Anybody seeing activity? I almost hit a big 8 that was trying to cross Greens Prairie into Castlegate last night. Kind of location that said he was probably chasing a doe.

My place always peaks around Nov 1st. Sounds really early but that's just been my experience. These two bucks are around a lot but have been completely nocturnal. Until today. Got both at a max of 4yo. Kind of hoping they dont tempt me when Im bow hunting. No problem passing them with a rifle but something about being up in a tree with the bow just gets the blood pumping different.





This is my current target buck. He's nothing terribly impressive but is the most mature buck so far this season. He's strictly a late night prowler but thinking it might be time to put some time in the stand.



Anyone else seeing activity in the area? Got pics of any target bucks?

Bell County has the little yearlings running around like idiots. Fayette County still has the bachelor herds acting like nothing is going on.

Yeah, still running bachelor groups in Childress county also, which I realize is quite a ways from Bell county. But this is the outdoor board after all.

I rubbed up against a tree today. And peed on my leg.

West side Brazos county, no sign of any rut activity, during my daylight time out there, or on the cameras (nighttime).

Probably a good time to start rattling.

In town the spikes and fours are bumping does around if they see them. It's not ready yet but I am sure the first doe is less than a week away.

Not much in Leon county yet. Usually starts picking up around Halloween for us

Erath Co.



Guy at our place saw 6 bucks one morning go to the same licking branch. Not in batch group

i have already been seeing a few bucks chasing in Bosque county.......they typically rut around thanksgiving

We're further east in Hardin County and seeing lots of bucks chasing does.

Milam county still in bachelor groups but have seen a few deer on camera I have not seen all year. Its almost time

There are chasing in NE Brazos county just not real hard. Maybe pre-rut. I watched several last night chasing does. Marking their scrapes. I have seen one with broken beam already.

Hmm. You do this often?

I rattled up an 8 pt, 4 year old this morning within 2 minutes after beginning. Navasota river bottom area.

Made my first hunt of the year this morning. No bucks spotted. Had 5 does and 2 spikes. About 8:00, a tasty looking steak doe pushed me over the edge. Should have waited for a better angle. Entrance was good but angle put exit a little low and far back for my liking. She did the typical 40 yard run, stop, walk of a stomach shot deer. I knew my entrance was good though so I sat in the stand until 9:15 before going to check my arrow. Arrow had good blood but nothing on the ground in the first 30 yards. Not unheard of if the exit is questionable and plugged. Then a good blood trail starts to flow steady for the next 100 yards. I was sure she was dead and could finally see her through the brush, laying on her side like dead deer do. Next thing I know she springs up and hauls arse like nothing was wrong. DAMNIT! Back to the house to get the dog. Ran the dog at a 90 degree angle to where she had ran. Didnt take long for Greta to make a hard turn and find her about 100 yards further.

Couldn't believe this deer was still alive and able to run 1.5 hours after being shot. Total distance traveled was about 300 yards. Hit was definitely not what I like. Not a fan of low hits at all. And it was a good reminder not to take a shot with any angle to you. On a small doe, there's only a few inches between the elbow knuckle and the stomach. Laying on the ground, the shot looks good but when I cleaned her, the undigested vegetation tells the story.

Starting to see more bucks on the side of the road in BCS.

Saw a 4 pt chasing a doe off of some water the other night on one of our cameras in Comal county. But there are two 8 pts still walking around together like buds.

Still bachelor herds in Callahan county. Rut is usually 11/15 to 11/25 or so.

In Milam county still have a few small buck groups but also see a bit of chase on my cameras
Doe photo and then buck on same camera couple minutes later…

Bucks moving in Navasota bottom, Robertson county. Chasing a little, but it's not full on rut just yet.

Just now- Robertson county near Bryan & Hearne

I was driving down 35S in Salado and on the west side of the road in the pasture one of those tweener bucks that you would rather not shoot but will if nothing else comes out was all over a doe.

Had some good rutting activity this evening in Brazis county. Several bucks after a hot doe. 4 to 5. Thursday morning might be good or evening.

I was in Motley cty Saturday morning. Saw nine bucks at one time and 7 of them (all younger) were fighting. The two shooters were busy eating the protein i've been paying for. They are there next Saturday there will be a different outcome for one of them.

Saw a different buck that night who was trying to run every single mule deer or whitetail it could.

Layne Staley said:

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I was in Motley cty Saturday morning. Saw nine bucks at one time and 7 of them (all younger) were fighting. The two shooters were busy eating the protein i've been paying for. They are there next Saturday there will be a different outcome for one of them.

Saw a different buck that night who was trying to run every single mule deer or whitetail it could.

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We had a guy like that in the dorm when I was in Moses... When he was a senior he went on a trip to Padre for spring break with some other guys in the dorm, mostly fish and sophomores. They stopped into one of the guy's houses to get some coolers and other supplies. While Greg (the senior) was in the bathroom, the guy's mom asked the rest of them "Isn't Greg a little immature for a freshman?"

Cold front on Wednesday will get them running does.

Bell county tonight had a mature buck walking aimlessly down the middle of a road near Belton Lake.

I wanted to get out and head butt him but I thought better of it.

More roadkill deer around New Braunfels today than all of last week.

Drove to Abilene on Sunday and returned Monday. I went two different routes and saw lots of roadkill deer on highways 36 and 6. On 6 near Gorman there was a monster at least 10 points that had been hit. Be careful driving those areas especially at night.

Good looking Bavarian!

Walked outside last night (south College Station), to see if a hog who's been hanging around was out. Via spotlight, saw eyes on the other side of the pond, and quickly realized it was a deer. Almost looked like my GSP tracking a scent…nose down, moving with a purpose, following a trail around the pond, headed towards me. The moon shed just enough light, that as it approached me, I realized it was a nice 8 point I'd never seen. With the breeze light, and at the correct angle, he came about 10 yards from me, without even acknowledging my presence, never really stopping. As he got approx. 20 yards beyond, and on the fringe of the pole barn flood light, I snorted, froze him for about 5 seconds, then off he went.

Let's just say, he had ONE thing on his mind! (been there) ; )

WB '99

99StationAG said:

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Walked outside last night (south College Station), to see if a hog who's been hanging around was out. Via spotlight, saw eyes on the other side of the pond, and quickly realized it was a deer. Almost looked like my GSP tracking a scent…nose down, moving with a purpose, following a trail around the pond, headed towards me. The moon shed just enough light, that as it approached me, I realized it was a nice 8 point I'd never seen. With the breeze light, and at the correct angle, he came about 10 yards from me, without even acknowledging my presence, never really stopping. As he got approx. 20 yards beyond, and on the fringe of the pole barn flood light, I snorted, froze him for about 5 seconds, then off he went.

Let's just say, he had ONE thing on his mind! (been there) ; )

WB '99

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I had a video last night of a doe at the water guzzler getting a drink, and about 30 minutes later, a big 8 pt came around doing that exact same thing. Nose to the ground sniffing for her and totally ignored the water. He had a broken tine in his rack that had happened since I saw him a week or so ago so I assume he has been fighting with somebody already.

It's amazing how the bucks change, and get into this "zone". I describe it to people as a "light switch," and when it's flipped, their brain goes into a single-minded mentality. I've been driving near Veterans Park in College Station, total daylight, when a buck basically walks/trots through traffic, and barely acknowledges the vehicles.

WB '99

99StationAG said:

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It's amazing how the bucks change, and get into this "zone". I describe it to people as a "light switch," and when it's flipped, their brain goes into a single-minded mentality. I've been driving near Veterans Park in College Station, total daylight, when a buck basically walks/trots through traffic, and barely acknowledges the vehicles.

WB '99

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Not all that different than some guys acted during spring break in college. If your only chance to have sex was a few weeks out of the year, you would probably get pretty revved up about it too.