Anyone else in east texas seeing animals running around? This is my first season actually deer hunting smith county. specifically in white house. had a couple friends tell me they're seeing running deer in the chapel hill area. was wondering if its worth taking calls and rattles to the stand this evening?

They were chasing in liberty / hardin county Saturday. Heard a buck chasing a doe. Saw a big mature buck snort wheeze and chase a younger one off.

Bring the grunt for sure. I'd sit all day too

Heard from a buddy that it's on full swing right now in Austin/Washington County. It's starting, but usually is full swing around thanksgiving here in central texas.

sweet, i'll do some grunting tonight then!

from a weather standpoint, looks like saturday is going to be a great day to sit for awhile

They are chasing in Walker County.

Does grunting work for anyone? I always rattle, but have never had success with grunting.

barnag said:

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Does grunting work for anyone? I always rattle, but have never had success with grunting.

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About the only time I ever use my grunt call is to get a buck to stop moving long enough to get a shot. Never have had one come to a grunt call. I have had them come to a doe call though.

this was going to be a question i had. my hunting friends have said they use a grunt call when they see a buck but its not necessarily coming their way. i've had another hunting friend blind grunt and that works.



i would assume a doe call if more of a motivator to blind call with though?

I think about it this way. Number one deer noise I've heard in the woods is a buck grunting, number 2 is horns rattling, number 3 is snort wheeze. I've never heard a doe bleat.

I think that a grunt call is a low impact way to get a dominant buck to come take a look while being low impact.

Grunting and rattling generally only work in areas with good doe to buck ratios like managed south Texas ranches.

I can't tell you how many bucks I brought in over the years setting up in travel corridors near bedding areas mid day during the rut rattling / grunting. Often multiples at a time. But if there's a lot more does and little competition it's essentially worthless.

I hunt Cherokee county outside of Jacksonville. I haven't seen any does running or bucks chasing. Had two young bucks at the feeder last weekend. Three does the weekend before. Traditionally, the rut seems to be in full swing around Thanksgiving or the week before.

They were running all over the place in Indian Lakes today in CS.

They were chasing pretty heavy in Leon /Freestone Counties last Thursday and again on Sunday.. Going again in the morning to see if it's still on.

Rutting in Jacksonville

Just got home from my place in Freestone county. They have been chasing hard for two weeks. Had four buck about run me over chasing a hot doe about 5:45 this evening.

I live seven miles south of Tyler. Saw a buck in full rut after a doe last Saturday in my back pasture.

pulled the camera in Hays county this week.

Montgomery County reporting in.

It's usually in full swing in Gillespie County on opening weekend. Hoping that is the case this weekend.

Layne Staley said:

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pulled the camera in Hays county this week.

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I'd say that is proof positive the rut is on in your county!

Could just be playing leapfrog.

Watched a young Buck chase my 13 YO Choc Lab out of the woods. She did the best she could do to get back to the house. She turned and faced that MF and taunted him. (Her words)

Hardin County checking in and it seems to be picking up

I'm starting to see does coming around and disappearing only a few minutes later to see bucks following.

Which seems to be about right on schedule from years past.