East Texas hunting 2022-‘23 season

[JhuntsAlot]

Originally Posted by Greenheadless

Made my first two sits of the year this weekend.

Had a 4 year old ten on a doe this morning, he was like a duck on a junebug. Wouldn’t allow her out of his sight, all without exposing himself anymore that he could.

That is typically something you see from the youngsters this time of year, not a more mature buck.

Seeing the same activity on cameras, mature bucks finding one specific doe that must be getting close and locking down.

Also your typical pre-rut cruising has started. The next 2-3 weeks are my favorite time of the year to be in the SE Texas Pineywoods!

This is interesting.

I am starting to see less bucks on feeder camera all together and when bucks do show up, they are not in groups last few days.

I am hoping to be sitting in a tree all next week.



J

[SaltwaterSlick]

Did a little project with my grandsons this past weekend. Since I was not able to head south, I decided to mow an area that I've had a feeder set up behind my house since we moved in back in '15... Got the mowing done, got the feeder going again, and within 4 hours, had 2 does under the feeder... Right after dark, a nice shooter (for the grandsons) 9 point cam strolling in like it was his every-day stop... For some reason, had zero hogs behind the house this year so the deer have moved back in very nicely...
My only problem is, I have a neighbor on the back side of my property's north fence that is a genuine East Texas brown is down guy and his wife is the same way... 3 or 4 years ago, I had to make a conscious decision not to get all twisted off and just accept the fact that the deer I'd been feeding were likely to end up in THEIR DEEP FREEZER!! I've not caught them doing anything illegal, but they sure like to brag about the deer they shoot out the window of their house... Oh well, it is what it is... They do not bowhunt... yet, so maybe I can get one of my grandsons on that 3 year old 9 with the crossbow in the next couple weeks...

[retrieverman]

I’ve had this one on camera behind my house in northern Nacogdoches county. I would like for my daughter to get a shot at him, but the neighbors will probably kill him like the nice buck I had on camera last year. I’m kind of surprised they didn’t kill this one last year too.

[Etxbuckman]

I’ve got a group of 3 - 4 2.5 - 3.5 year old bucks evidently keeping everything away from one of my feeders, then 5 does coming around a second feeder (occasionally the does will go to the other feeder in the middle of the day when the bucks aren’t there). That’s it. That’s all I’ve got. 2 weeks in to the season and worried this one may be a bust. LOL

[Hsbtgarcia]

Originally Posted by Javelin

Well I got it done this morning. Sometimes a blind hog does find an acorn. I had an epic hunt this morning on one of the most beautiful opening mornings I can remember. I woke up at 3:45 am to a thermometer reading 48 degrees at camp. I had to wake up early so I could get on my stand extra early as the last few days deer had been showing up well before daylight and I didn’t want to spook them. I parked my four wheeler right at a half mile away from my stand and started walking in. About that time my cell cam alerts me that a buck is at my feeder. I try to time it so he leaves before I get there, but I also worried more would show up. I decide to sneak on in. I was in and settled at 4:55 am. I spent the next hour seeing a doe and a hog on camera in front of me, but it was so dark I saw nothing. Finally as dawn approached I had a young doe come in to my feed pen and a minute later a mature doe came from my left and walked about 3 yards in front of my stand. At 7:15 a squirrel hunter drove down the road about 800 yards away and spooked the two does. Shortly after, the woods erupted in 22 caliber shots. It sounded like WWIII. I was getting pretty low on my expectations for the day. At 7:50 a small 8pt came in directly from behind my feed pen but never went in. He kept looking to my right and behind me. After about 5 minutes 3 more small bucks come from that direction at 15 yards. One pushes the first buck off and then something big runs in wide open and chases all the bucks back down to my right. About that time this buck comes in from the left and follows the others off. Ten minutes goes by and three of the smaller bucks head back in. I can tell they are not going to my pen but back behind me to my right. I look up and this buck is behind them. I quickly range a big pine at 30 yards. I can tell he is going to walk right past it but he is facing me. Finally he starts to turn and I draw back but another buck gets in front of him. I hold for a good two minutes. Finally the other buck moves but this one is now blocked by a tree. At 8:16 he makes a step or two forward and I decided to thread the needle. I made a good hit and had complete pass through. He turned and ran 50 yards or so and stopped and stood for what seemed like forever then stumbled and fell over.

Attachment 1104118

I know I’m a week late, but congratulations Kris!

Awesome buck and awesome story!!!

[Anvilheadtexas]

Originally Posted by Etxbuckman

I’ve got a group of 3 - 4 2.5 - 3.5 year old bucks evidently keeping everything away from one of my feeders, then 5 does coming around a second feeder (occasionally the does will go to the other feeder in the middle of the day when the bucks aren’t there). That’s it. That’s all I’ve got. 2 weeks in to the season and worried this one may be a bust. LOL

Not sure I followed the ins and outs of your deer woes, but caught the last sentence. It’s Oct 10 today….relax. Go back after the 25th and things will be better. They always are. That being said I have cried about lower deer numbers in last few seasons… and seems I have heard a few people already mention it this year….

[Anvilheadtexas]

Originally Posted by SaltwaterSlick

Did a little project with my grandsons this past weekend. Since I was not able to head south, I decided to mow an area that I've had a feeder set up behind my house since we moved in back in '15... Got the mowing done, got the feeder going again, and within 4 hours, had 2 does under the feeder... Right after dark, a nice shooter (for the grandsons) 9 point cam strolling in like it was his every-day stop... For some reason, had zero hogs behind the house this year so the deer have moved back in very nicely...
My only problem is, I have a neighbor on the back side of my property's north fence that is a genuine East Texas brown is down guy and his wife is the same way... 3 or 4 years ago, I had to make a conscious decision not to get all twisted off and just accept the fact that the deer I'd been feeding were likely to end up in THEIR DEEP FREEZER!! I've not caught them doing anything illegal, but they sure like to brag about the deer they shoot out the window of their house... Oh well, it is what it is... They do not bowhunt... yet, so maybe I can get one of my grandsons on that 3 year old 9 with the crossbow in the next couple weeks...

East Texas rules! Here’s why…..

[Gumbo Man]

The boys are starting to come home. One of my lease mates feed pen.

[Tshelly]

Originally Posted by Gumbo Man

The boys are starting to come home. One of my lease mates feed pen.

Nice!!


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[Tshelly]

The trespasser place buck made his first daylight appearance this am. We name him Uno since he is the first shooter


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[Pstraw]

Y'all need to get out of the house and into the woods.

[Snowflake Killa]

Originally Posted by Gumbo Man

The boys are starting to come home. One of my lease mates feed pen.

Good deer there

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[Hsbtgarcia]

Originally Posted by Gumbo Man

The boys are starting to come home. One of my lease mates feed pen.

Originally Posted by Tshelly

The trespasser place buck made his first daylight appearance this am. We name him Uno since he is the first shooter


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2 very cool bucks!!!

Good luck guys!

[GarGuy]

Those are big deer. Tony, that 8 gonna be mid 40s or better.

[Greenheadless]

Originally Posted by Gumbo Man

The boys are starting to come home. One of my lease mates feed pen.

First one looks like he may be blind in one eye.

Either that, or squinting from the poacher’s spotlight.

[Javelin]

Today I scored a 80 acre place to hunt just down from my house. Guy said consider it yours forever if you just maintain the roads by mowing them. I got three cameras out and one pop up today. I am impatiently waiting for pics from the one cell cam I put out.

[HogHunter34]

Originally Posted by Javelin

Today I scored a 80 acre place to hunt just down from my house. Guy said consider it yours forever if you just maintain the roads by mowing them. I got three cameras out and one pop up today. I am impatiently waiting for pics from the one cell cam I put out.

You have already killed your deer. Let the rest of us have a chance

Sounds like you scored a great deal

[Javelin]

Originally Posted by hoghunter34

you have already killed your deer. Let the rest of us have a chance :d

sounds like you scored a great deal

😂😂

[Etxbuckman]

Originally Posted by Anvilheadtexas

Not sure I followed the ins and outs of your deer woes, but caught the last sentence. It’s Oct 10 today….relax. Go back after the 25th and things will be better. They always are. That being said I have cried about lower deer numbers in last few seasons… and seems I have heard a few people already mention it this year….

Basically I’ve got 9 deer over 2 stand locations, 4 young bucks and 5 does. I was just making a joke about having nothing to get excited about, but I know you’re right about it being WAY too early to call it a season. It’s just a tiny bit disheartening when some guys seem to be covered up in good bucks already.

I am pleased about our fawn crop this year though, so that bodes well for the future after what I presume was a big die-off from the freeze.

[Tshelly]

Originally Posted by Javelin

Today I scored a 80 acre place to hunt just down from my house. Guy said consider it yours forever if you just maintain the roads by mowing them. I got three cameras out and one pop up today. I am impatiently waiting for pics from the one cell cam I put out.

Nice!! Good luck


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[Landrover]

Whoa........those are some beast of deer.......and in daylight!!! I wonder if East Texas has begun to change......at least a little bit.....lol.
I was out on our new place looking around and clearing some limbs on over grown roads the last two days. Saw about 4 deer but no bucks. Probably be another 2 years to get it under control but it feels good to have our own place that is big enough to actively manage for wildlife. Gotta wait on a cool front to get fired up to drive to the hill country to bowhunt this year.
Oh, the neighbor to our south is selling their place for a HUGE price but we are considering making an offer as it has a house and two barns already. It would make a great buffer for what I believe are my primary points to bowhunt.

[Landrover]

Originally Posted by Javelin

Today I scored a 80 acre place to hunt just down from my house. Guy said consider it yours forever if you just maintain the roads by mowing them. I got three cameras out and one pop up today. I am impatiently waiting for pics from the one cell cam I put out.

Niiiiiiiice!!!

[Anvilheadtexas]

Originally Posted by Etxbuckman

Basically I’ve got 9 deer over 2 stand locations, 4 young bucks and 5 does. I was just making a joke about having nothing to get excited about, but I know you’re right about it being WAY too early to call it a season. It’s just a tiny bit disheartening when some guys seem to be covered up in good bucks already.

I am pleased about our fawn crop this year though, so that bodes well for the future after what I presume was a big die-off from the freeze.

Yea… I just saw a video from a friend in Trinity County, most guys would have fallen out of the tree. He saw same buck 3 hunts in a row at 15 yards. Meanwhile, just down the road in Polk County we are patiently waiting for it to start. Thing is, it’s always been that way on my place, it gets real interesting here in 2 weeks. Right now they are still laying low. Don’t give up hope yet and hunt every minute from Oct 25 to mid Nov. Thats my plan anyways.

[EastTx]

Got another big 6 to chase this year.

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[Landrover]

Persimmon right???

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[Tshelly]

Originally Posted by EastTx

Got another big 6 to chase this year.

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Sign me up!


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[Landrover]

Originally Posted by Tshelly

Sign me up!


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Ditto.......i love big unicorns of any species!!!

[HogHunter34]

Heck of a 6 EastTx
Noticed you are in Cherokee cty
I’m bow hunting my place here in Mixon area

[Etxbuckman]

Originally Posted by Anvilheadtexas

Yea… I just saw a video from a friend in Trinity County, most guys would have fallen out of the tree. He saw same buck 3 hunts in a row at 15 yards. Meanwhile, just down the road in Polk County we are patiently waiting for it to start. Thing is, it’s always been that way on my place, it gets real interesting here in 2 weeks. Right now they are still laying low. Don’t give up hope yet and hunt every minute from Oct 25 to mid Nov. Thats my plan anyways.

Thats the plan. I’m sure it will be fine.

Originally Posted by Landrover

Persimmon right???

Good lord you found the mother load!

[Pstraw]

Originally Posted by Landrover

Persimmon right???
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Wild Pear

[ElfEyes]

Originally Posted by EastTx

Got another big 6 to chase this year.

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OMG! That's a beautiful buck.

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[Mountaineer]

Originally Posted by Pstraw

Wild Pear

Yup. Persimmon leaves are longer and thinner and the fruit is more orange with a teardrop bottom. The persimmon bark is also dark and rough.




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[trhunter]

Originally Posted by Gumbo Man

The boys are starting to come home. One of my lease mates feed pen.

Wished the deer I had all summer would come back home. He has been gone a month now. I really would like to put my hands on him.

[Mexico]

Originally Posted by Javelin

Well I got it done this morning. Sometimes a blind hog does find an acorn. I had an epic hunt this morning on one of the most beautiful opening mornings I can remember. I woke up at 3:45 am to a thermometer reading 48 degrees at camp. I had to wake up early so I could get on my stand extra early as the last few days deer had been showing up well before daylight and I didn’t want to spook them. I parked my four wheeler right at a half mile away from my stand and started walking in. About that time my cell cam alerts me that a buck is at my feeder. I try to time it so he leaves before I get there, but I also worried more would show up. I decide to sneak on in. I was in and settled at 4:55 am. I spent the next hour seeing a doe and a hog on camera in front of me, but it was so dark I saw nothing. Finally as dawn approached I had a young doe come in to my feed pen and a minute later a mature doe came from my left and walked about 3 yards in front of my stand. At 7:15 a squirrel hunter drove down the road about 800 yards away and spooked the two does. Shortly after, the woods erupted in 22 caliber shots. It sounded like WWIII. I was getting pretty low on my expectations for the day. At 7:50 a small 8pt came in directly from behind my feed pen but never went in. He kept looking to my right and behind me. After about 5 minutes 3 more small bucks come from that direction at 15 yards. One pushes the first buck off and then something big runs in wide open and chases all the bucks back down to my right. About that time this buck comes in from the left and follows the others off. Ten minutes goes by and three of the smaller bucks head back in. I can tell they are not going to my pen but back behind me to my right. I look up and this buck is behind them. I quickly range a big pine at 30 yards. I can tell he is going to walk right past it but he is facing me. Finally he starts to turn and I draw back but another buck gets in front of him. I hold for a good two minutes. Finally the other buck moves but this one is now blocked by a tree. At 8:16 he makes a step or two forward and I decided to thread the needle. I made a good hit and had complete pass through. He turned and ran 50 yards or so and stopped and stood for what seemed like forever then stumbled and fell over.

Attachment 1104118

Beautiful deer!!

[Gumbo Man]

Originally Posted by EastTx

Got another big 6 to chase this year.

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I want this deer !! Good luck.

[AgHntr10]

Originally Posted by EastTx

Got another big 6 to chase this year.

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[Landrover]

Originally Posted by Etxbuckman

Good lord you found the mother load!

Originally Posted by Pstraw

Wild Pear

Originally Posted by Mountaineer

Yup. Persimmon leaves are longer and thinner and the fruit is more orange with a teardrop bottom. The persimmon bark is also dark and rough.

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Yall are awesomeness as the old landowner thought it was possibly a crabapple.....which I did not think it would be. I ate two of them and PEAR flesh was definitely part of it. I just never perceived it to be wild pear......which is super cool.

[drop dead fred]

Originally Posted by GarGuy

Those are big deer. Tony, that 8 gonna be mid 40s or better.

I agree, we were literally talking about that this morning. He’s very similar frame wise to a 142” 8 my wife killed we were all surprised how big he was once he hit the dirt. I feel if someone gets him down uno will be the same


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[stickemhard3]

Surprise backyard buck showed up. I was just hoping for does to keep my daughter interested. Guess I'll be drinking coffee with my rifle come season

[97JeepGuy]

Had 2 good ones show up this past week on our place in polk county. Too bad I won’t be able to get back out there for another couple of weeks. Fingers crossed.


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[Pstraw]

Originally Posted by 97JeepGuy

Had 2 good ones show up this past week on our place in polk county. Too bad I won’t be able to get back out there for another couple of weeks. Fingers crossed.


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If you need help' I'm available. Those are nice lookin'.

[Tshelly]

Originally Posted by stickemhard3

Surprise backyard buck showed up. I was just hoping for does to keep my daughter interested. Guess I'll be drinking coffee with my rifle come season

Nice dude!!!


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[Javelin]

My new spot is looking promising already

[lovemylegacy]

Nice bucks! Man that 6 is awesome.

Uno is a fine buck! Big bodied rascal.

[AgHntr10]

Originally Posted by Javelin

Attachment 1105518

My new spot is looking promising already

You must be living right!

[Javelin]

How old do y’all think. This is my new spot. In reality it’s around 40 acres huntable. According to onx it is 70 total. Not sure of pressure around me. Shoot him or grow him? I should have access to this place for years to come but no guarantee as with any place and is he even 13 lol. I figure he is 14

[Gumbo Man]

Looks like a 3 year old. Man he’s rocking that one brow tine. He could turn into a rock star if the pressure isn’t to bad. Looks like you’ve stumbled up on a good sleeper place.

[Javelin]

Originally Posted by Gumbo Man

Looks like a 3 year old. Man he’s rocking that one brow tine. He could turn into a rock star if the pressure isn’t to bad.

You and I think alot alike I feel same on age and potential.

[Low Fence]

Originally Posted by Landrover

Yall are awesomeness as the old landowner thought it was possibly a crabapple.....which I did not think it would be. I ate two of them and PEAR flesh was definitely part of it. I just never perceived it to be wild pear......which is super cool.

Just a heads up to ya, since your looking for persimmon: DONT pull fruit off tree and eat it!!!!! You will need an iv to replenish moisture in your mouth to spit it out. Lol

Pick em off ground and make sure they are squishy. If firm DONT EAT!

[Low Fence]

At 12:45am “Main Event” finally came home to his winter range! Haven’t seen him since that 1 day almost 2 miles away