see is the smaller bucks "tagging along" behind the does but not breeding them...since they aren't ready.

When they are ready, the bigger bucks invariably "take over"...unless you have a Doe to Buck ratio that is way out of whack (possible).

And...don't you just love it...when the hogs come along and scare off the deer.

Just one more reason to shoot them, thank you for doing your part and good luck on your Deer.

Flint.

 

[kyle1974]

I would hate to be a pig on my lease....

 

[303tom]

Bucks been chasing Does like crazy here, have yet to drop the hammer on one yet.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

aint huntin as far south as you, but aint seen no sign of rut here about 80 miles north of you. also hunt in Karnes county, Gonzales, and Guadalupe county, no sure signs here either for me.

 

[baylorattorney]

Pigs galore.

 

[baylorattorney]

The bucks here are definitely running with the does. This one WAS.


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=27.383757,-98.173283
Waste not want not.

 

[MCgunner]

I have a small place in Calhoun county between Seadrift and Port O'Connor. I shot a five point a few days after opening and I got a nice hog today in my trap. Meat is in the freezer and sausage is stuffed. Icing down the boar, about 200 lber on the hoof, should be fine eating hog. I turned 5 piglets loose. I know that's sacrilege to most, but my place is for hunting and I like the hogs. There is no crop land around me, just ranches, huge and small.

There's a 10 point I have game camera pix of, but I think he's either too smart to come around, gone into hiding, or a neighbor got him, don't know. I haven't gotten a camera shot of him in a couple weeks. Bummer.

I think the rut is about over on my place. I'm not real sure, but I ain't gettin' the camera shots of bucks with does that I was earlier.

I'm going duck hunting on the 10th.

 

[baylorattorney]

I have a small place in Calhoun county between Seadrift and Port O'Connor. I shot a five point a few days after opening and I got a nice hog today in my trap. Meat is in the freezer and sausage is stuffed. There's a 10 point I have game camera pix of, but I think he's either too smart to come around, gone into hiding, or a neighbor got him, don't know. I haven't gotten a camera shot of him in a couple weeks. Bummer.

I bet he is still out there.


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=27.353045,-98.164152
Waste not want not.