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when would you take a week off during deer season #5819985 07/06/15 08:13 PM
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I'm planning to take a week off for an extended hunt at the lease this season for the first time. I'm super pumped at the thought of this opportunity.

My question is when do you think is the best time to do this? I hunt in Archer county, but this is my first season on this lease, so I don't know exactly when would be the best time to plan the hunt. My options would be Nov. 7 - 15, the 14th - 22nd, or the 18th - 24th (that's counting the weekends). Thanksgiving weekend isn't possible due to family obligations, and I doubt it would be wise to plan this in December. TPWD's study says the peak of the rut in the northern Cross Timbers region is Nov. 15th, but it seems like a lot of folks say that its closer to Thanksgiving. The full moon is Nov. 25th and the new moon is the 11th. All things considered I'm leaning towards taking off the week of the 16th - 20th, giving me 9 days (14th - 22nd) at the lease. That coincides with TPWD's rut date, and would have me hunting under a waxing moon. When do y'all think would be the best time to do this? Thanks, fellas.

Re: when would you take a week off during deer season [Re: rattler03] #5820120 07/06/15 09:52 PM
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Rattler, I hunt SW Young county, same general region and I'd hunt that timeframe you're proposing, 14th-22nd...Usually by Thanksgiving it's all but done out that way..2nd-3rd week is pretty peak from my 8 years of hunting out that way. Good luck to you.

Re: when would you take a week off during deer season [Re: rattler03] #5820359 07/07/15 12:28 AM
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While the rut is the best time to hunt, I just enjoy it much more when the weather is cooler throughout the day. When the daytime highs are in the upper 50's, that's when I enjoy taking time off most.


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Re: when would you take a week off during deer season [Re: Texas Dan] #5820386 07/07/15 12:41 AM
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Originally Posted By: Texas Dan
While the rut is the best time to hunt, I just enjoy it much more when the weather is cooler throughout the day. When the daytime highs are in the upper 50's, that's when I enjoy taking time off most.


Yup. I hunt every weekend of deer season. But I take the whole week of Thanksgiving and entire week between Christmas and New Years to spend at the ranch.


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Re: when would you take a week off during deer season [Re: rattler03] #5820449 07/07/15 01:08 AM
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I prefer a few days just priour to the actual rut. Bucks are moving and not locked down on the does.


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Re: when would you take a week off during deer season [Re: rattler03] #5820484 07/07/15 01:20 AM
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Thanksgiving.

Re: when would you take a week off during deer season [Re: rattler03] #5820497 07/07/15 01:25 AM
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My ranch is in Val Verde County. Rut starts around the first week in December. I usually have a doe in the freezer by then. Time to look for "Mr. Big".


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Re: when would you take a week off during deer season [Re: rattler03] #5820505 07/07/15 01:28 AM
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I also prefer just prior to the main rut. Where I hunt in Eastland County that is often the last week of bow season or first week of gun season. All my biggest bucks in 12 years of hunting that place the biggest bucks are taken those 2 weeks, with some good ones seen the last week of season when they seem to hit the feeders hard for what ever reason.

In Northeast Callahan county it is right around Thanksgiving when the rut seems to hit hardest


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Re: when would you take a week off during deer season [Re: rattler03] #5820621 07/07/15 02:19 AM
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thanks guys, so those of you that hunt that area - when do you think the peak of the rut actually is?

Re: when would you take a week off during deer season [Re: stxranchman] #5820638 07/07/15 02:29 AM
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Originally Posted By: stxranchman
I prefer a few days just priour to the actual rut. Bucks are moving and not locked down on the does.

This. 100%!!!

Re: when would you take a week off during deer season [Re: 2012hvt] #5820648 07/07/15 02:34 AM
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Originally Posted By: 2012hvt
Originally Posted By: stxranchman
I prefer a few days just priour to the actual rut. Bucks are moving and not locked down on the does.

This. 100%!!!


Yeah, that's what I'm thinking, too. TPWD says that's the 15th, but I'd like to get a few opinions from those with experience hunting the area as that seems to be a bit earlier than I've heard folks say.

Re: when would you take a week off during deer season [Re: rattler03] #5820658 07/07/15 02:39 AM
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Nov. 9th - 20th should be really good activity. Usually that 2nd week through 3rd week is high activity. Weather can dictate that a bit earlier or later based on colder earlier or later.

Re: when would you take a week off during deer season [Re: DQ Kid] #5820686 07/07/15 02:58 AM
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Originally Posted By: DQ Kid
Nov. 9th - 20th should be really good activity. Usually that 2nd week through 3rd week is high activity. Weather can dictate that a bit earlier or later based on colder earlier or later.


Thanks, DQ Kid, I appreciate your advice.

Re: when would you take a week off during deer season [Re: rattler03] #5820800 07/07/15 05:08 AM
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Originally Posted By: rattler03
thanks guys, so those of you that hunt that area - when do you think the peak of the rut actually is?
Peak time is probably going to be during the full moon, near Thanksgiving. That does not bode well for hunting, however. I'd Take the first week of the season, hands down. Bucks are active and cruising. Rattling works well at this time, plus they haven't been shot at for the last nine months. Full moon hunting sucks, usually, unless you hunt more mid-day. If I were you I'd be out there opening weekend and hunt hard for a week. It works for me.


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Re: when would you take a week off during deer season [Re: rattler03] #5820803 07/07/15 05:13 AM
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Every day after opening morning your chances of getting a big buck go down exponentially. Think about it. When are the deer the least pressured? Right before opening morning. Archer county's rut starts early, you need to be out there early. 2cents

Last edited by Erathkid; 07/07/15 05:14 AM.

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Re: when would you take a week off during deer season [Re: Erathkid] #5821092 07/07/15 02:42 PM
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Originally Posted By: Erathkid
Every day after opening morning your chances of getting a big buck go down exponentially. Think about it. When are the deer the least pressured? Right before opening morning. Archer county's rut starts early, you need to be out there early. 2cents


This is what I'm thinking now. TPWD says the peak rut in the 15th, I looked over their other dates for the areas I've hunted before and they are pretty darn accurate, so I'd expect this to be reliable information. The full moon is the 25th. Also, the first week following the opener coincides with the darkest moon phase, which combined with it being the week leading up to peak rut should create really good hunting. The lack of hunting pressure leading up to that week will help, too. I'm leaning toward taking that week after opening weekend off as I think it will be my best chance to see a lot bucks and hopefully score on a mature animal. This thread is getting me fire up ... is it November yet? Thanks guys!

Last edited by rattler03; 07/07/15 02:43 PM.
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