East Tx Deer Numbers Thread

[Anvilheadtexas]

The low doe count early in season happens every year. Does movement from late October til thanksgiving can slow to a crawl because they are literally being harassed by every buck at all hours of the day. Holding tight to very thick cover and not much daylight movement is common yearly. Acorn heavy years and weather can make November very tough some years. Especially if your property is small, hogs and one of any other dozen factors.

Seeing lots of small bucks early is again a product of the rut in my opinion.

I do agree with the doe harvest increase though. Just answering your last question.

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Thank you. With 30 east tx seasons behind me, 2019 was by far the most extreme. My personal past experience has been just the opposite from what you suggest...in years past... lots of does from oct to mid nov then it goes quiet, as in real quiet real quick.

My observations are not just during the past season...since I own my place I am up there a lot and over the course of the last several years there has been a trend.

To your point it’s several different factors and since we are talking about a big region with varying terrains (the guy in Houston County pastures is going to see things different than the guy in the Liberty County bottoms). Still east tx but both very different terrains.

I am going to pay a little more attention this year as I predict the topic will continue. In the mean time I need to work on the hogs.

[lovemylegacy]

What is interesting are some of the responses regarding seeing only young bucks. This was definately the case for me. A spike here, a nubbing buck there. Very few does. Anyone else in East Tx with observations?

Ok, this season was low on sightings. We had a logging crew on the property so that might be why. I saw maybe a dozen deer. One young 7pt that may be a problem. One mature buck. The rest doe and fawns. Some of the sightings were repeats Im sure.

Took one doe and one buck.

[SETXHUNT0902]

I hunt in south newton county I would say we had a decent season. We average around 200acres per person per spot and while its a great lease as far as seeing deer, mature bucks are hard to come by. I see anywhere from 5-10 deer a hunt within bow range but most of those are the same deer everytime. I have 3 bow stands within my area and the same young bucks and groups of does hit them all. Every year i have about 7 or 8 young bucks (spikes, small 6's and 8's) and maybe 2 or 3 good mature shooters that pass thru every now and then. The problem is, myself, my dad and several buddies all hunt the same area of our lease and what we see is the same young bucks, does and the few mature bucks we have all use our areas. Its not uncommon for us to see the same deer on the same mornings hunting different areas a mile apart. So for us to be hunting roughly 800-1000 acres with our 5 combined hunting areas, we're sharing the same group of 8-10 young bucks and 2 or 3 mature bucks. And we each seem to have a group or 2 of does that are anywhere from 2 to 6 in group size that hang around. Some of us have been hunting this lease for 10 or so years and its always been this way.

[Dusty Rivers]

I hunt in south newton county I would say we had a decent season. We average around 200acres per person per spot and while its a great lease as far as seeing deer, mature bucks are hard to come by. I see anywhere from 5-10 deer a hunt within bow range but most of those are the same deer everytime. I have 3 bow stands within my area and the same young bucks and groups of does hit them all. Every year i have about 7 or 8 young bucks (spikes, small 6's and 8's) and maybe 2 or 3 good mature shooters that pass thru every now and then. The problem is, myself, my dad and several buddies all hunt the same area of our lease and what we see is the same young bucks, does and the few mature bucks we have all use our areas. Its not uncommon for us to see the same deer on the same mornings hunting different areas a mile apart. So for us to be hunting roughly 800-1000 acres with our 5 combined hunting areas, we're sharing the same group of 8-10 young bucks and 2 or 3 mature bucks. And we each seem to have a group or 2 of does that are anywhere from 2 to 6 in group size that hang around. Some of us have been hunting this lease for 10 or so years and its always been this way.

Same but on 125 acres

[lovemylegacy]

Good thread, may be eye opening.

[Shinesintx]

My property is in Franklin Co, NE Tx. My place is small, it’s only 55 acres. In my 7 years of owning it, only 3 deer have been taken off my place...that I know of. I used to always see deer, but this year was different. The last week of December, corn started to pile up. No hogs, no deer. I thought it was maybe just me...was a weird year. I didn’t see any deer in December,

[sqiggy]

I just don't get it. Most everybody saying bad year, low numbers, etc. Even though I didn't kill a deer this year and probably the last 4 at that, I saw more deer than ever, mostly bucks. Does were far and few in-between till the end of the season, then they showed up!!

[lovemylegacy]

I just don't get it. Most everybody saying bad year, low numbers, etc. Even though I didn't kill a deer this year and probably the last 4 at that, I saw more deer than ever, mostly bucks. Does were far and few in-between till the end of the season, then they showed up!!

That's whats weird, a lease just East of us has bunch of deer. I know a feller that hunts it. He must have seen close to a hundred or more deer. Just this past weekend, he saw 10 in one hunt. What is the difference?

Just when you think you do everything right, you dont

[doright]

I haven’t cared enough over the years to keep track of deer sightings from year to year and pay attention to one year from the next but is there a possibility that it could be a cycle? A few years of lots of deer and a year or so of fewer deer? Is this a cycle we are going through?

[Greenheadless]

I have been hunting the same general area off and on since 1986. On thing that has change from then till now:

Back then you would see 8-10 does and maybe a buck every now and again, if lucky. If you did see that buck, he was typically no more than 1-2 years old and usually you would end up shooting him, as it was never a guarantee.

Today, while we might not see as many deer in a sit, we are seeing the inverse as to sex ratios. We will see 3-4 different bucks, usually that young age class like what used used to see (and shoot) and it is not uncommon to see a middle aged or older buck. The difference is we maybe 1-2 does per sit, if any. The population dynamic has definitely shifted from predominantly all does to a much better balances herd.

[GarGuy]

I have been hunting the same general area off and on since 1986. On thing that has change from then till now:

Back then you would see 8-10 does and maybe a buck every now and again, if lucky. If you did see that buck, he was typically no more than 1-2 years old and usually you would end up shooting him, as it was never a guarantee.

Today, while we might not see as many deer in a sit, we are seeing the inverse as to sex ratios. We will see 3-4 different bucks, usually that young age class like what used used to see (and shoot) and it is not uncommon to see a middle aged or older buck. The difference is we maybe 1-2 does per sit, if any. The population dynamic has definitely shifted from predominantly all does to a much better balances herd.

I agree here in Houston co in every way. Nov 2nd I saw three bucks opening morning and no does. That evening I saw 12 does and 12 bucks. Possibly more that could have been duplicates so I didn't count them. Only 2 fawns in that group and both were button bucks.

For years I have had big family groups of does. Not so much this year. My food plots are amazing and a foot tall. Usually they are eat down by now. I blame the fewer doe airings on the crazy acorn crop but it could be that the doe numbers are actually down. I know for sure that I have more bucks on camera than does right now.

[Anvilheadtexas]

I agree here in Houston co in every way. Nov 2nd I saw three bucks opening morning and no does. That evening I saw 12 does and 12 bucks. Possibly more that could have been duplicates so I didn't count them. Only 2 fawns in that group and both were button bucks.

For years I have had big family groups of does. Not so much this year. My food plots are amazing and a foot tall. Usually they are eat down by now. I blame the fewer doe airings on the crazy acorn crop but it could be that the doe numbers are actually down. I know for sure that I have more bucks on camera than does right now.

My untouched food plots were the final catalyst to get me to start this thread. Normally now is the time they are getting crushed (all the way through mid/late March and then they immediately stop hitting them). I will check to see what’s up this weekend, but two weeks ago I had long shoots.

Edit - acorns are gone or rotten on ground also.

[JLivi1224]

MLD is bad for the overall hunting in TX period. The biologists are pencil whippin’ counts and fluffing survey numbers to sell more licenses. Extended season combined with the overall management approach being more prevalent(ie. letting younger bucks walk, and takin does for freezer fillers , has lead to a drastic drop in does. A hail of arrows/gunfire upon them! . “I’m gonna take my does..... “

MLD - We’ve been sold a bill of foods. Change my mind.....

[GarGuy]

We did not kill a single doe this year. My call.

[Anvilheadtexas]

We did not kill a single doe this year. My call.

Right. Based on what I saw all summer (the lack there of) and the weak showing of does in the first week of rifle season (I did not spend any real time bow hunting this past Oct), I too pulled the plug on shooting a doe and generally discouraged guests. Really did not matter, we just kept seeing very young bucks only (if any deer at all).

Steve, you care about this resource and so do I. As we make that conscious decision to pass on does there is that guy down the way or across the county who either does not know any better or maybe just doesn’t care and he is taking his does.

It’s a cumulative effect. Let’s give it another season or two. We all will be fishing in November. Lol.