East Texas hunting 2022-‘23 season

[Gumbo Man]

Great buck. Congrats

[JhuntsAlot]

Very cool. Great looking buck.

Congrats!



J

[Tshelly]

Sweet buck


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Landrover]

Originally Posted by Low Fence

North neighbor must have got a new pallet of pistol ammo…… he should be about out soon… gezzzz

Originally Posted by aggiehunter3

Well as you all can judge by my previous posts, I’ve had a tough season at our Rusk Co place. We have some good deer on cam see below, but I have not seen any mature bucks on stand this year.

However my luck changed this weekend, when I had the opportunity to go with my buddy down to his family ranch in San Ygnacio on the border. This land has been in their family since 1968 and is truly a hunters paradise. We hit it just right as the rut was kicking off and saw several deer on our trip. I was after either a past prime deer or a management deer, and I ended up connecting on a trophy “management” 8. On a cool south Texas morning on the 17th it started with young bucks sparring in the senderos. After a 20 min stretch with no activity, I tickled some horns together and this brute of a deer came out. An older 10 point with short brows. He fit the bill for what was on the hit list, but being my first time down to this place, I really wanted a no brainer to shoot and was scared to shoot the wrong deer. As I had the gun on him and doing too much thinking, he walked off out of sight.



I was a little down as it was the last morning hunt, but all that changed as a mature 8 walked out into the same sendero with a harem of doe.



These bucks are smart and he fed for a painstaking 30 mins either facing me, butt to me, or right behind the does. Finally, as he was about done feeding, he turned and stepped back toward the mesquite flat presenting me a broadside, but hurried shot. I squeezed the .308 and he didn’t really hump or do much of anything at all. Dumbfounded, I thought I missed the deer and he didn’t know where the shot came from. However, he then turned took 2 steps back toward the sendero opening and collapsed. I ended up hitting him a little back, but I clipped lungs and must have hit main artery. So happy I ended up with a lethal shot and a quick kill. When I got up to him there was no ground shrinkage at all and I knew I had killed my largest buck to date. He ended up taping out at 138 5/8. I’m still on cloud 9 and to end the trip that evening we killed a 6 man limit of dove. I’ve never been to Argentina, but I can only imagine it has to be similar. We couldn’t even load our guns fast enough before another group of 20+ was on us. Enjoy the pics. Now it’s time to get mad at these east tx deer for a couple more weeks.









Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh yea!!!! Big 8s are super cool!!!

[jershua]

Great buck. Congrats! Always wanted a big heavy and wide 8. Maybe one day.

[Low Fence]

Rolling with the punches today. Blessed to be able to hunt, and upset that I’m as bitter as I am dangling from this post oak. After scouting from a distance last weekend, moving in close with just a few days available to hunt. I get caught up getting everything ready for the freeze…. With no assistance. Running later than I hoped since the site I planned to sit in was (hopefully) a travel area for early movement. Pulling up I noticed mud and o and down black top…. And neighbor gate open. Logging …. And I can hear limber parked next to sanctuary where my platform is hung. Wondered why today I got ZERO pics on property. Usually get 15-25 a day. Between the north and south neighbors they have relocated 2 of the most mature deer in my county. Flew 2 miles south and grabbed another platform from a set and set up on a ridge for this evening. I don’t have time to push any deeper than I am. If I pull anything off here it will be of none of my doing. Both of the same deer use this ridge but I haven’t seen main event in at least a week. And no pics of big Jim in several weeks.

First world problems. God is good, and this weather is proof!

[Low Fence]

This is too open for late season. But wind won’t let me get on the other side of ridge for better cover. Not worried about cover for me… for deer

[Etxbuckman]

Originally Posted by aggiehunter3

Well as you all can judge by my previous posts, I’ve had a tough season at our Rusk Co place. We have some good deer on cam see below, but I have not seen any mature bucks on stand this year.

However my luck changed this weekend, when I had the opportunity to go with my buddy down to his family ranch in San Ygnacio on the border. This land has been in their family since 1968 and is truly a hunters paradise. We hit it just right as the rut was kicking off and saw several deer on our trip. I was after either a past prime deer or a management deer, and I ended up connecting on a trophy “management” 8. On a cool south Texas morning on the 17th it started with young bucks sparring in the senderos. After a 20 min stretch with no activity, I tickled some horns together and this brute of a deer came out. An older 10 point with short brows. He fit the bill for what was on the hit list, but being my first time down to this place, I really wanted a no brainer to shoot and was scared to shoot the wrong deer. As I had the gun on him and doing too much thinking, he walked off out of sight.

That's a great buck!

So did your buddy tell you after the fact that that 10 would've been OK to kill after all?

[aggiehunter3]

Originally Posted by Etxbuckman

That's a great buck!

So did your buddy tell you after the fact that that 10 would've been OK to kill after all?

Thanks everyone! Yes, he definitely said he was mature, but he did mention when I asked him if he could choose between the 2, he would have me shoot the 8. So looks like I ultimately made the perfect decision.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AgHntr10]

Anyone planning on hunting Friday morning? The forecasted "feels like" is around zero in my area, I have never hunted in those kinds of temps.

I am not worried so much about getting cold sitting in a box with a heater but just wondering how our deer will react not being used to this kind of cold. Will they move much or just be laid up?

[Bayouboy]

Originally Posted by AgHntr10

Anyone planning on hunting Friday morning? The forecasted "feels like" is around zero in my area, I have never hunted in those kinds of temps.

I am not worried so much about getting cold sitting in a box with a heater but just wondering how our deer will react not being used to this kind of cold. Will they move much or just be laid up?

I have a few times. Activity was extremely slow. Even in the sleet and snow. Seems they pile up in the bedding areas and do their best to stay warm.

[Gumbo Man]

I’m predicting that the deer will move later in the morning when and if the sun pokes out. It’s my opinion that deer move and feed to stay warm. Just like cattle. If the cold wind is howling they will stay bedded in the woods. But that’s just from my experience.

[Anvilheadtexas]

Originally Posted by Gumbo Man

I’m predicting that the deer will move later in the morning when and if the sun pokes out. It’s my opinion that deer move and feed to stay warm. Just like cattle. If the cold wind is howling they will stay bedded in the woods. But that’s just from my experience.

I would tend to agree… super cold/frosty mornings have traditionally started slow, but that’s just my observations. Seems like they hunker down in the coldest part of the day, but move later. A smart move, if one was hunting Friday, might be to get out later… 7:30 or 8:00 and ride the rock the rest of the day.

[Snowflake Killa]

I will let you know

Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

[Gumbo Man]

Originally Posted by Snowflake Killa

I will let you know

Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

Please do. Baby needs a new pair of shoes and some back strap. I always get a Christmas card from my taxidermist. Always. This year he sent me a picture of him shooting me the bird. WTH!!

[Anvilheadtexas]

Originally Posted by Snowflake Killa

I will let you know

Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

Go with the thick Long Johns, just sayin.

[Gumbo Man]

Originally Posted by Anvilheadtexas

Go with the thick Long Johns, just sayin.

And depends🤣🤣🤣🤣

[bollomb]

Originally Posted by Gumbo Man

And depends🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Anvilheadtexas]

Originally Posted by Gumbo Man

And depends��������

I am not sure about the Depends, but if they keep you warm, then yes.

[GarGuy]

Deer moved yesterday. Dad and I saw at least 19 last night. Some good bucks too.

[Anvilheadtexas]

Originally Posted by GarGuy

Deer moved yesterday. Dad and I saw at least 19 last night. Some good bucks too.

Wouldn’t be a safe bet to say they will be moving good ahead of this? As in tonight and tomorrow? That would be my bet, too bad I am not in stand.

[Snowflake Killa]

Originally Posted by Gumbo Man

And depends

Hey man what is wrong with you

Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

[ElfEyes]

Originally Posted by Anvilheadtexas

Wouldn’t be a safe bet to say they will be moving good ahead of this? As in tonight and tomorrow? That would be my bet, too bad I am not in stand.

Last night I had bachelor group of bucks on both cams and groups of doe during the day today on both cams. They know it's coming.

Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using Tapatalk

[Etxbuckman]

Originally Posted by ElfEyes

Last night I had bachelor group of bucks on both cams and groups of doe during the day today on both cams. They know it's coming.

Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using Tapatalk

I had a bachelor group on cam yesterday too. I realized I had seen that same group for a spit second Saturday morning, and lo and behold one of them is a shooter.

I'm not hunting this weekend at all though. There is such a thing as too cold down here, and these temps will fall under that category.

[Gumbo Man]

Originally Posted by snowflake killa

hey man what is wrong with you

sent from my sm-n986u using tapatalk

lmao.🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Tshelly]

Originally Posted by AgHntr10

Anyone planning on hunting Friday morning? The forecasted "feels like" is around zero in my area, I have never hunted in those kinds of temps.

I am not worried so much about getting cold sitting in a box with a heater but just wondering how our deer will react not being used to this kind of cold. Will they move much or just be laid up?

Friday evening. Zero daylight photos of a mature 9 point still coming nightly. If he is going to daylight I’m hoping it will be in the cold lol. Couldn’t pay me to hunt Friday am unless it was out of a truck with a heater and seat warmer lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AgHntr10]

Originally Posted by Tshelly

Friday evening. Zero daylight photos of a mature 9 point still coming nightly. If he is going to daylight I’m hoping it will be in the cold lol. Couldn’t pay me to hunt Friday am unless it was out of a truck with a heater and seat warmer lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I wish but Friday evening starts the 3 day marathon of Christmas parties so its morning or wait until Monday for me unfortunately.

[Snowflake Killa]

Originally Posted by AgHntr10

I wish but Friday evening starts the 3 day marathon of Christmas parties so its morning or wait until Monday for me unfortunately.

I'll come hang out

Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

[Tshelly]

Originally Posted by AgHntr10

I wish but Friday evening starts the 3 day marathon of Christmas parties so its morning or wait until Monday for me unfortunately.

Let us know how it goes. I usually don’t have much luck early mornings and real cold unless it’s late October or early November.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Hix]

I’m giving it a shot, hunting my house this evening and tomorrow morning then running to the farm at lunch. Plan to slip in when the flips to NNW, saw my target buck at 425 yards this morning chasing doe.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Low Fence]

As I cleared the wood line on what was possibly the last hunt for myself this season. With the distant faint sound of an unknown deer blowing snot all over the woods to my north. And the excited chatter of the logging crew to my south. I looked ahead and realized I’m still blessed in so many ways. If I don’t make it out till youth season. It was a season full of really big deer to chase

[Etxbuckman]

Originally Posted by Low Fence

As I cleared the wood line on what was possibly the last hunt for myself this season. With the distant faint sound of an unknown deer blowing snot all over the woods to my north. And the excited chatter of the logging crew to my south. I looked ahead and realized I’m still blessed in so many ways. If I don’t make it out till youth season. It was a season full of really big deer to chase

Not to rub salt in a wound, but are you ever gonna show us pictures of Main Event?

[Greenheadless]

Movement was fast and furious from dawn to dusk today.

It’s like they know something is coming/fixin to change.

[Low Fence]

Originally Posted by Etxbuckman

Not to rub salt in a wound, but are you ever gonna show us pictures of Main Event?

Lol. When I know he’s dead. The pressure around that area is the most ridiculous mess I’ve seen. I’d be dumb to think of the 30 people hunting in that area I’m the only one with pics… which explains the warehouse of feeders on fence line. Bee bop still has a tag and youth season if it goes that far

Got word today that another neighbors wife killed “The big 8”(Big Jim)…. Finally got confirmation today. Wasn’t him it was “Copy Cat” a mature buck, but a long ways from big Jim sized!

[Low Fence]

Teaser. Lol. From 3 years ago of him. He don’t have that eye anymore…

[Etxbuckman]

Originally Posted by Low Fence

Teaser. Lol. From 3 years ago of him. He don’t have that eye anymore…

Dadgum. He was old as Methuselah even then.

[Tree Phantom]

Rusk County, waiting on some daylight.

[Hix]

14 doe so far. 7 at one time on a corn pile. As soon as this wind shifts I’m moving in closer


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[AgHntr10]

They are moving better this morning than they have in a couple of weeks according to the cameras. I wish I could sneak off this evening

[NewBallCoach]

Had 7 doe come in this morning. Good sit. Won't be going to sit in gusts of 40 mph this evening lol, or in 10 degrees in the morning. I'm going to get some sleep and hit it again when it's a balmy 24 tomorrow afternoon

[Tree Phantom]

Originally Posted by Tree Phantom

Rusk County, waiting on some daylight.

[Gumbo Man]

Originally Posted by Tree Phantom

Great job. Congrats. Was he working a scrape?

[Tshelly]

Originally Posted by Gumbo Man

Great job. Congrats. Was he working a scrape?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ElfEyes]

Originally Posted by Gumbo Man

Great job. Congrats. Was he working a scrape?

Lol

Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using Tapatalk

[Capt.Bryan]

For those who are going to brave the wind and cold I am going to reference Steve's thread on pressured deer. He talks about the corner effect and how deer reposition as the wind shifts making them vulnerable during that short period of time. For most of you the wind is likely already shifted, but I wanted to add an observation to Steve's point. I am able to watch deer year around here at the house and have witnessed this corner effect many times. As the bucks are already beginning to get back into their bachelor groups, I have noticed these groups of deer almost always face multiple directions when they bed in a group and usually on the edge of a slight rise or ridge. This makes it very hard to stalk a deer.

[Gumbo Man]

Originally Posted by Capt.Bryan

For those who are going to brave the wind and cold I am going to reference Steve's thread on pressured deer. He talks about the corner effect and how deer reposition as the wind shifts making them vulnerable during that short period of time. For most of you the wind is likely already shifted, but I wanted to add an observation to Steve's point. I am able to watch deer year around here at the house and have witnessed this corner effect many times. As the bucks are already beginning to get back into their bachelor groups, I have noticed these groups of deer almost always face multiple directions when they bed in a group and usually on the edge of a slight rise or ridge. This makes it very hard to stalk a deer.

Great info Captain. Thanks for the reference.

[Pstraw]

Originally Posted by Tree Phantom

Great job and good shootin'! I'm sure all the folks up and down the creek appreciate your efforts.

[AgHntr10]

Latest I have ever punched a tag in East Texas, just a broken up old man that I have passed twice in early November then had a close encounter around Thanksgiving where I almost shot him with both my daughters in the stand. On what was going to be my last hunt of the season, possibly the last ever on this piece of property, I decided it would be a fitting end to this chapter.

[hogslayer78]

Originally Posted by AgHntr10

Attachment 1114149

Latest I have ever punched a tag in East Texas, just a broken up old man that I have passed twice in early November then had a close encounter around Thanksgiving where I almost shot him with both my daughters in the stand. On what was going to be my last hunt of the season, possibly the last ever on this piece of property, I decided it would be a fitting end to this chapter.

Nice

[JhuntsAlot]

Originally Posted by AgHntr10

Latest I have ever punched a tag in East Texas, just a broken up old man that I have passed twice in early November then had a close encounter around Thanksgiving where I almost shot him with both my daughters in the stand. On what was going to be my last hunt of the season, possibly the last ever on this piece of property, I decided it would be a fitting end to this chapter.

Congrats to ya!



J