East Texas hunting 2022-‘23 season

[Greenheadless]

Originally Posted by Gumbo Man

I know the rain is aggravating but it is going to help deplete the acorns so a lot of folks can get back to hunting.

What if you hunt the acorns? And there aren’t t a whole lot of them, so they concentrate things

I still wish it would stop raining. Our roads are in HORRIBLE shape way too early in season.

[Quackerbox]

Originally Posted by Snowflake Killa

No they been eat sweet gum leaves

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You're onto something, we had some mulching done last year and the deer ate the hades out of leaves on sweet gum saplings

[ElfEyes]

Originally Posted by Quackerbox

You're onto something, we had some mulching done last year and the deer ate the hades out of leaves on sweet gum saplings

Look up MSU mineral stump. Makes sense how they explain it

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[NewBallCoach]

My big guy returned home 3 days ago after vanishing about 5 weeks ago! He has only made night time appearances since his return (2:15 am) but he is back! Need some colder weather to come through so he will move during the day

[Etxbuckman]

Originally Posted by NewBallCoach

My big guy returned home 3 days ago after vanishing about 5 weeks ago! He has only made night time appearances since his return (2:15 am) but he is back! Need some colder weather to come through so he will move during the day

I’m waiting on one to (hopefully) do the same. Frankly the anticipation is killing me.

[Cooper]

I think all the Deer around Oakhurst: West Side of Lake Livingston have grown wings and flew out of State....lol.

Dang it....I can't seem to be in the right place this year.
I have hunted hard with no luck.

[jershua]

This year has been so challenging. After November 5th, deer sightings have been so limited on our place in Houston County. Not even does. All feeders have piles of gold under them. Even he hand corn I put out on November 5th, is still laying on the ground near a travel route. It is almost like they think the corn is poison and will not even go near hand corn. I assume they are only eating acorns and are totally ignoring all corn areas, even at night. I had to work really hard for a doe over the weekend. I put out sweet feed in a couple spots with no pressure and snuck in there and shot the doe 120 yards out (no stand in this area).

It is really hard hunting this year. 5 lease members on 900 acres and only 2 bucks shot and only 4 does taken all season.

Are you guys seeing this as a terrible year as well?

[jershua]

What tactics are possible during a time of hard hunting like this? One could say, well hunt over the acorns. There are 300 trees producing piles of acorns and it just isn't working b/c you don't know where they will be at. The deer have gone totally rogue in day-light.

[drop dead fred]

That’s a wrap on 22’ etx for me, was a blast the deer are just a bonus!


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[Texas452]

That’s a nice buck.

[Landrover]

Originally Posted by drop dead fred

That’s a wrap on 22’ etx for me, was a blast the deer are just a bonus!


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Yep.........you did it right sir!!!

[JhuntsAlot]

Originally Posted by drop dead fred

That’s a wrap on 22’ etx for me, was a blast the deer are just a bonus!


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Congrats on your success. Heck of a buck.



J

[SaltwaterSlick]

Always fun to follow along on yours and Jooger's threads!! Thanks for taking time to bring us along!! That's a heck of a buck with lots of age and character... The big ol' set of antlers is indeed a bonus!
Congratulations on a very nice year sir!

[jershua]

Great job!

[drop dead fred]

Originally Posted by SaltwaterSlick

Always fun to follow along on yours and Jooger's threads!! Thanks for taking time to bring us along!! That's a heck of a buck with lots of age and character... The big ol' set of antlers is indeed a bonus!
Congratulations on a very nice year sir!

Thank you! And yes sir to pull out two 6.5+ year old East Texas bucks is so much fun regardless of inches…..but The inches are gladly appreciated lol


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[SaltwaterSlick]

Now of course I'll be givin' you crap for crossin' that river down south!! ...
You be careful down there man!!

[ElfEyes]

Originally Posted by jershua

What tactics are possible during a time of hard hunting like this? One could say, well hunt over the acorns. There are 300 trees producing piles of acorns and it just isn't working b/c you don't know where they will be at. The deer have gone totally rogue in day-light.

Best thing I can tell you is look up Warren Womack feed tree on YouTube and see if that helps? I see y'all have killed 6 deer with two being bucks. Do y'all normally kill that many?

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[drop dead fred]

Originally Posted by SaltwaterSlick

Now of course I'll be givin' you crap for crossin' that river down south!! ...
You be careful down there man!!

Yes sir 19th year hoping for another 19 god willin


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[drop dead fred]

I used the new digital option this year as well, GW walked us through it. Worked out great I’d recommend it to anyone


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[Quackerbox]

Originally Posted by drop dead fred

I used the new digital option this year as well, GW walked us through it. Worked out great I’d recommend it to anyone


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I tagged a doe sunday with the app. I found it very easy and at this point will stick with it.

And for the GPS nay sayers, you can approximate the area you shot the deer. It only asks for a region which in my case covers two counties. I placed my pin where the highway and the river cross. There is MILES of woods between the intersection and where I shot the deer

[Hayek'sPupil]

Originally Posted by jershua

This year has been so challenging. After November 5th, deer sightings have been so limited on our place in Houston County. Not even does. All feeders have piles of gold under them. Even he hand corn I put out on November 5th, is still laying on the ground near a travel route. It is almost like they think the corn is poison and will not even go near hand corn. I assume they are only eating acorns and are totally ignoring all corn areas, even at night. I had to work really hard for a doe over the weekend. I put out sweet feed in a couple spots with no pressure and snuck in there and shot the doe 120 yards out (no stand in this area).

It is really hard hunting this year. 5 lease members on 900 acres and only 2 bucks shot and only 4 does taken all season.

Are you guys seeing this as a terrible year as well?

Yes

[Hayek'sPupil]

Originally Posted by jershua

What tactics are possible during a time of hard hunting like this? One could say, well hunt over the acorns. There are 300 trees producing piles of acorns and it just isn't working b/c you don't know where they will be at. The deer have gone totally rogue in day-light.

Try to find a specific type of oak or oaks that they are preferring. Check near known bedding areas, trails etc for sign that they are around those oaks.

[bloodstick]

Originally Posted by Hayek'sPupil

Try to find a specific type of oak or oaks that they are preferring. Check near known bedding areas, trails etc for sign that they are around those oaks.

We have tons of willow oak along a creek that i have a camera setup on. Last time i was in there (week before Thanksgiving), there were still acorns on trees and the deer really didn’t seem to want them.


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[aggiehunter3]

Originally Posted by bloodstick

We have tons of willow oak along a creek that i have a camera setup on. Last time i was in there (week before Thanksgiving), there were still acorns on trees and the deer really didn’t seem to want them.


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This has been the toughest season for me in many years and in the 13 years we’ve been on the lease, we’ve only killed 1 deer after 11/30. Which means I need to switch up strategies. What are your go to spots/tactics/etc for killing a good late season deer in the ETX?

And 1 step further, I plan on keeping the bow in hand, so to the great hunters of this thread - teach me your ways!




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[EastTx]

They are hitting scrapes and starting to cruise here again.

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[HighwayHunter]

Originally Posted by aggiehunter3

This has been the toughest season for me in many years and in the 13 years we’ve been on the lease, we’ve only killed 1 deer after 11/30. Which means I need to switch up strategies. What are your go to spots/tactics/etc for killing a good late season deer in the ETX?

And 1 step further, I plan on keeping the bow in hand, so to the great hunters of this thread - teach me your ways!




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Would be a good time to hunt the in between areas. If more scraping and rutting activity is kicking up in your area over the next week I’d be down wind of a scrape or thicket that does frequent.


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[Man]

Had 3 doe walk past my feeder in Nac just now. My lease is on fire again

[ElfEyes]

I'll try to write up a run on sentence later

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[Gumbo Man]

Great buck Ronnie. Congrats

[aggiehunter3]

Originally Posted by ElfEyes

I'll try to write up a run on sentence later Attachment 1111220Attachment 1111221

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Great deer- congrats


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[JhuntsAlot]

Yup, good looking deer.

Congrats.



J

[Tshelly]

Originally Posted by ElfEyes

I'll try to write up a run on sentence later Attachment 1111220Attachment 1111221

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Stud! Great buck. Look at that head!


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[jershua]

Originally Posted by ElfEyes

I'll try to write up a run on sentence later Attachment 1111220Attachment 1111221

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Yes!!! Congrats! Tell us the story. What a buck man

[Etxbuckman]

Helluva deer! The 2nd rut strikes again.

FWIW I ran up to my lease yesterday to top off my feeders and saw about 6 or 7 freshly road-killed bucks on the side of the highway (all missing their heads), so I kinda figured they were getting stupid again.

[jershua]

You need to score that mature buck for us please. I want to know gross b/c he is a beautiful buck. Great mass.

[ElfEyes]

Originally Posted by jershua

You need to score that mature buck for us please. I want to know gross b/c he is a beautiful buck. Great mass.

I'm guessing about 125". I'll try to put a tape on him in about an hour

Thanks everyone, I'll still try to do it write up

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[jershua]

Awesome. Let us know the measurements for everything if you don't mind!

[Ætheling]

Originally Posted by Hayek'sPupil

Try to find a specific type of oak or oaks that they are preferring. Check near known bedding areas, trails etc for sign that they are around those oaks.

… and then out fresh batteries in your spotlight cause you will find them eating said acorns between midnight and 0445.

[Pstraw]

Nice lookin' buck, EE. Congratulations!!

[Low Fence]

Originally Posted by aggiehunter3

This has been the toughest season for me in many years and in the 13 years we’ve been on the lease, we’ve only killed 1 deer after 11/30. Which means I need to switch up strategies. What are your go to spots/tactics/etc for killing a good late season deer in the ETX?

And 1 step further, I plan on keeping the bow in hand, so to the great hunters of this thread - teach me your ways!




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This is where most people stumble till end of season and most of the time the damage is done.

As a Texan we are all guilty of hunting food source….. only for the large percentage of hunters. A deer is nothing more than a glorified goat. It can eat leaves, bark, beer cans. It can survive on anything. And by now they know food is dangerous cause even if YOU do it right the 10,567 hunters within the surrounding 4 mile radius have destroyed the safe zones and sanctuary… that most never had to begin with.

After November 14thish I go to cover that I set aside for this part of the year. They are in there and you just hunt the edges. DONT go in there if you have a sanctuary. If you don’t have one… honestly… good luck. Last week of season you can start to find them in the places they had velvet usually

Quit hunting feed, they can eat anything. Does are a good option and if you happen to have a pile of them!… hunt where they are!!! But most don’t have them either because they have blown them off the property
Hunt thickets, crp, creek edges that got vines and saplings and beauty berry thickets

If you can take a knee (deer vision height) and see more than 20 yards… it ain’t thick enough to hold pressure deer in. Not tangle briars they can’t run in, but high stem count saplings and tree tops, blow downs. That mess. Leave the bait at home and key in on those features 1 at a time. Don’t stomp to the center. Start on edge and work in hunt by hunt

[ElfEyes]

Originally Posted by jershua

You need to score that mature buck for us please. I want to know gross b/c he is a beautiful buck. Great mass.

124" with my amateur scoring. I can't break 130" to save my life lol.

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[jershua]

124 gross?

[jershua]

Mind sharing the measurements?

[ElfEyes]

Originally Posted by jershua

124 gross?

Yes sir

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[ElfEyes]

Originally Posted by ElfEyes

Yes sir

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I used the rope trick. The only measurements I recorded was mass on one side was 14 and 14.25 on the other. 16.75 inside spread. Hes got two tips broke off. So if each one of them broke 10" off each he would be 144" Tomorrow I might put hard numbers on it.

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[bloodstick]

Originally Posted by aggiehunter3

This has been the toughest season for me in many years and in the 13 years we’ve been on the lease, we’ve only killed 1 deer after 11/30. Which means I need to switch up strategies. What are your go to spots/tactics/etc for killing a good late season deer in the ETX?

And 1 step further, I plan on keeping the bow in hand, so to the great hunters of this thread - teach me your ways!




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I hunt pretty much how Low Fence said. I have an area, roughly 25 acres thats super thick and i hung a stand in a nice spot with good access.

My main place is just shy of 50 acres but i have another 170 across the county road with two large leases nearby. They deer are heavily pressured on the leases, so i leave what little timber i have left alone and don’t enter until this time of year.


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[jershua]

Originally Posted by ElfEyes

I used the rope trick. The only measurements I recorded was mass on one side was 14 and 14.25 on the other. 16.75 inside spread. Hes got two tips broke off. So if each one of them broke 10" off each he would be 144" Tomorrow I might put hard numbers on it.

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Great job!

[JA23]

Anyone between Crockett/Lovelady missing a small Feist or Jack Russel mix dog let me know.

[NewBallCoach]

Went and sat yesterday. Had one doe show up, but pulled cards and had 6 doe back on the protein feeder the night before for a while had over 20 pics of them. No more than 1 picture had been taken each day for the last month. Sometimes 0. So it looks like maybe the acorns may be finally going away

[Etxbuckman]

I’ve been monitoring two feeders via a Tactacam and activity has come to a screeching halt. Two weeks ago I was starting to get a few more coming back around, but right now it is dead, dead, dead.

One of my daily bucks that was a late season target has now gone MIA, and my primary late season buck from earlier in the year has disappeared completely. I don’t think he got killed, at least not on our lease, but I sure hope he shows back up later this month.