I have owned a ranch near Del Rio for 20 years. Almost without exception, the rut has occurred on or about the first week in December.
Fast forward to 2018, first of December, no joy! Game cams show bucks and does feeding together with no romance evident.
Yesterday, same thing with bachelor bucks still together and both sexes feeding at same time.
The cameras indicate that the deer are feeding nocturnally with a strong feeding cycle in the early afternoon.......
So........I climb in my blind at 3:00 P.M. yesterday to see what happens!
At 3:30, this guy steps out at 25 yards moving right to left, just like a carnival shooting gallery.
My scope is set at 10 power with no time to adjust and the buck is moving pretty fast.

I christened my new Mossberg Patriot .270, shooting 20 year old Federal 130 gr. soft points.
I heard the bullet strike, the deer hunched up and took off. Followed a good blood trail to where he piled up after a 70 yard run.

I estimate 3-1/2 years old, typical hill country whitetail with very balanced 8 point rack.
Balance of season will be spent videotaping...

Lol, congrats! Your story made me laugh.

Congrats! Nice Buck!!!

I have a Ranch in Carta Valley NE of Del Rio. Rut there is winding down. Been going on since 2nd week of the season. Bucks starting to feed heavy again. Going for the last hurrah Christmas week.

Nice buck. Good story.

Red

Plainview, my ranch is West of yours, off 277, about 14 miles. Grandson indicates that a young 10 point we have watched all season is now a 9 point, so some fighting must be going on.
Dang if I saw any!

Not much chasing or fighting going on in the daylight. Been too warm with clear weather. I also think there are more does this year with all the rains, so not much competition. I know they chasing because there is no fat left on the Bucks we have harvested.