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Antler Hunting: Shed Hunting Tips for Deer Hunters

The clocks in my house were just updated to “spring forward” so that means it is just about antler hunting time, when we head to the woods in search of shed antlers. The majority of whitetail bucks in Texas still have their horns, but many will be losing them over the next month. Some bucks will shed their antlers early right after deer hunting season, some late, but most lose them at or about the same time. With antlers getting ready to hit the ground, there is no better time to talk about shed hunting tips.

We officially found our first pair of shed antlers today, after the much needed rainfall ceased. The rain received over the past month has kept the deer habitat in great shape, but it’s going to make finding antlers much more difficult since the herbaceous plants are going to be growing quickly. The deer antlers we found this morning were laying side by side, just a few yards from one of our deer protein feeders.

The funny thing was that the sheds were not on Friday around lunch because we drove right past the same feeder that day. The whitetail buck must have just dropped them, and he is among the early group around here, with most still holding on to their headgear. The antlers were from a nice 8 point buck that I recognized as a deer I had aged at two years old this past hunting season. We are hoping this buck can put on a couple of more points this summer.

Although shed hunting is still too early for the most part, it’s always good to get geared up for a little looking. Bucks loosing their antlers now will be either run down from the whitetail rut or injured. We’ve seen really old bucks as well as some very young bucks shed earlier than March 1 in the past in Central and South Texas, but typically in low numbers. When I was younger I would wear my legs out looking for sheds too early in the year.

After many years and many seasons, I have learned to wait until mid to late March to start, with my initial effort depending on the rainfall and habitat conditions. Low rainfall years will have bucks dropping antlers earlier than normal, whereas good habitat will allow bucks to hold onto them longer. This past hunting season saw habitat conditions that were very good for whitetail deer, so waiting is definitely the way to go this year.

And that’s the real shed hunting tip that I was wanting to share with hunters today. Pay attention to the deer habitat found on your property. Not only will it be a good indicator of deer numbers in many cases, but it can also shed light on potential antler growth, as well as the timing of antler shedding. Deer hunting is about more than just shooting deer. Antler hunting is something we enjoy during the off (hunting) season, although whitetail never have any time off. Good luck out there looking for horns!

Deer Hunting in Motley County, Hall County

Question: “My hunting group has the opportunity to get on a deer hunting property that is located in both Motley and Hall County. We have been through the area, but are not familiar with the whitetail or mule deer numbers in the Motley County area. Can you tell me how this part of Texas is for deer hunting, both whitetail and mulies? We know the lease has both whitetail and mule deer, but what is the ratio? More whitetail or mule deer? Thanks for all help.”

Response: My college roommate was from that area. He live and hunted near Hall County growing up. He was located southwest of Estelline and north of Turkey. In that area, he said the deer hunting improved immensely during his youth, with very good numbers of mule deer on their ranch, although not so many whitetail deer. It is difficult to get good numbers of both of these animals in one area since they prefer different habitat types. Continue reading Deer Hunting in Motley County, Hall County

Deer Hunting in Kent County, Texas

Question: “My brother and I have been deer hunting for about 15 years, but have never been on a deer lease. We hunted my uncles 120 acres, but since he recently passed away, we are going to have to explore other opportunities. I’m going to go look at a lease in Kent County in a week or so. Do you know of anyone that has been deer hunting in Kent County in recent years or do any of you have any experience with the area? Interested primarily in whitetail.”

Response: I deer hunted north of the town of Jayton for three years about 12 years ago. I know there are some big ranches in Kent County, as well as some small ones. The quality of deer hunting will depend on which part of the county the lease you are looking at is located. Some of the ranches in the area have some really good bucks, and some just average. Of course, the deer management philosophy of the folks that own or hunt the land dictates a lot of that. Continue reading Deer Hunting in Kent County, Texas

Deer Hunting Lease in Cass County, Texas

Question: “I’ve been deer hunting since I could walk and have been looking to get on a deer lease for some time now. My buddies and I have found a property in Cass County. The lease is near the town of Linden. We’ve done our research and found that hunting land in the Cass County area is going for $6 to $10 per acre. This property offers year-round access, and the owner says it’s good feral hog hunting and has a good number of whitetail deer. Does this sound about right to you?

This area is a bit different than where I am used to hunting. We’ve hunted Llano County and San Saba County for deer for years, but my buddies are located closer to Cass County. I am curious to find out if you know of anyone that has hunted the area and how it worked out? I can only assume that Cass County will not have as many deer, but just want to make sure there is some deer hunting to be had on this lease.” Continue reading Deer Hunting Lease in Cass County, Texas

East Texas Turkey Hunting: Season Closed?

It’s the beginning of March and that means the spring turkey hunting season is just about here. Time to dust off the turkey calls, locate that decoy and find those #5 turkey loads before the end of the month gets here. Temperatures are already fairly warm, so we suspect there will be a lot of breeding activity before the season even starts. Just make sure you know when turkey season starts, and ends.

Hunters are reminded several regulation changes take effect for the 2012 season. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) closed spring turkey hunting in the following 15 East Texas counties in response to low populations and harvest numbers: Cherokee, Delta, Gregg, Hardin, Houston, Hunt, Liberty, Montgomery, Rains, Rusk, San Jacinto, Shelby, Smith, Tyler and Walker.

Closing spring turkey seasons in these counties will enable biologists to reassess Eastern turkey restoration efforts in areas having suitable habitat, restock sites and provide brood stock protection. The agency’s goal is to reopen hunting once the Eastern turkey populations in the affected counties are capable of sustaining harvest.

Also effective for the 2012 season, TPWD is delaying spring Eastern turkey hunting in the remaining 28 counties having an open season by two weeks, to run from April 15-May 14. Biologists say the delay gives hens time to begin nesting prior to the season opening.

“Time will tell how dramatic of an impact the regulations will have on Eastern turkey populations, but we will almost guarantee that the majority of hens will be bred prior to the opening of the season, which should help to boost the population” said Hardin. “Harvest is not as critical the latter part of the season, and hens should be on the nest by the time the season starts.”

Also new this turkey hunting season, hunters in East Texas may harvest gobblers and bearded hens during the spring season in counties having a bag limit of four turkeys. Hunting is for gobblers only during the spring season in all other counties.

All harvested Eastern turkeys must be taken to a check station within 24 hours. To find the check station nearest you, contact a TPWD field office or call (800) 792-1112. Turkey hunting is always fun, but the spring turkey season is as good as it gets. Hope you run into some long beards!

Texas Pronghorn Hunting Depends on Antelope Restoration?

Pronghorn antelope have always been a part of the Texas landscape, but what’s the future of this speed goat? Will pronghorn hunting in Texas continue or will the population decline witnessed over the past few years lead to the end of an already limited supply of pronghorn permits? Biologists are trying to answer these questions as we speak, as well as determine if additional stockings may be necessary and warranted. The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) of Sul Ross State University and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will host a March 6 seminar to discuss current findings of the Pronghorn Restoration and Research Project.

Pronghorn are one of the most amazing ungulates found in North American. This big game animal, with their distinct brown and white coloration accented by black cheek patches and glossy black horns, had become a fixture of the Trans-Pecos and the Texas Panhandle. The pronghorn is unique to the world and North America and is the only big game species that sheds it’s out horn sheath each fall.

The pronghorn is not in fact an antelope, but rather a member of the goat family. It’s lack of dew claws on the front feet give it this distinction. A pronghorn can attain speeds of 70 mph and cruise at 30 miles per hour for long distances. Their eyesight is phenomenal and compares to a human using 8X magnification binoculars. Living in open, windy, semi-arid country, pronghorns depend mainly on their acute eyesight to warn them of danger, but recent research has found that parasites may be their biggest problem.

The schedule pronghorn seminar will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 6 in the Espino Conference Center, Morgan University Center. Refreshments will be served and the public is invited. The purpose of the project is to identify causative factors associated with declining antelope herds and to restore pronghorn to their historic habitats in the Trans-Pecos. The pronghorn restoration seminar will provide an overview of the ongoing restoration efforts and an update of the research findings.

The Pronghorn Restoration and Research Project is a collaborative effort by the BRI, TPWD, Trans-Pecos Pronghorn Working Group, Texas landowners, and concerned citizens. For more information about the restoration project, call (432) 837-8488 or (432) 837-2051.

Deer Hunting Tips: Hunt Corridors, Natural Travel Areas

If you are like us, then you are always on the lookout for some new whitetail deer hunting tips. Every once in a while we pick up something new that can be used to put a buck on the ground. But most of the time we stick to the tried-and-true methods that have worked again and again, season after season. After all, hunters have been chasing whitetails for centuries, so go with what’s worked in the past.

Before worrying about gear, wind direction, scent control and make and model of the gun or bow that you are using, put some serious thought in to location. In deer hunting, like real estate, it’s all about location, location, location! Whitetail are a lot like the people hunting them, creatures of habitat. They tend to use the same areas again and again. Find their favorite habitat and you’ve got them. Or better yet, find a buck’s favorite path to a high quality food source or his bedding area and you can set up shop. Continue reading Deer Hunting Tips: Hunt Corridors, Natural Travel Areas

Protein Feeding for Deer Lease Success

Question: “We just moved to a new deer lease near Brownsville and hopefully we’ll be on it for many years to come. We have year round lease access and like many other Texas leases cows are grazed on the property year round. Lots of turkey and some feral hogs in the neighborhood, too. There is an oat food plot on the lease that is a popular spot for anything that eats oats. A good number of whitetail have been seen foraging there in recent weeks.

On our previous place, we always feed corn from September through January. This year, however, I am considering fencing in one feeder for protein pellets and ramping up feeding beginning in March. Assuming the fence around the feeder keeps the feral hogs and the land owner’s cows out, Will one protein feeder make a difference? What results can we expect to see in the deer on our lease?”

Answer: The impact of a protein feeding program for whitetail deer will vary from property to property. A lot will depend on what your neighbors are doing or are not doing, managing or not managing. What it will do over time, if you keep feeding, is increase fawn survival each year. Like a lot of things in deer management, it will not happen overnight, although you will see more fawns a healthier deer fairly quickly.

The key to any protein feeding program is to feed for at least four to five years to see if you are seeing real results. If you increase fawn survival and total deer numbers you will increase buck numbers over time. One time I saw a ranch that was 650 acres really help their deer. They simply fed for nine months out of the year and they noticed more bucks survived the deer hunting season.

In fact, each hunting season after this was better than the year before. The third year of feeding were able to kill a four year old buck that was close to 140 inches. A year later they were able to shoot a five year old buck that went 154 gross. This was a huge change in just five years. A big key to any management program is fawn production and survival, with more fawns means turning into more bucks for the future. But protein feeding is only part of the equation. Deer management for improved deer hunting takes managing for age, genetics and nutrition. Let them go so they can grow!

Jalepeno Cilantro Dip

Jalepeno Cilantro Dip Recipe - Venison Recipes

After first serving this jalepeno cilantro dip recipe it is now a must-have party dip around our house. Whether it be a holiday celebration with the family, a Saturday watching college football or just mid-day snack, this flavorful dip goes great with tortilla chips! It also works great for topping venison tacos, fajitas and dipping quesadillas. If you love cilantro then you will love this dip!

Jalepeno Cilnatro Dip Ingredients

4 jalapenos seeded
1 bunch of cilantro
1 cup of sour cream
1 cup of real mayo
1 packet dry ranch dressing mix (or below substitute)

Ranch Dressing Mix Recipe Ingredients

1 1/2 teaspoons dried parsley
3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon celery flakes
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon dried dill weed
1 tablespoon dried chives

Directions

Wash jalepenos and cilantro and shake off excess water. De-seed jalepenos and roughly chop them and the cilantro. I use the entire cilantro bunch, except for the very ends of the stems. Place jalepenos and cilantro in a food processor and pulse until very finely minced.

In a bowl, combine the sour cream, mayo and seasoning. Mix these ingredients together well and then stir in the minced jalepenos and cilantro. Now, grab a bag of tortilla chips because you are ready to enjoy this delicious jalepeno cilnatro dip! And let me tell you, it’s a winner that will work with many of your favorite venison recipes! By the way, the amount of sour cream in the recipe can be adjusted to suit your individual taste.

More Deer Hunting in Texas with Regulation Changes

Let’s face it, folks that live in Texas can not get enough deer hunting! Combining the Archery and General Deer Hunting Seasons equates to over three months of deer hunting, and landowners involved with the Managed Lands Deer Permit (MLDP) Program enjoy a whopping five months of whitetail hunting. Now, the state is looking at expanding into several for Texas counties. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is considering opening deer hunting in three North Texas counties and another on the upper coast this fall as part of recommended changes to the 2012-13 Statewide Hunting Proclamation.

TPWD biologist recommended an open season for deer in Dallas, Collin, Rockwall and Galveston counties during a presentation last Wednesday to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission’s Regulations Committee. They cited the rules for Grayson County, the only county in Texas with an archery-only deer season, as a starting point for the Dallas metro area counties being considered for an open deer hunting season.

Under the proposed amendment, the current whitetail season structure in Grayson County would be altered to allow full-season, either-sex whitetail harvest. The amended Grayson County archery-only deer season structure would be implemented in Dallas, Collin, and Rockwall counties. In addition, the department is proposing to implement the Harris County season structure in Galveston County.

The deer hunting season in Collin and Rockwall counties has been closed since 1976 after land use changes virtually eliminated deer habitat. Since that time, agriculture has been gradually displaced by the extensive urban, suburban, and exurban growth of the Metroplex, which has resulted in highly fragmented deer habitat and minimal populations of white-tailed deer, mostly in the brushy/forested areas surrounding lakes and streams.

TPWD believes that there is no biological reason to prohibit deer hunting and adding these additional Texas counties will only increase hunting opportunity. Opening a season would also provide an additional method for addressing nuisance deer issues. Deer population control continues to be a on-going problem in Central Texas, so maybe a proactive approach may shortcut any deer overpopulation issues in North Texas.

Comments on the proposed hunting regulations may be submitted by phone at 512-389-4775 or through the TPWD’s web site. There will also be upcoming public meetings to be scheduled in the counties affected by the proposed deer hunting regulations.