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Deer Hunting Tough in Coke County

Comment: I deer hunt a 1,750 acre lease near Robert Lee in Coke County along the Colorado River. We have 11 paid deer hunters and this year not a single mature buck was taken. In fact, very few bucks at all were even seen during hunting season. This is unheard of for our whitetail hunting lease. Almost every season each hunter is able to harvest at least one 120-ish inch mature buck, with the occasional 140 incher taken, and a couple of mature does.

I spoke to a few deer hunters around us this tough hunting was not just limited to our ranch. I know that the water is way down in the river from prior years, but there is still plenty of water around and on our ranch, so I can not blame our poor deer hunting on that. Someone even rumored that a mountain lion was killing deer, but I doubt that would cause such a widespread issue. We thought everything was going fine, but deer hunting this past year was slow. What’s the deal? Continue reading Deer Hunting Tough in Coke County

Day Hunts for White-tailed Deer

Question: I was looking to get a season deer lease, but with them so expensive I was now thinking about day hunting for deer in Central Texas. With this in mind, I am now searching for a place that offers good day hunting for whitetail and maybe even some hogs. I don’t necessarily want the cheapest, but I am not looking for the most expensive either. Anyway, if you have something like this or know someone, please contact me or leave message here. I have yet to decide what to do, but but know the deer hunting leases that I have found so far I can’t afford.

Answer: That is a good question about day hunting, but one I have yet to address to date. First, as far as quality goes, I would not expect a whole lot when it comes to day hunting for white-tailed deer, especially if you end up going deer hunting during mid-season. This is because most hunters want to hunt early in the deer season and these places, like most properties, get the most pressure early in the deer hunting season. Continue reading Day Hunts for White-tailed Deer

8 Point Piebald Buck Shot in Wayne National Forest, Ohio

There is just something about hunting white-tailed deer that seems right. The predator-prey relationship between hunters and whitetail has existed for centuries, and something must be working because we still have hunters, we still have deer, and we still have deer hunting. Every deer is special, but it is especially memorable when a hunter has the opportunity to take a unique animal, such as a strange-antlered buck, or because of the odd manner in which the deer was harvested, or because the deer has an uncommon color, such as an albino or a piebald.

After reading the title to this article you know that we are talking about piebald deer today. And you have to admit, there is just something special about a deer does not look like other deer. The fact that color abnormalities are fairly rare makes a piebald deer a trophy for any hunter, whether it be a buck or a doe. Joshua Asher was hunting in Wayne National Forest in Hocking County, Ohio, when he had the opportunities of a lifetime. No he didn’t see several piebald deer, but he saw some strange colored deer on more than one occasion. Continue reading 8 Point Piebald Buck Shot in Wayne National Forest, Ohio

Improved Deer Hunting: Plant Japanese Honeysuckle for Whitetail Deer

Question: I am interested in providing additional forage for the whitetail deer in my area in order to improve body condition, grow better antlers, and improve the overall deer hunting. I know that browse plants make up a lot of a whitetail’s diet, and have been thinking about planting Japanese honeysuckle because I know that they like it. Do you have a place to purchase Japanese Honeysuckle seed? Have you ever purchased seedlings or has it just always grown naturally where you’ve hunted? Thanks.

Answer: Better deer hunting is something that you can make happen, and you are on the right track. Deer management that leads to better deer hunting is all about age, genetics and food. You have two options because there is native honeysuckle and Japanese honeysuckle. Although I would suggest trying native honeysuckle over introducing a foreign plant into your area, the choice is up to you. I have seen Japanese honeysuckle growing in the wild and it does not completely dominate areas like some non-native plants can do. Maybe that is because deer love it. Continue reading Improved Deer Hunting: Plant Japanese Honeysuckle for Whitetail Deer

Whitetail Deer For Sale

Although white-tailed deer hunting has been around as long as there have been hunters, it was not until recently that one could find whitetail deer for sale. The practice of breeding and selling deer is not for most hunters, but many understand how genetic manipulation combined with other deer management techniques can be used to improve deer hunting on a piece of property.

Many states allow deer breeding and the sale of deer to other breeding facilities and private ranches for deer hunting. Most antler traits, such as number of points, mass, and tine length, are highly heritable and make the management of deer, whether penned or free-ranging, viable. Many ranches look to buy deer to jump start genetic improvement on their properties. Since research has shown that does are as important—or even more important—than bucks, you can see why quality does are an important part of any managed deer herd. I received this email:

“To Deer Hunting ranches: We have 19 adult doe out of Billy Martindales “Lumpy” (208 B&C) blood line that are bred to our buck “Bambi Saw Buck”. He is out of Robert Williams “Bambi” blood lines and scores 257 3/8’s at 4 years old. He was 240 at 3 years old. We are offering these deer to hunting ranches for $1,500 each and would be an excellent addition to your operation.

We can deliver to you. Attached is a flyer of “Saw Buck.” Best way to contact me is my cell number 903-340-XXXX. We are moving our breeding facility and must move these deer in the next sixty days. One or all 19. We also have limited semen from him at one straw $750, five straws for $3,000, or ten straws for $5,000. Collected by Champion Genetics in Canton, Texas.”

The state of Texas has become a hot spot for deer breeding in the past 15 years because of interest in producing big bucks. With that said, Texas had been rather slow in allowing captive breeding and the sale of of white-tailed deer compared to some states in the mid-West. In Texas, and deer “liberated” from a breeding facility is considered a wild deer and can not be recaptured.

Mule Deer Hunting in Texas

Every year thousands of hunters look to go mule deer hunting in Texas. And yes, Texas does have some really nice mule deer. Just check out the photos below from Gaines County! But do not confuse whitetail deer with mule deer. Mule deer differ from white-tailed deer in many ways, including their general behavior, food habits, population dynamics and habitat preferences. Properties that hold quality mule deer bucks must implement management practices specific to mule and, of course, regulate mule deer harvest.

Mule deer are one of the most valued game animals in the Trans-Pecos and Panhandle regions of Texas. Whether because of their limited distribution, relatively low numbers, or their unique appearance and behavior, most Texas landowners view mule deer as a very valuable resource. With that said, many hunters also value mule deer, especially Texas mule deer. Although many hunters head to Colorado or Wyoming mule deer hunting each, there is just something special about a home-grown mulie buck. Continue reading Mule Deer Hunting in Texas

Two Headed Deer Shot Near Del Rio, Texas

Each year hunters create some great deer hunting stories while chasing deer in the woods. Let’s face it, every deer hunter loves hearing about those really big bucks shot each season, but we also like hearing about those encounters of the one that got away. But what about those crazy stories that seem more like lore than truth? What about the story of the two headed deer shot in Texas? Yes, you read that right. It seems like the story about a two headed buck is burning up deer hunting forums around the country.

Two Headed Deer Shot Near Del Rio, Texas

But as amazing as the story may be, it is being reported that the story about the two headed deer is not real. And after looking at the photo—and not even that closely—it is easy to determine that, yes, this photo really is a fake. Although two headed animals have appeared in nature from time to time, the heads are always on the front end of the body. I’m not a photoshop pro at all, but the work done in this photo, or lack thereof, is horrible. Continue reading Two Headed Deer Shot Near Del Rio, Texas

Deer Hunting in Canada – Big Canadian Bucks!

Every hunters that chases white-tailed or mule deer dreams of one day taking a truly remarkable animal. Though each and every deer is special in it’s own way, there is a small percentage of bucks that develop and carry really, really big antlers! I’ve always wanted to go deer hunting in Canada, but have never had the chance. Not only do these Northern deer grow respectable sets of antlers, they also have some massive bodies! Check out these mule deer hunting story straight out of Canada:

“Saturday morning of deer hunting season – I saw a huge mule deer buck feeding out in field with three other bucks. Watched him for over one hour in my spotting scope and got some pictures through the Vortex. I knew from the first second I saw this buck that he was a true giant, even for Canada, but I never had him pinned at what he actually scored! I watched him bed down. I went in for the sneak through the standing flax and ended up getting within 43 yards, but when he stood up he walked straight away and I had no shot with the bow! Continue reading Deer Hunting in Canada – Big Canadian Bucks!

MLDP Property is Deer Hunting Sham?

White-tailed deer hunting is a big deal in Texas. In fact, deer hunting has also become a big business for some people. Guided deer hunts for both bucks and does have become the norm at ranches scattered across the state. The state of Texas works with landowners willing to improve the habitat and deer herd found on their property. The program is called the Managed Lands Deer Permit (MLDP) Program.

The MLDP Program is incentive based where landowners perform certain management practices and in turn received special MLDP permits. The number of permits issued is based on the proper number of deer that should be removed to keep the habitat and deer in good condition. This all seems well and good, but landowners collect and submit their own data, leaving room, for the lack of a better term, for “fudging.” After reading this comment, I think at least some of the guys out there are not all that worried about habitat management. Continue reading MLDP Property is Deer Hunting Sham?

Mountain Lion Kills Deer

I’ve spent a lot of time in the woods deer hunting and have never been fortunate enough to have seen a mountain lion. Now, it seems a lot of hunters have admitted to seeing lions–and the “alleged” black one too–but I am more than a bit skeptical when I hear most of these reports. Usually it is something along the lines of, “I saw something low and moving, and I couldn’t see what it was, so it had to be a mountain lion. It was big. It had to be a mountain lion.”

Case in point: It was back in 2009 that photos of a mountain lion dragging a buck it had killed surface. As it turns out, the photos were real and the buck was in fact killed by a lion on a South Texas ranch. So today I get an email from a guy with the exact same photo, but this time he claims the cat is in the Texas panhandle. Here you go Continue reading Mountain Lion Kills Deer