I am not a guru or expert by any stretch on WT deer, but 2011/2012 drought has had a major effect on our deer. We are seeing the effects more than ever this season. Our biologist warned me this was coming, I never really thought much about it. Now as I am spending alot of time hunting and not seeing mature deer, it hits home. Unless you had supplemental food and water programs during the drought, you are missing a whole age class(5.5) and a low 4.5 age class of deer. We all have heard with the timely rains over the last two years, we should see exceptional antler growth this year. I believe this is true, but exceptional for their age. I believe you will see some good deer killed, that are 3.5 that have matched what an average 4.5 usually grows. Yes there will be some 6 and 7 year olds killed and very, very few 4 and 5 year olds. Now what I am seeing, is the 2.5 and especially the 1.5 deer numbers exploded, and on track for a high survival rate this year, with some doe sporting triplets, and most with twins. The future looks bright from my deer stand.

This has been my experience in Archer county and 2 years ago in Stephens county, also. The amount of animals from the age classes of deer born in 2010-2012 is abnormally low. it makes sense as that was a very severe, extended drought across almost the entire state. 2013 was better, but I don't think we really recovered to normal range conditions until last summer after the big rains of May and June 2015 that caused some serious flooding in more than a few areas. I talked to a local in Archer City last summer, and he said that from the middle of May through the end of July in 2015 he received over 35" of rain and that was more than he received in 2011 and 2012 combined. Above average rainfall has continued since then, too, just not to that level.

Now the vegetation looks better than I've seen it in a long time thanks to 2 consecutive years of well above average rainfall. The deer are extremely healthy, and I think that will carry over to good antlers for the next several years. Once a buck's body fully matures he can then devote more nutrients to his antlers, even with average rainfall the next few years I think we'll still see above antlers because all the 2.5 and 3.5 year old bucks have a big head start on development and are very healthy. They should be able to put more nutrients into their headgear earlier than they normally would. The next few years look very promising.

This year I have seen the fewest 3.5 year old or older bucks than I have seen in at least 10 years. Knew it was coming.

Us too in NE Webb County, and we manage intensively. Fawn crops and recruitment during those worst drought years was dismal for us.