Deer decrease this year?

[bossbowman]

I haven't seen a reduction in cen-tex, I thought there would be with the hotter than average summer and drought going into fall but this year has turned out to be average.

[jds247]

Our numbers were way down in Brady.. They went for acorns to winter grass. Racks were very poor too. A lot of broken antlers by the beginning of gun season..

[Louis]

They still out there, just eatin acorns and other forage that had a late bloom.

[BURTONboy]

Just wait until next year. The deer are winning this year which hopefully means more bucks getting a year older. If we get good rains next summer it should be a great year.


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[Barney1971]

Just wait until next year. The deer are winning this year which hopefully means more bucks getting a year older. If we get good rains next summer it should be a great year.


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its been a weird year--seems like i will have hunts where there is no deer, then suddenly there everywhere a day or two later. but i agree with this..we are setting up to have a great year next year. i think on our place the deer havent had a reason to live close to the feeders. its mid december and we still havent had a freeze/frost at our place--that will change in next few days. i was in the blind a few days ago and i was just sitting there admiring how green it was. there was green grass and mesquite with brand new sprouts everywhere. i took a doe about a week ago and screwed up cleaning her and knicked her stomach with my knife, the entire contents was pure green, fresh browse- no corn.

[PoppinPiggies]

Our numbers are up this year over last year slightly based on our population surveys done for MLD. That being said there are times where deer are non existent and other times when you are covered up. Highly depends on when you hunt. Go up during rut lockdown and it might be slim pickings, natural browse going dormant and you got corn or wheat available and you can be covered up, cows hangin out near your stand can screw a hunt real quick or pigs taking over a feeder. Deer sightings for us can be highly variable based on external factors.

[PondPopper]

Clover, acorns and new winter browse is their primary foods of choice in the hill country this year. They are still there just not moving around as much and definitely not congregated around corn feeders..

[bloodtrailer28]

I'd say most of them are still there yes a few may have died during the summer but would bet the numbers aren't ad bad as most think. We were wondering the same thing based on cameras at the feeders and what we saw while hunting. Moved some cameras off the feeders corned roads away from the feeders and bam. Found several bucks that had not shown up to feeders in months some not not at all. Also had 10-15 does on the road corn every evening morning where we had 2-3 does at the feeder about 500 yards away.

Antler size is way down and fawn crop was terrible

[bowhunterhelm]

It's been a terrible year for me at my lease in Christoval and my property in Leander. Deer numbers are super low and antlers are terrible. I have not shot a single deer all year. At my lease it's not uncommon to see 20+ deer in a single sit. This is the first year I've ever sat and been skunked. That's never happened before. I'd say on average this year I've seen 2-6 deer per sit. No shooter bucks on camera other than some scrubs. We have 5000 acres and we really only have one mature big buck pushing 150" that we are letting go till next year. Normally we have several that we are looking over for another year or hunting.

Our lease looked like the moon this summer, it was bad! I don't know if the deer moved off for greener pastures or if the drought killed them. This deer season sucked!

[wilded]

Deer numbers here on my place in Lampasas are way down due to many reasons. We lost deer in past freezes and development in this area has been cutting up the big places with many new owners over hunting. Drought took its toll. Many more high dollar leases on smaller acreage and people feeling they need to get their monies worth so over killing and killing any bucks that are legal. People are way over killing does in the area. Big increase in recreational landowners going to Wildlife Ag designation and creating a refuge for coyotes. I have not seen a buck over three years old this season.

[elhefe]

I'm sure it differs per region etc... but here are my observations from around home. During the summer it was nothing to have 10-15 does and yearlings along with some bucks everytime the corn was thrown. That stayed pretty consistent till mid-October no nothing and I mean nothing. Coons won't touch the corn or feed trough with sweet feed etc... If you just walked out there your wouldn't think a deer lived in the county but I know they are there...somewhere. Not mad enough at em to be too tore up about it. Just like watching them mostly. Anyway, thats my 2 cents.

[Chief Big Toe]

On the Lease in Sparkman Ark, we still see a good amount, been seeing some big'uns along with more Black bear as well, these weekend was a good one

[daniel044]

We have definitely felt a decrease in deer. We let lots of deer walk last year. Even our mature bucks ones have a decrease in horn mass and size.

Our landowner blames it on the drought but we also have water all over the propety fed by water pumps so not sure if the deer just avoided the troughs or what.

[dustoffer]

Here in Guadalupe County I have 4 active feeder sites and in the last 2 weeks, 2 of them have had zero deer and one in the last 8 days has had one small buck for an hour or so. And, my never fail hog feeder hasn't had a hog under it since October 23 -- 2 months!!!

[TxBobcat]

Our lease in Junction is seeing a lot less. Dropped off my son’s deer at the processor the other day. Was curious if they had seen a decline in business. Sure enough, they told me they were 200 deer behind as of that day a year ago.