Category: Deer Hunting

Buck Movement During the Rut

The white-tailed deer breeding season has been strong this year. During the month of  November, I received reports of intense rutting activity throughout much of Texas. Bucks were easy to spot for those that were able to spend some time in a stand.  I think the strong rut was a product of good body condition in deer and colder than average temperatures.

To be clear, temperature does not impact the timing of the whitetail rut. Bucks can, however, more aggressive and more active for longer periods of time on cold days during the rut; not so much the case when it’s hot out. That puts a lid on everyone’s activity levels.

Whitetail breeding activity has been highly visible this season but I’ve seen years where it seemed like almost no whitetail rutting activity at all. Bucks and does still did their thing, of course, but sometimes rutting activity can be weak. In fact, I’ve seen years where it seemed as if deer just disappeared.

Where Do Bucks Really Go During the Rut?

Research on whitetail buck movement during the rut has found conflicting results. A number of research projects have affixed various types of tracking devices to bucks in an attempt to figure out what these guys are up to during the breeding season.

All of these studies can be summarized into a handful of bullets:

• Bucks can increase range and movement during the rut
• Mature bucks can decrease movement and focus on doe-rich areas
• Moon phase does not impact deer movement
• Breeding is determined by photoperiod (day length)
• Buck movement is highest at dusk and dawn
• Bucks are individuals and will act differently

Bucks Movement and Range Can Increase

The belief is that during the rut, “you never know what’s going to show up.” I believe that’s true any day we climb in a stand.  Bucks can increase movement and range during the breeding season. This is the most exciting part about white-tailed deer hunting. The thought that on any day, at any time, anything can happen.

Research on buck movements during the breeding season has found that some bucks do move more, much more, during rut. They are also willing to move outside of their normal “home range.” To take advantage of this as a hunter you need to know when the rut occurs in the area you are hunting and then get into areas where bucks are likely to be cruising.

Mature Bucks May Move Less

Mature whitetail bucks may move less than other bucks during the breeding season. This contradicts the paragraphs above, but begins to makes sense once you wrap your mind around that we are only talking mature bucks now. Mature bucks are different than other bucks.

Mature bucks have more experience (surviving and breeding), they are the dominant deer in the woods, and they know where to find does. As a result, mature bucks can focus their efforts on areas known to hold does. These big-bodied deer are much less likely to be challenged by subordinates, so they end up moving less.

One study found that about 30 percent of the bucks in an area moved less during the rut. These bucks actually developed a search pattern that they repeated almost daily. Were these bucks looking in “doe hot spots” or merely staying with does until a mating opportunity presented itself? Either way, this sounds like the activity of older bucks as they would have the access/ability.

The key to hunting mature bucks during the rut then will be to find areas where does are known to frequent. Find areas were does feed and bed and hunt them, or get in between them. You shouldn’t have to wait long since bucks or doe/s (with a buck in tow) tend to repeat this pattern regularly.

Photoperiod Dictates Breeding, Deer Activity

Despite what your buddy thinks, day length dictates when the breeding season occurs within a deer herd each year. In fact, photoperiod determines most everything that whitetail do throughout the year, with some of the key items of interests being estrus in does and antler growth and shedding in bucks.

There is no doubt that geographic variation exists throughout the whitetail’s range, but breeding happens at the local level at the same time each year, rain or shine, hot or cold. Environmental conditions impact deer activity to some extent, but when it’s time—it’s time! Learn it, know it, use it.

Deer Movement Highest at Dusk and Dawn

It’s no wonder most deer hunts are referred to as morning hunts or evening hunts. White-tailed deer movement increases at dusk and dawn. Whether you hunt mornings and evenings because that’s they way you were taught or the way you learned, research has substantiated that buck movement is highest at these times, even during the breeding season.

So rut or no rut, make sure you are in the stand  for at least the first few and last few hours each day. The first and last hours of the day are pure gold. Not a morning person? Don’t blow your stand out by showing up late! That will only tip-off bucks that are already on hoof. Stick to the evening hunt and make the most of your time in the woods.

Bucks are Different, Movement Varies

We can identify the peak of the breeding season in an area but we can not predict the behaviors of individual bucks. It turns out that bucks have different strategies for how they intend to pass on their genes.

We covered how some older bucks may decrease movement during the rut in order to stay with a doe or doe groups, but some older bucks do the opposite. In these situations, is this behavior simply in the buck’s nature or is an increase in movement and/or range a product of the herd or habitat in which he lives?

The answer is likely yes. A countless number of factors dictate buck movement during the rut. As a hunter, the key is to learn as much as possible about the deer herd and area you hunt and then decipher how bucks will behave and then when they will use the area you hunt during the rut.

Key points to know about an area you are hunting:

• When is the rut?
• Where are does feeding and/or bedding?
• Where are travel corridors?

Once you’ve answered these three questions, then it’s a matter of getting into position to take advantage of the limited or expanded movement of bucks in the area. You can do all-day sits, but deer movement will still be highest at dusk and dawn.

Seasoned hunters know to take advantage of cold fronts during the hunting season as deer movement generally increases as temperature decreases. This holds true during the rut as whitetail bucks will stay on their feet for longer periods of time.

Deer Outlook 2019

Colder weather has finally rolled into Texas and the drop in temperature has white-tailed deer on the move. Several reports have made it to me over the past few days regarding an increase in the number of bucks observed traveling during daylight hours. Hunters will also be on the move. The general deer hunting season opens this weekend for white-tailed deer.

With an estimated 5.3 million deer in the statewide white-tailed deer population, Texas hunters heading to the field this fall should not need much luck to bump into at least a few deer. It’s been a good year for deer.

More Deer Means Good Hunting

“Good fawn production this year should help maintain the overall population and provide an abundance of deer for hunters to pursue,” said Alan Cain, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) white-tailed deer program leader.

“We’ve seen a slow but steady growth in the statewide population over the last 15 years, particularly in areas such as the Hill Country, Oak Prairies and portions of the Cross Timbers. As a result of the growing population, we’ve expanded hunting season opportunities in the last several years, including a couple of changes to the antlerless season, the addition of doe days in 2019.” This is good news for deer hunters looking to fill the freezer with some high protein, low fat venison.

“Doe Days” Added to Hunting Season, Again

For the first time, 21 counties in south-central Texas can partake in a four-day antlerless season that runs from Nov. 28- Dec. 1.

Any antlerless deer harvested during the archery, youth-only, muzzleloader, and the 4 doe-days during the general season is required to be reported to the department within 24 hours of harvest using either the “My Texas Hunt Harvest” mobile app (for iOS and Android) or on TPWD’s My Texas Hunt Harvest web page.

Counties required to report their harvest include Austin, Bastrop, Caldwell, Colorado, Dewitt, Fayette, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Karnes, Lavaca, Lee, Waller, Washington and Wilson. Also included in the change are Goliad, Jackson, Victoria and Wharton counties north of U.S. Highway 59 and Comal, Hays and Travis counties east of IH-35.

A Change in the Wind Good for Hunters

The change in weather may be what is needed to jump start white-tailed deer movement. Whitetail activity was curbed during archery season due to unseasonably warm temperatures. It also doesn’t hurt that the whitetail breeding season is looming, just two to three weeks away across much of Texas.

As deer hunting conditions improve with cooler temperatures, hunters can expect an above average year in terms of buck antler quality, total deer numbers and, as a result, overall harvest. This is good news for hunters looking to fill that void on the wall.

“Despite a slow start to archery and the Managed Lands Deer Program (MLDP) season, I’m hearing of some exceptional bucks being harvested including an incredible 214 gross Boone and Crockett score low-fenced buck from La Salle County,” said Cain.

“I’ve talked to a number of hunters and landowners who have been scouting at their lease or hunting property for the upcoming general season and are reporting good antler quality as well. I think hunter excitement is high this season and hunters have lots to look forward to.”

BOOM: Texas Deer Hunting Season

The general gun season opener kicks off on Nov. 2 and runs through Jan. 5, 2020 in north Texas and Jan. 19, 2020 in south Texas. A late youth-only season is also slated for Jan. 6-19, 2020. For additional late season deer hunting opportunities and county specific regulations, consult the 2019-2020 Outdoor Annual of hunting and fishing regulations.

TPWD is also reminding hunters to review the chronic wasting disease (CWD) regulations for information about CWD testing requirements and carcass movement restrictions for the 2019-2020 season. Also, Texas hunters harvesting deer, elk, moose or other susceptible species in other CWD-positive states must also comply with carcass movement restrictions when bringing those harvested animals back into Texas.

In addition, the Texas Animal Health Commission has mandatory CWD testing requirements that apply to elk, red deer, sika, moose and reindeer in Texas, regardless of whether they are harvested in a high or low fence property. Familiarize yourself with these requirements if you hunt land where there is a possibility to harvest one or more of these CWD-susceptible exotics.

In closing, don’t expect whitetail to hit feeders or food plots hard during the early part of the season. Ample acorns are falling and recent rains have resulted in an abundance of cool season forbs. This will provide all that whitetail need through November, possibly beyond. Bucks will of course be moving throughout the rut.

The weather is forecast to be drier and colder than normal, so expect deer to use bait, feed and plots readily once we get into December. Time your hunts with the cold fronts, keep the wind in your favor and have a good hunting season.

Bowhunting Season on Point

The Texas archery season cranks up for white-tailed deer this Saturday, September 28, 2019. Habitat conditions across the state currently range from very wet to very dry, but the entirety of the state received good rainfall during the late winter and spring, when it was needed for antler growth and fawn production.

Total deer numbers will be up and buck antler quality will be good, but it’s going to be the weather that most challenges hunters during the archery season. Hot and dry conditions have set-in across Texas and that will make early season hunting tough for bowhunters.

Deer Hungry Headed into Archery Season

“Although dry conditions should encourage deer to frequent feeders more consistently and more often, the hot temperatures may curtail movement during much of the day except for the periods around dawn and dusk,” said Alan Cain, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) white-tailed deer program leader. “Until cooler temperatures arrive and deer movement picks up hunters may consider using game cameras to narrow down peak deer movement near their favorite hunting location and increase chances of success.”

Deer will routinely visit feeders when foods are lacking in their environment. In many parts of Texas, hunters should expect deer to make consistent use of bait considering the lack of recent rainfall and green vegetation.

This would apply to much of South Texas, as well as the Hill Country and on up to the Red River. Expect deer movement to be strong through mid-morning and then again in the very late evening. This pattern should hold until acorns start to dump, then all bets are off.

Bowhunters are likely to see fewer deer in areas where decent rains have hit the ground over the past few weeks. The whitetail living in these areas will be the beneficiaries of better habitat conditions, which will put a lid on their need to visit bait sites.

Archery Season Outlook

Texas boasts a robust white-tailed deer population of about 5.3 million deer which should contribute to hunter success this fall and winter. Despite the deterioration in habitat conditions over the last few months with triple digit weather and wind, Cain notes “Hunters should expect an excellent deer hunting season with above average antler quality and fawn recruitment.”

Cain explained that good rains early in the fall of 2018 that set the stage for an excellent crop of winter weeds lasting well into 2019. The excellent habitat conditions continued into early July and were critical in providing the nutrition bucks needed to maximize antler growth. This also kept does in good body condition resulted in good fawn survival and a bump in deer numbers.

2019 Deer Hunting Seasons

While the archery-only season kicks off this weekend and runs through November 1, the general/gun deer hunting season opener is still more than a month away on November 2. In addition, a special youth-only weekend season is set for October 26-27 so make sure to get the kids outdoors early and often.

The general season runs through January 5, 2020 in North Texas and January 19, 2020 in South Texas. A late youth-only season is also scheduled for January 6-19, 2020.

New Deer Hunting Regulations for 2019

Texas once again has some new deer hunting regulations thanks to continued herd management from the state. TPWD has increased and expanded doe days for certain counties and has also implemented an additional requirement for successful hunters. For the first time ever, hunters are required to report all antlerless deer harvested in 21 south-central Texas counties to TPWD.

Starting this season, hunters in parts of south-central Texas will be required to report all antlerless deer harvest in Austin, Bastrop, Caldwell, Colorado, Dewitt, Fayette, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Karnes, Lavaca, Lee, Waller, Washington, and Wilson. Counties also included in that change are Goliad, Jackson, Victoria, and Wharton counties north of U.S. Highway 59 and Comal, Hays, and Travis east of IH-35.

Any antlerless deer harvested during the archery, youth-only, muzzleloader, and the 4 doe-days during the general season is required to be reported to TPWD within 24 hours of harvest using either the My Texas Hunt Harvest mobile app (for iOS and Android) or on TPWD’s My Texas Hunt Harvest web page.

TPWD says the app works without a data signal as long as it has already been downloaded to the device. This feature will allow the user to report their antlerless deer harvest immediately, then the report will upload once a signal is available.

As usual, for additional deer hunting opportunities and county-specific regulations, consult the 2019-2020 Outdoor Annual of hunting and fishing regulations. Wherever you hunt, may your 2019 deer hunting season be a success!

Doe Hunting Delight

It looks like deer hunters will be getting more doe days in Texas. This is good news for hunters looking to put meat in the freezer. It’s also good news for properties where white-tailed deer numbers have been on the rise. These added “doe days” are intended to increase antlerless deer harvest in parts of the state where once-conservative regulations were needed to allow the expansion of deer.

Doe Days Added to Post Oak & Blackland Prairies

White-tailed deer hunters in 41 Texas counties in the Post Oak Savannah and Blackland Prairies ecoregions will see expanded opportunities to take antlerless deer during the 2019-20 season, following changes adopted recently by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.

The decision to liberalize the harvest of antlerless deer comes after several years of whitetail population growth within these regions, combined with a relatively conservative doe harvest. Wildlife biologists with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) recommended the expanded opportunity to reduce the deer herd impacts to the habitat, help balance buck-doe sex ratios, and relieve buck harvest pressure.

Doe Days Add Days, Not to Bag Limit

In 21 counties in south central Texas, hunters will be able to harvest antlerless deer from Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 28, through Sunday, Dec. 1. The counties include: Austin, Bastrop, Caldwell, Colorado, Dewitt, Fayette, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Karnes, Lavaca, Lee, Waller, Washington, and Wilson. In addition to these counties, Goliad, Jackson, Victoria, and Wharton counties north of U.S. Highway 59 and Comal, Hays, and Travis east of IH-35.

The bag limit on antlerless deer in these counties is two, and hunters are reminded that all doe harvests during archery, muzzleloader, youth-only seasons, and the four doe days are required to be reported within 24 hours through the TPWD website or the My Hunt Harvest mobile app. The four doe days are not for properties enrolled in the Managed Lands Deer Permit (MLDP) program.

Expansion of Doe Days Continues

TPWD is also expanding doe days in 20 other counties from four to 16 days beginning with the start of the general deer hunting season on November 2. An steady increase in whitetail numbers in these areas shows that additional deer harvest is warranted. But don’t wait to use a tag, the doe days are front-loaded at the beginning of the general season.

The counties with the expanded,16 doe days include: Bell (east of IH 35), Burleson, Delta, Ellis, Falls, Fannin, Franklin, Freestone, Hopkins, Hunt, Kaufman, Limestone, Milam, Navarro, Rains, Smith, Titus, Van Zandt, Williamson (east of IH 35), and Wood.

Air Guns: More Options for Deer

Hunters can now add big-bore pneumatic (air) guns to the list of legal means and methods for deer hunting in Texas. Over the past few years, states across the US, including Texas, have been expanding the options available to hunters (think crossbows and suppressors). This expansion is the result of innovative, improved technology that is able to demonstrate success in the field.

Without a doubt, any regulation that changes takes someone lobbying for things to be different. I’m all for change so long as those changes are positive and big-bore, pre-charged air rifles look to be highly effective on deer and other big game species.

Air Gun Regulations in Texas

Beginning this fall, hunters in Texas will be able to use air guns and arrow guns that meet criteria established under new rules adopted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. The regulations create a new category of legal means for hunting deer and other wildlife in Texas defined as pre-charged pneumatic devices.

Unlike pellet guns and traditional air rifles that can be charged manually or with an attached CO2 cartridge, pre-charged pneumatic air guns and arrow guns are those weapons for which an unignited compressed gas propellant is supplied or introduced from a detached source.

Air Gun Requirements for Hunting in Texas

The TPW Commission decision follows months of scrutiny to avoid creating undue risks of wounding of wildlife from pneumatic weaponry. These devices must meet minimum standards of ballistic efficacy.

Minimum ballistic specifications of pre-charged pneumatics approved by the Commission for hunting alligators, big game and turkeys are: .30 caliber bullets weighing at least 150 grains powered by an unignited compressed gas propellant charge capable of attaining a muzzle velocity of at least 800 feet per second (fps) OR any bullet weight and muzzle velocity combination that produces at least 215 foot pounds of energy.

For furbearers, pre-charged pneumatics must be at least .30 caliber. For squirrels, chachalaca, quail and pheasant an air rifle does not need to be a pre-charged pneumatic, but it must be able to propel a minimum .177 caliber projectile at least 600 fps.

In addition to minimum standards for pre-charged pneumatic devices, the Commission adopted provisions that hunter education certification requirements be met in order to hunt any wildlife resource.

Pneumatic Guns for Hunting

At least 10 other states permit the use of pneumatic devices for hunting big game, and all but three states allow their use for hunting certain other wildlife species. Their use in Texas previously was limited to hunting anything other than game animals (except squirrels), game birds, alligators, and furbearers.

The new rules will take effect Sept. 29, 2018. Additional information on the use of air guns and arrow guns is available online. Update: Read the new Texas regulations on these guns at the end of this article.

Air Gun History: A Tell of Technology

Source: “Technology seldom sits still for long. While air guns have been around for hundreds of years, they have been relegated for the past several decades as paper-punchers and quiet pest eliminators. But when we look back in history, this was not always the case. Every book of American History detailed (or should detail) the Louis and Clark Expedition.

As they were traveling through parts unknown with limited resources, they had to be smart about a method of safely fending off attacks and harvesting game for food. Muzzleloading rifles and muskets of the time were slow and cumbersome to load. Slow, but effective, these black powder rifles and muskets need to keep the powder dry in order to function.

The expedition called for a considerable amount of boat travel so they opted to include an air rifle that was made in Italy. The .46 caliber Girandoni air rifle accompanied Louis and Clark on their journey to explore the Louisiana Purchase. Not only was this heavy hitting PCP capable of launching a 210 grain projectile with considerable force, it was also a repeater.

But using a high pressure air rifle does come with some downsides. They tend to be more complex than firearm counterparts and require some physical effort to charge the air reservoir with the high pressure needed to launch a projectile with the force needed to humanely dispatch larger game. Thus, the concept for big bore air guns was put on the back burner.

Technology has recently caught up with the concept. Air gun manufacturers have started making air guns that are bigger than the popular .177 and .22 calibers that have been available for decades. The first forays into big bore air rifles were nothing more than pellet rifles with larger barrels. These air rifles generated much more power than their spring powered counterparts, but the muzzle energy was still not in the large game territory.

Each successive year led to the envelope being pushed father in terms of muzzle energy. The bores grew in diameter. Projectiles grew in mass. And velocities began to climb. This meant that a shooter using air as a propellant was able to launch a heavy (by air rifle standards) projectile with enough muzzle energy to dispatch large game species in a humane way.

Not to mention that charging the air tanks of these big bore rifles became cheaper with portable high-pressure electric pumps. Technology caught up with the concept.”

Air Guns for Deer Hunting

There are a couple of aspects of big-bore air rifles that will make them attractive to deer hunters. The novelty of hunting deer with an air gun is enough to get many hunters interested in slinging it across their shoulder and heading into the field, but another factor that makes me want to take a closer look is the reduced sound/noise level that these guns emit.

Very rarely will I shoot a rifle without ear/hearing protection anymore. It only happens out of perceived necessity when in the field shooting deer or hogs. Even then, there is usually more than enough time to ensure that my hearing protection is on prior to squeezing the trigger.

Time catches up with all of us though. Once we notice our hearing tapering off, it’s time to wise up and be more cognizant about how we approach some of our activities.  In my research on big-bore, pre-charged air rifles, it appears a number of them are fairly quiet.

Many shoot the large bullets used for deer hunting at subsonic velocities, so much quieter than a standard deer hunting rifle. This is attractive to me, but so is a suppressor. Both situations, however, limit maximum range to about 100 yards.

Each hunter considering a big-bore air gun will have to evaluate its utility for their hunting situation. Reduced sound and recoil are going to be quite attractive to many. Reduced range is going to be be a non-starter with other hunters, but not out of the question for those deer hunting in areas with limited visibility. It’s going to be interesting to see if air guns catch on. Would you hunt deer with one?

UPDATE 8/29/18: Air Guns, Arrow Guns Regulations

TPWD Means and Methods Definitions:

• Arrow gun: a device that fires an arrow or bolt solely by the use of unignited compressed gas as the propellant.
• Air gun: a device that fires a bullet solely by the use of unignited compressed gas as the propellant.
• Pre-charged pneumatic: an air gun or arrow gun for which the propellant is supplied or introduced by means of a source that is physically separate from the air gun or arrow gun.

Alligator, game animals, furbearers, squirrels, and non-migratory game birds (except Eastern Turkey) may be hunted with air guns and arrow guns provided:

• Alligators, big horn sheep, javelina, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and turkey may be taken only with pre-charged pneumatic arrow guns, or air guns that fire a projectile of at least 30 caliber in diameter and at least 150 grains in weight with a minimum muzzle velocity of 800 feet per second or any combination of bullet weight and muzzle velocity that produces muzzle energy of at least 215 foot pounds of energy.
• Squirrels, pheasant, quail, and chachalaca may be hunted with air guns that fire a projectile of at least .177 caliber (4.5mm) in diameter producing a muzzle velocity of at least 600 feet per second.
• Arrows or bolts used with an arrow gun must conform to the same standards for projectiles for archery.
• Arrow guns may not be used to hunt deer or turkey during archery season.