Hill Country Rut Dates - Specifically Junction

[tarleton]

We have a new lease in Junction, TX and it looks like some of the younger bucks have their head down.

What are the typical dates for all the Rut's in the hill country around Junction / South of I-10?

[Burntorange Bowhunter]

The peak always seems to be the week before Thanksgiving week. Especially the weekend before the Holiday. The young bucks always start freaking out early.

The dates are different each year, obviously.

[DasBoot]

I saw a 4 pt nose to the ground chasing a doe about a week ago. A couple bucks sparring and the same one making a scrape. Seems like he was getting a little practice in. This was mason btw

[whitetailslayer]

What B.O.B. said.

[b.latiolais]

From what I have seen, Rocksprings is the week after Thanksgiving.

[dustoffer]

Watched a buck doing his "sniff, sniff" thing in Wimberley yesterday. Had one in my feeder pen last week doing the same (Guadalupe County). In my experience, the rut has seemed to be at peak around the 10th of November 'round here. After Thanksgiving in the Cotulla area--

[Capt.Bryan]

Primary is usually around thanksgiving week and the secondary falls around Christmas. This cool weather has them feeling frisky. I hunt just north of you in Brady and a few years ago it started as early as the first week of November.

[PondPopper]

Last year between Brady and Menard it's was on big time at the end of October. First time in 13 years on this lease that it was that early. The drought a couple years ago seem to throw everything out of kilter.

[r_u_sharp_2]

Im on a lease in Junction south of 10, guys said last year it was the week before thanksgiving. I am off the from the 15th on.

[Adgerc15]

Have a ranch about 40 miles south of I10 near Rocksprings and its usually early to mid November and sometimes a heavy second rut in December. Many years it just washes together and seems like one long rut from Halloween to New Years. Too many deer

ac

[RJK70]

Very end of October to first couple weeks of November at our place near Brady last year. It can very a little bit

[Tony Pic]

My land is on the border of Kerr and Gillespie. Thanksgiving week the rut really seems to pick up. First week of December things get crazy.

[Landrover]

LOL......I love these threads!!

[DirtyMullet]

The peak always seems to be the week before Thanksgiving week. Especially the weekend before the Holiday. The young bucks always start freaking out early.

The dates are different each year, obviously.

This. Last year on our place in Menard the rut was great...we're on 83 right outside town.

[Burntorange Bowhunter]

Watched a buck doing his "sniff, sniff" thing in Wimberley yesterday. Had one in my feeder pen last week doing the same (Guadalupe County). In my experience, the rut has seemed to be at peak around the 10th of November 'round here. After Thanksgiving in the Cotulla area--

That is far eastern Hill Country. Junction is far western Hill Country. They are a couple to a few weeks different. South Texas is later in December. TPWD has done a study on the rut in the Hill Country. They seem to be spot on given what I have seen in the last 25 years. Three regions, east, central and west. The peak rut is not the same in the regions.

I have lived in Wimberley for the last 10 years. The young buck sniff sniff means nothing. When the rut peaks there will be mature bucks rumble thru my yard hot on the tail of a doe that we haven't seen all year.