East Texas hunting 2022-‘23 season

[Landrover]

Originally Posted by Quackerbox

Havent toured our place to see about acorns but my yard is full.

Ours also. Drive down the driveway and it sounds like popping popcorn.....lol!

Originally Posted by Snowflake Killa

That place has always had the birds

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Does turkey season also open this weekend. Lots of them on my hillcountry place but I never fool with them.

Originally Posted by Tshelly

Leased a small 38 acre piece in newton co that’s Bow only. It’s 4 miles from my big MLD lease over there. Main reason I grabbed this was possible sleeper and extra bucks plus my FIL is in a wheel chair. This will be a place could come up and shoot whatever with his crossbow, plus bring my nephews.

So fast forward to yesterday. Mowed and planted the big place then went over and checked the new spot. No roads but county and fm access, I proceeded to bust out two food plots pretty close to the county and fm. This would allow my FIL to park his truck then maybe 20-35 yard around down a mowed trail to his north and south wind set ups.

Busted out the first one and was on the second when caught the first trespasser. Apparently the neighbor did not like us there. We caught him coming out of the first plot. He had painted GO in big letters on the ground in red spray paint. Apparently he was writing Go Away when we rolled up on him. Lots of talking but I think we got it worked out but it’ll be interesting to see how this progresses.

Spoke, 6 and 8 point with small drop on the cell cam there last night so it at least has deer lol


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Gee-zus..........what is the DEAL with these people????

Originally Posted by Gumbo Man

No wonder the neighbor don’t want you there. Nice flyer buck. Hope ya get an opportunity at him.

Yep, beautiful deer!

Originally Posted by drop dead fred

Yup drove in and caught him coming out, he must’ve heard me pull in. I stopped him we talked, had to finally get stern and tell him We have the lease agreement. he was saying it belonged to a neighboring place multiple times … we shook hands I assured him no one would be “shooting towards his babies”. He leaves I walk 40 yards and see this still wet! Such chicken chit


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Hopefully he get the message as the game warden would be on speed dial otherwise!

[drop dead fred]

Originally Posted by Landrover

Ours also. Drive down the driveway and it sounds like popping popcorn.....lol!

Does turkey season also open this weekend. Lots of them on my hillcountry place but I never fool with them.

Gee-zus..........what is the DEAL with these people????

Yep, beautiful deer!

Hopefully he get the message as the game warden would be on speed dial otherwise!

We’ve talked to the LEO there and informed him, we’ll be properly marking boundaries so if needed we have a leg to stand on. Just blows my mind how brazen people are, in there on a SXS with a gun on the rack. Wasn’t something we were expecting right out the gate, but hopefully being we caught him right then and had a talk will be best case scenario. We’ll be puttin up dummy cams etc just incase


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[Crabtrap]

Originally Posted by drop dead fred

Yup drove in and caught him coming out, he must’ve heard me pull in. I stopped him we talked, had to finally get stern and tell him We have the lease agreement. he was saying it belonged to a neighboring place multiple times … we shook hands I assured him no one would be “shooting towards his babies”. He leaves I walk 40 yards and see this still wet! Such chicken chit


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Do you get to collect 200$ when you pass it?


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[Hix]

Originally Posted by Crabtrap

Do you get to collect 200$ when you pass it?


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Haha


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[97JeepGuy]

Polk county deer activity continues to increase. I’ve had 8-12 deer at once at our evening feeder where I’m used to just 4-5. Also have had several new bucks show up over the course of the past week. All young, but look healthy.


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[JhuntsAlot]

My target buck finally showed up in the daylight for the first time yesterday evening.

If he makes this his new routine, might be a good opening week.




J

[hogslayer78]

Originally Posted by 97JeepGuy

Polk county deer activity continues to increase. I’ve had 8-12 deer at once at our evening feeder where I’m used to just 4-5. Also have had several new bucks show up over the course of the past week. All young, but look healthy.


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I have had good activity the last couple months but can tell it's definitely picking up this week.

[EastTexasMan]

All I need is one legal mature buck to walk out, we need capes for Mexico

[bloodstick]

First post on this thread for the season.
I’m on a small private patch between two large leases in Trinity County. Deer have been VERY sparse. One or two doe so far and only 2 hogs. We are used to seeing 8-10 deer at a time feeding in the evenings and usually have multiple bucks at least passing through. Got cams all over the place, both on feed and all the major travel corridors. Activity is so slow, this will be my first opener in 10 years that i’m going to stay home.

I have no idea why its so slow right now. We have water, feed, and cover. Where did all our deer go?


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[ElfEyes]

Originally Posted by bloodstick

First post on this thread for the season.
I’m on a small private patch between two large leases in Trinity County. Deer have been VERY sparse. One or two doe so far and only 2 hogs. We are used to seeing 8-10 deer at a time feeding in the evenings and usually have multiple bucks at least passing through. Got cams all over the place, both on feed and all the major travel corridors. Activity is so slow, this will be my first opener in 10 years that i’m going to stay home.

I have no idea why its so slow right now. We have water, feed, and cover. Where did all our deer go?


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Any chance that you've put too much pressure on your place? My target went mia for a week or so and finally showed back up last night. Maybe some white oaks could be keeping yours away too

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[Low Fence]

I found “Main Event” TODAY!!!!!

9.5 yo and same rack as last 4 years. I FINALLY have a deer I will hunt this season

[axisbuck]

Originally Posted by Low Fence

I found “Main Event” TODAY!!!!!

9.5 yo and same rack as last 4 years. I FINALLY have a deer I will hunt this season

Amazing history id like to see pics of Main event...good luck getting him.

[Etxbuckman]

Originally Posted by bloodstick

First post on this thread for the season.
I’m on a small private patch between two large leases in Trinity County. Deer have been VERY sparse. One or two doe so far and only 2 hogs. We are used to seeing 8-10 deer at a time feeding in the evenings and usually have multiple bucks at least passing through. Got cams all over the place, both on feed and all the major travel corridors. Activity is so slow, this will be my first opener in 10 years that i’m going to stay home.

I have no idea why its so slow right now. We have water, feed, and cover. Where did all our deer go?


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I've got one stand with exactly 0 does showing up, but 4 young bucks. This spot would seem to be a deer mecca (open timber adjacent to intersecting SMZ's), but so far I'm disappointed.

Originally Posted by Low Fence

I found “Main Event” TODAY!!!!!

9.5 yo and same rack as last 4 years. I FINALLY have a deer I will hunt this season

Nice! At 9.5 this may very well be the last time you get a crack at him, so pull out all the stops.

[Tshelly]

Originally Posted by Low Fence

I found “Main Event” TODAY!!!!!

9.5 yo and same rack as last 4 years. I FINALLY have a deer I will hunt this season

Always a good feeling when they come home


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[JhuntsAlot]

Originally Posted by Low Fence

I found “Main Event” TODAY!!!!!

9.5 yo and same rack as last 4 years. I FINALLY have a deer I will hunt this season

Glad you found him.

Just curious, how far away was he from the last area you had seen him?




J

[Low Fence]

Originally Posted by JhuntsAlot

Glad you found him.

Just curious, how far away was he from the last area you had seen him?




J

Almost 2 miles. Completely different property that he usually goes to for about a week in late October. Then back to a small home range

[bloodstick]

Originally Posted by ElfEyes

Any chance that you've put too much pressure on your place? My target went mia for a week or so and finally showed back up last night. Maybe some white oaks could be keeping yours away too

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No sir, we dont put alot of pressure on it. Once in Spring, we pull all our stands down. And one day in August we hang them back and get feeders running again. Other than that, its typical traffic. Property owner shredding the pastures etc. Theres been no logging on adjacent properties that i’m aware of. Our place is usually a safe haven where they go especially when our neighbor MLD lease kicks off


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[Etxbuckman]

Man I just don't have dooky on cameras right now. I think I'm going to devote some time this weekend to trying to locate scrapes, and put some corn piles out in some areas away from the feeders (like down in the SMZ's).

[Javelin]

My number one target is getting predictable. IF I can get into my stand without spooking deer off in the morning I am pretty sure I have a decent chance at getting a shot at him. He was there yesterday evening before dark and from 9 to 1030 am this morning. In the last 4 days he has been there during shooting light 3 of the days. He will be my best buck ever and I am so pumped. I am so worthless right now. cant wait to head to camp today and do a couple last practice shots. With my phone messing up last night I am going to make sure my buddy gets me up in the morning so I dont over sleep. Wind is supposed to be perfect, temp perfect I just have to get in without spooking them off and then make the shot count. I pray the buzzcut stingers and elite do their part. Just today I had 3 new bucks show up including a ten point from last year, but my split G2 buck is my best one.

[AgHntr10]

Originally Posted by Javelin

My number one target is getting predictable. IF I can get into my stand without spooking deer off in the morning I am pretty sure I have a decent chance at getting a shot at him. He was there yesterday evening before dark and from 9 to 1030 am this morning. In the last 4 days he has been there during shooting light 3 of the days. He will be my best buck ever and I am so pumped. I am so worthless right now. cant wait to head to camp today and do a couple last practice shots. With my phone messing up last night I am going to make sure my buddy gets me up in the morning so I dont over sleep. Wind is supposed to be perfect, temp perfect I just have to get in without spooking them off and then make the shot count. I pray the buzzcut stingers and elite do their part. Just today I had 3 new bucks show up including a ten point from last year, but my split G2 buck is my best one.

Good luck!

[Gumbo Man]

Originally Posted by Javelin

My number one target is getting predictable. IF I can get into my stand without spooking deer off in the morning I am pretty sure I have a decent chance at getting a shot at him. He was there yesterday evening before dark and from 9 to 1030 am this morning. In the last 4 days he has been there during shooting light 3 of the days. He will be my best buck ever and I am so pumped. I am so worthless right now. cant wait to head to camp today and do a couple last practice shots. With my phone messing up last night I am going to make sure my buddy gets me up in the morning so I dont over sleep. Wind is supposed to be perfect, temp perfect I just have to get in without spooking them off and then make the shot count. I pray the buzzcut stingers and elite do their part. Just today I had 3 new bucks show up including a ten point from last year, but my split G2 buck is my best one.

Good luck gettin on him tomorrow.

[Low Fence]

Probably hold off in morning like always. Too risky on my small places. If wind and weather hold up I’ll plan to sneak in late afternoon and see if neighbor will let me access from him (I think he will). I know the strong ridge that runs through there but have no sets on it. Old tree from 3-4 years ago was in a great spot and may still be prepped. If I go I’ll hang and hunt that area for observation if anything

[HogHunter34]

Slow activity here on my place in north Cherokee county. Figured the dry conditions would bring them to the feeders more.

[Gumbo Man]

Originally Posted by HogHunter34

Slow activity here on my place in north Cherokee county. Figured the dry conditions would bring them to the feeders more.

When they start falling a deer can smell an acorn a mile away it seems. They’ll be back. I don’t get to serious until the 3rd week of October unless I’ve seen a target which I haven’t yet. When it gets right I’ll hunt about everyday. Don’t want to burn out early.

[hogslayer78]

Originally Posted by Gumbo Man

When they start falling a deer can smell an acorn a mile away it seems. They’ll be back. I don’t get to serious until the 3rd week of October unless I’ve seen a target which I haven’t yet. When it gets right I’ll hunt about everyday. Don’t want to burn out early.

This is me lol but my wife is chomping at the bit and ain't gonna miss the opener. We are out of venison so she is determined to get her a doe this weekend lol

[Anvilheadtexas]

Originally Posted by Gumbo Man

When they start falling a deer can smell an acorn a mile away it seems. They’ll be back. I don’t get to serious until the 3rd week of October unless I’ve seen a target which I haven’t yet. When it gets right I’ll hunt about everyday. Don’t want to burn out early.

This. Too much other stuff to do in early/mid October than sit in a tree and wait…. Now after Oct 25 or there abouts… it’s on!

[HogHunter34]

Yep me too. Not motivated at the moment. Gonna monitor cameras & probably give it another week or so before I get serious

[Gumbo Man]

Originally Posted by hogslayer78

This is me lol but my wife is chomping at the bit and ain't gonna miss the opener. We are out of venison so she is determined to get her a doe this weekend lol

Well then I would suggest you better get the little lady into the woods. Good luck to y’all. Looks like she’ll have a target rich environment.

[Anvilheadtexas]

Originally Posted by HogHunter34

Yep me too. Not motivated at the moment. Gonna monitor cameras & probably give it another week or so before I get serious

It takes me a good evening hunt to fumble through all the process before I get back into the swing of things. It’s looking like that will be next weekend. The scary thing is every year it seems like I’m climbing a tree and telling myself…wow, it seems like I just did this yesterday. Years start flying by.

[drop dead fred]

Originally Posted by Low Fence

Probably hold off in morning like always. Too risky on my small places. If wind and weather hold up I’ll plan to sneak in late afternoon and see if neighbor will let me access from him (I think he will). I know the strong ridge that runs through there but have no sets on it. Old tree from 3-4 years ago was in a great spot and may still be prepped. If I go I’ll hang and hunt that area for observation if anything

At some point you’re gonna have to get aggressive with that deer JMO playing it safe hasn’t worked. Hell die of old age at this point

[Low Fence]

I’m fine with that too. I can’t go bombing in 20-40 acre places and hunt cause it’s season. I see him every year just wrong scrape line or trail. Last thing I want early on when I don’t have him daylight pics or a good idea of bed is push him straight into EXTREME pressure. I believe his lived as long as he has I due to the fact I give him a safe place…. Lol safe enough I ain’t killed him either. And if he dies of old age, he wins. He earned it

[ElfEyes]

Originally Posted by Low Fence

I’m fine with that too. I can’t go bombing in 20-40 acre places and hunt cause it’s season. I see him every year just wrong scrape line or trail. Last thing I want early on when I don’t have him daylight pics or a good idea of bed is push him straight into EXTREME pressure. I believe his lived as long as he has I due to the fact I give him a safe place…. Lol safe enough I ain’t killed him either. And if he dies of old age, he wins. He earned it

Jeff Sturgis would've killed that buck the first time he hunted over his no till plot that he invented.

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[Gumbo Man]

Originally Posted by Low Fence

I’m fine with that too. I can’t go bombing in 20-40 acre places and hunt cause it’s season. I see him every year just wrong scrape line or trail. Last thing I want early on when I don’t have him daylight pics or a good idea of bed is push him straight into EXTREME pressure. I believe his lived as long as he has I due to the fact I give him a safe place…. Lol safe enough I ain’t killed him either. And if he dies of old age, he wins. He earned it

I like your philosophy Kyle. To much pressure too early is no bueno.

[Low Fence]

Originally Posted by ElfEyes

Jeff Sturgis would've killed that buck the first time he hunted over his no till plot that he invented.

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Lol. Most of his 7,875 clients in 73 states and 14 countries all have numerous 9.5yo bucks per 4 acres

[Snowflake Killa]

I have a decent deer coming morning and evenings. I don't hunt the mornings to many deer on their feet before light

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[Etxbuckman]

Originally Posted by HogHunter34

Yep me too. Not motivated at the moment. Gonna monitor cameras & probably give it another week or so before I get serious

Glad I'm not the only one. I'm hoping to see some pigs on my third-tier stand set so I can burn some powder and knock the rust off.

[Snowflake Killa]

Originally Posted by hogslayer78

This is me lol but my wife is chomping at the bit and ain't gonna miss the opener. We are out of venison so she is determined to get her a doe this weekend lol

Oh she's going to shoot something and when she does you know what you're going to hear. He get me another minner

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[hogslayer78]

Originally Posted by Snowflake Killa

Oh she's going to shoot something and when she does you know what you're going to hear. He get me another minner

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I almost guarantee you she is gonna shoot one. She is out of ground venison from the 2 last year and that's all she has talked about the last 2 weeks lol. I bought her a new crossbow yesterday with built in crank so she can cock it herself. She couldn't cock her other one at 185lb draw and last year she shot a doe in the evening and 10 mins later a real nice buck came in and she just had to sit there and watch him🤣🤣 this one is 400ft per second but only takes 5lbs of pressure to cock it with the built in pulley system. She can re-load now

[Hix]

One more wake up. Who alls goin?


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[Landrover]

I am pulling for you guys and gals tomorrow. My cousins wife has a bday party tomorrow so hopefully i head out to after that. Sunday morning or evening i will be thwacking something hopefully.

[Etxbuckman]

Well this is about right for my opening weekend. Had to come to our farm to take care of a few things with the intention of leaving from here to go to the deer lease. I got to Huntsville and realized that the keys to my camper at the lease are in my truck, which is in the shop at the moment, so now I’ve got to drive from Palestine back to Spring to get my spare from my wife, and then back to the lease in Trinity.

I hope everyone else has a good weekend, and that things go smoothly for you. Lol

[hogslayer78]

View is nice this morning and 48 degrees here in San Augustine County. No action here yet but my wife and father in law both had deer this morning but no good shot opportunity.

[Snowflake Killa]

Originally Posted by Etxbuckman

Well this is about right for my opening weekend. Had to come to our farm to take care of a few things with the intention of leaving from here to go to the deer lease. I got to Huntsville and realized that the keys to my camper at the lease are in my truck, which is in the shop at the moment, so now I’ve got to drive from Palestine back to Spring to get my spare from my wife, and then back to the lease in Trinity.

I hope everyone else has a good weekend, and that things go smoothly for you. Lol

You dumb azz

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[Etxbuckman]

Originally Posted by Snowflake Killa

You dumb azz

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I don’t know if this will make sense but I am so irritated about it I’m really not even mad. All I can do is laugh.

[Snowflake Killa]

Originally Posted by Etxbuckman

I don’t know if this will make sense but I am so irritated about it I’m really not even mad. All I can do is laugh.

I've been there

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[Landrover]

Originally Posted by Etxbuckman

I don’t know if this will make sense but I am so irritated about it I’m really not even mad. All I can do is laugh.

Bingeaux....exactly how I have become....lol. Waiting on yalls LDPs.

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[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.

[Gumbo Man]

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

Man man man. Great deer and write up. Congrats on a fine deer on opening day. Beautiful cape too. Will make a nice mount.

[luna-tuna]

Congrats ! Great opening day buck !!!

[Pstraw]

Mighty fine buck. Congratulations, sir!!