Just got on a lease near Capps Corner as well. Saw one good buck this past week for a couple of seconds but couldn't tell for sure what he was. Has anyone stayed at the hotels in Nocona? We don't have lodging set up yet and wanted a place nearby.

TCB- The Veranda Inn is really nice in comparison to the other little motor lodge right down the road from it in Nocona, reasonable price as well. I have stayed there a few nights over the past few seasons. Good luck

Went there Sunday/Monday to fill feeders and mow pens. We noticed there are hardly any acorns. Grasshoppers are thick. Could be a good year for watching a feeder...

Checked cards this weekend. My dad started feeding Record Rack 3 weeks ago and he has probably 40% more deer visiting his feeder than mine and for longer duration. Maybe it's just because it's something new but the the difference is obvious. Freaking $14 for a 40lb bag.

Nice buck! Yeah Record Rack is good stuff but you're right, it's expensive. We feed regular 16% or 20% (depending on time of year) GamePro protein and it works great, it might be $1 less than Record Rack. The deer love the protein, especially if you top it off with C'mere Deer Corn Coat. During the Texas summer, there isn't much vegetation for them to get their nutrients and the protein helps the need.

I'll be checking cameras again Saturday morning.

Capps Corner is a great area for deer. Only acorns we've heard about in that area are the Bigelows and they are loaded but small.
Had a relative that sold her place just east of their last year. She had some good deer on her place so they are around.
Family place to the east might have some lodging available during the deer season and it would be closer than Nocona.
RedRiverBreaks.com has 2 houses for lodging , might be able to help you.

Most of the oaks in Montague are Post Oaks. They can produce tons of acorns as they have in the past few years.

I looked at my oaks a week ago South of Bowie. Not many acorns on most trees.

Corn should be a bigger player this year with no acorns like in the past. We were able to mow the feed pens with a regular mower. Didn't even have to mow at camp. Could use some more moisture.

I think food plots will be out of the question for me this year. Only had 2 inches of rain in the last month. Very little before that. None on the horizon for quite a while. Without subsoil moisture it will be a waste of time and $.

Just checked my pics from the past few weeks. Deer are coming in on regular basis but they looking a little thin. Fields are pretty green but I didn't notice a ton of acorns. Pigs are still coming in but the hog panels are working well.

P.S. Saint Jo just added a new BBQ place called Red River Station BBQ that is pretty good. It's right behind the Lazy Heart Restaurant (isn't very good).

This is my best buck. Might be a good bow buck.

Looks good. Nothing good yet on our wireless cam except a big 6. Haven't checked others. And no acorns either near Nocona.

Why did you put that top wire up? We have 4 fenced feeders and cow has never gotten in there. I would be worried about a deer getting a leg in it.

Good question! It's only high in that one place that you see in that picture. I tied the middle of the top strand down in a couple areas to the hog panels so it's a little lower. In the past, we didn't have the top strand and with the protein in the feeder and rice bran on the ground, the cattle will bend and destroy the panels to get in. The deer don't have any issues jumping the fence, I even have fawns in there. Younger fawns can't get in but they eat the corn on the outside.

How many pounds of protein do you go through in a month? How many protein feeders? We have never fed it. Just run corn feeders August to Feb and few hog ones year round.

We've had two protein feeders running year round along with corn for 5-7 years now. The results have been dramatic with regards to growth and consistent traffic. The deer start hitting it hard May through October. Once the rut hits, the protein feeding slows down. During the winter, they are seeking corn more.

I have a 1,000 lb protein feeder and during the summer, 20 bags will last one month (~$12 per 50 lb. bag). During the winter months, I'll fill it up and it'll last 3 months or so. Right now with the gravity bottom feeder, they can eat all night long. I think I am going to buy the Hammer Protein feeder timer so I can regulate the feeding and cost more.

Protein has not only improved the buck growth but when we take doe's for meat, they are heavy and thick.

It's expensive, don't get me wrong but the results make it difficult to stop feeding. Once you start, it hard to stop when you see the activity slow down.

Nice looking buck! And also for the info on the BBQ place, will definitely have to hit that place up on the way out this weekend.

Going up this weekend to top off feeders and clear cameras. Will post if anything good has come in.

The big boys have finally started arriving! Getting excited now.

Thanks for the info. Just running one protein feeder would cost more than my lease fee... But might be worth it someday.

Was up this weekend to check out pics, man it was wet. Had to string up wire around my feeders because land owner is putting cattle on the place in the next month. Anyways I have pretty decent activity on camera. Most are 3 y/o but I have one mature cull deer, looks like a reindeer on 1 side and typical 5 points on the other. Will try to get pics up tonight - so odd. I know it is genetics and not an injury, as there was a two year old with the same horn configuration. Hopefully he'll give me a shot this weekend.

Also need to kill about 20 pigs and they're cleaning out the feeders. Ughhh.

I hunt montague and the hogs have been terrible on my feeder. The deer will hit the protein, but they don't get a chance on the corn with all the hogs.

How are the deer moving in your area? I will be in the tree this weekend. Deer should be moving with the cold front moving in.

Also, apparently Saint Jo has added the following food options: The Burrito Shop, Red River Station BBQ, and a new Hamburger place.

I saw that BBQ last week but too tired to stop. Will have to try it next weekend. In terms of the deer, I saw one small buck (6 point) in the morning hunt. Before I left I checked the other site's camera and what would you expect. A lot more activity than where I was at, I could have arrowed at least a doe. Well will try again hopefully this coming up weekend.