Are there any deer in SE Texas?

[splitfinger]

Anyone seeing anything? I've hunted a few times around Sam Rayburn Lake on my own property and have only spotted one deer since opening weekend. Seems like they have vanished since the rain and the acorns started falling. Hogs have moved in but everything feeding is only at night. Not one animal sighting since Oct. 1.

How about you? Seeing anything at all?

Thanks,

Doug Key

[Frontloader]

I went out the weekend before season started to check on things and didn't see anything. Went opening weekend with my son to keep him company and didn't see anything. Cannot report what was seen on trail cams. But lots of pigs and a few deer were seen.

From Jan to July, the place became a desert. Nothing growing and sloughs out of water. In Aug. a little rain started to fall. In Sept. 8 inches fell in 8 days. The place has become an oasis and the sloughs are full as well as all the low places.

Deer and hogs are walking by the feeders eating acorns, grass, and other new growth. Also the temps have been mostly in the 80s and 90s until these little fronts come thru.

I have decided not to go back until the temps drop to the lower 50s at night and 60s during the day. I am to old to fight the heat, nats, and mosquitoes.

And you cannot see in the brush more then 20 yards either. So hunting season for me may be Dec and January.

Good luck to the northern hunters who should have cooler temps.

[splitfinger]

Good points, Frontloader. I had great activity around my feeders until Oct. 1 and now almost nothing. Seems all the activity is at night. We've had about 16 inches of rain (in October) until yesterday and as of now we have an additional 3" and still falling.

Best of luck to ya.

[txrattler]

Our lease in Hays county dried up. I used to go and see at least does every time out but this year is strange. I dod notice that places that held deer last year where scattered mesquite and cedar with high weeds inbetween. This year all that ground cover between brush is gone and not holding does and fawns. The guys who's areas have heavy cover are seeing lots of deer though moving in and out of it.

[RogerD]

Gosh, leave town a few days and the whole site is different.
My cousin and nephew saw and shot at deer near Powell Park opening day and my nephew shot a doe a weekend or two ago. They saw several. Just hunting funnels. Have seen quite a few road kill in southeast Texas Silsbee and Lumberton area. The rut must be kicking in.

I have not been yet, too hot and the the kayak and redfish have been calling my name. Going to Oklahoma next week to get something good for my new Avatar.

Roger - formerly Piscator

[BowBuddy]

Kill off alot off hogs that ought to help with the population.

[splitfinger]

I agree with ya, BowBuddy. My only problem is the Hogs are only moving at night also and I'm not set up for night hunting them.

[Chunky]

Well, I am not hunting east Texas this year, so my opinion is worth even less than normal....but, my experience is that east Texas is very hot and cold.

The last lease we had in Liberty County, we affectionately call "The Jones Deer Void". I was one of the three out of twelve on the lease who got a deer. A little 7 pt buck. He was the first deer I had seen...it was my 23rd hunt.

On the other hand a few places...like Cape Royal subdivision on Lake Livingston...the deer are just laying around in peoples yards all over the place.

I admire hunters who are successful on east Texas public land or those family paper company leases. It can be some tuff huntin.

[splitfinger]

Thanks Chunky. I must agree. I've owned my property between Jasper and Zavalla for many years and have hunted the entire season without seeing one. Last year I saw 7 the entire season and this year so far only one small buck on Oct. 1. We've got a lot of deer since Rita came thru and several 130's bucks on my trail camera. The only problem is they only show up at night. Hopefully, with this cold front and the rut only a few days away, maybe they will begin to move. I miss hunting the Hill Country for sure.

[Landrover]

The only thing i will say is "east Texas" is a odd place to try to fill a tag.....legally!!!

[Selfbowman]

Yes those east Texas deer are tuff to hunt. They have all the food in my he world and with water every where they don't have to move much at all. They seam to move more at night also. Arvin

[drop dead fred]

Wonder after 10 years if they've come back

[TheHammer]

Surely 10 years worth you've seen one...

[GarGuy]

Those few deer oughtta be mature now!