newbirdhunter

Guys,

I am on a deer lease in south Texas in the town of Mullin near Commanche, Zephyr & Brownwood. This is my first year hunting so be patient with me. I went opening weekend and saw a few does and a small buck but no big bucks. I figured this was due to the rain. The other guys on the lease thought the bucks were going into rut that weekend. I didn't go this past weekend but want to go this coming one. My lease-mates are now saying the rut is over. Is this true? I checked on the TPWD web site and it says the rut should still be going on.

Any help from a veteran texas whitetail hunter would be really appreciated.

Thanks

"If at first you don't succeed, maybe cliff diving is not for you." -- Steven Wright

ntexhunter

Newbird, On the contrary, I don't even think the rut has started good. I hunt in Young County and we have seen a few bucks following does but not chasing them hard. Another sign is that the bucks are still coming to feeders. Once the rut hits, they will cruise right on by without stopping. The cool weather we had opening weekend was nice but that alone does not trigger the rut. If you checked Texas Parks and Wildlife, you know that the peak of the rut is Nov 16. The best is yet to come. By the way, Comanche/Brown County is not in South Texas, you are in the Cross Timbers and Plains ecological region. Just my opinion, Allen

txhunter58

FYI: In south Texas the rut peaks in mid December. As stated, you are not hunting in south Texas. I hunt central Texas and I am still south of you. South Texas would start about San Antonio and south.

Sounds like ntex has the right info. If you want to see something interesting, find a map that shows the peak of the rut in all areas of Texas. There are many different peaks. Probably related to the best nutrition when the fawn are born. In other words, the does that breed at the best time for them to give birth at the optimum time in the spring will give birth to fawns that survive and thereby pass their genes for coming into heat at that time.

Good hunting!

newbirdhunter

Thanks guys.

As you can see, I am very new to hunting; I don't even know where I hunt! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Mullin is in Mills county but I assume it is still in the Cross Timbers region.

I will be going this weekend so I will let you know if they are still moving.

NBH

&quot;If at first you don't succeed, maybe cliff diving is not for you.&quot; -- Steven Wright

redfish76

I hunt a little north of you (Palo Pinto County) and things haven't really gotten started there either. Just last weekend we found what looked like evidence of a scuffle between two bucks, butit is still early for the rut. Hopefully things will be in full swing by thanksgiving--could even be later though.

DeerT

I hunt just northeast of Houston. On our lease it hasn't started yet. We actually left the lease on Saturday after the mercury hit 86 degrees! The peak in our area is usually around the last week in Nov. to the first week in Dec. but it could be even later if it doesn't start getting cold.

TXMAGNUM

I DONT THINK THE RUT IS ON DOWN THIER YET
I SPOKE TO MY COUSIN WHO IS A DPS IN THE AREA AND CONFIMED THAT THEY NOT IN RUT YET.
I HUNT IN EAST TX AND IT JUST NOW TO SHOW SIGNS
12 PT (KILLED BY SAME COUSIN ON MY STAND) WAS WORKING SCRAPE LINE WHEN HE FELL
SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION I DOUBT IT

GOOD HUNTING!!
P.S. DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT MY COUSIN IS WATCHING(UNLESS YOU GOT TROPHY, THEN HE WILL STOP YOU TO GET A LOOK SEE!)
STEVE

huntman

what about up by texoma? im goin up there this weekend, and the peak rut is sposed to be this weekend right&gt;