2017 Blackland Praries Thread...Ellis, Hill, Navarro, Limestone et all

[kch73]

I wanted to start a thread for all of us guys that hunt these counties/area. Basically, the counties East of I-35. I will post up some pictures shortly but I haven't made it out for a hunt yet this year.

More coming soon...feel free to add!

[TeamAmerica]

Cool! Navarro county for me. In the stand this morning staring at a pile of uneaten corn...thinking about a hot breakfast...at least the weather is nice.

[Wits_End]

I hunt Navarro outside of Corsicana. Blasted ragweed has overtaken our entire place and gotta go through beaucratic hoops to kill it. Almost not even enjoyable to hunt. Deer counts have tanked, pig numbers have increased. Maybe in another month or two it will all be dead. I bet the acorns are falling.

[Traxx]

Just a few miles from Navarro Mills lake. Pig count up and just a few deer. Watched a doe and her young-un yesterday morning but haven't seen anything else.
Staying home with the family today.

[KactusKiller]

I'm in, pig numbers are pretty high but adding a feeder pen def helped. Hoping we get a good freeze early.
I'm not planning to shoot any doe and only post mature type bucks. My first yr to hunt out here so gonna try to do my part to help the population increase.

For those that have hunted here a while what do you think the main reason for the low deer numbers is? I know it's never been a high population area but is it simply hunting pressure, varmints or the habitat? Seems the habitat would be great for deer to thrive in. Good cover and a lot of farm land with crops that would be condusive to growing good deer and higher populations.
Betting the biggest problem is ranch sizes and hunting pressure even tho from what I have seen the pressure overall isn't high because of the low population.

Seems around the Hubbard-frost-dawson-blooming grove area a big property is about 100 acres with most being around 30-80acres. This can't be good.

Just some thoughts.

[kch73]

My target buck for 2017 and thoughts...

I am really glad this thread is getting going! Some good posts already in here.

In my opinion, all the rain the last several years he really helped all the wildlife and grasses/tree's but also has helped the pigs a lot! They seem much thicker and more aggressive in coming out in the day time hours. The ragweed is really high in my bottom land area, I need it to die so I can shred it!

However, I have more deer now in 2017 than I did in 2014 when I bought my place. I think the overall trend is upward, but with a smaller biomass than other regions it will take more time. I have seen a video of a great buck in Waxahachie near the 878 area close to Hurn airport. I am trying to get the video to clean it up and I will post a link if possible.

I've been hunting this buck since 2014...I have pics of him in 2014, saw him while hunting in 2015 for a brief second and just pics last year. He's pretty wise...note the times at like 4 am in the morning. I have a feeling this will be the year I get him...

[Traxx]

When the hogs leave the deer come in. I have one bachelor group of 3 young 8s and a couple of does and a doe/fawn pair coming in. I generally take 2 or 3 a year depending on the numbers and what is in the freezer. As far as does, I will take a old one and leave the young and feeding ones alone.

[KactusKiller]

I have a lease out west so meat isn't an issue so I can afford to leave all the doe and younger bucks. I have one mature to post mature buck I may take or let one of my girls take. I have got one pic of a legitimate 8 earlier in season with a group of deer but haven't seen him again. Most of the other bucks I have seen are shearling spikes to 5 points. 3-4 doe

[KactusKiller]

I put in a small food about an acre+. Been clearing and shredding a lot with a lot more to go.

[Abcdj]

We just bought a house on 5 acres 2 miles South of Walmart in Corsicana. The hogs have been tearing up the place.

[esp]

I'm seeing several does and a nice buck in Ellis County


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[lost cajun]

I'm just north of Corsicana. It seems like our deer numbers are up from the previous years. The Bucks are chasing right now. Went out tonight and was sweating through the whole hunt.


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[Buck Smacker]

In the blind, Robertson Co

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[Hart8]

Gonna be in North Hill co.in the morning.Not sure about deer #'s,but the coyote #'s are wayy high..When they come to a mojo dove,you know they're high!

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[kch73]

Where...?

Gonna be in North Hill co.in the morning.Not sure about deer #'s,but the coyote #'s are wayy high..When they come to a mojo dove,you know they're high!

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There are a few good pockets of deer near Carl's Corner/Milford area...and yes the coyote's are thick as thieves!