are the deer in mills co trying to start the rut? just curious seeing less deer on my camera any help will be appreciated

Rain and/or mast crops

Not impossible but would be on the rather early side by 1-2 weeks. The acorns have started dropping in NW TX, that is more likely some of it if you have Oaks around.

Most deer on Mast Crop in my area. But just in the last few days I have seen a definite increase in Bucks moving. Have video on most cameras of them 'checking' each Doe they come across. So...Pre-Rut action is starting here.

And although we call the event 'Bucks Rutting' it is actually the DOE'S that determine the rut (when the majority start to come into Estrous).

The bucks are 'ready' as soon as they have a hardened antler (or roughly mid September most places).

For me in the past years, the last week of Oct. has been the best bowhunting for new bucks or bucks roaming. I have killed several of my archery bucks on Oct. 31. It did not make a difference where I hunted....South Texas, Central Texas or the Hill Country...I always hunted as much as I could the day of or prior to or after Oct. 31. Movement seemed to ramp up as the day length was shortening, temps were cooling down and bucks were roaming their or in search of new territory. My new place has zero acorns this year and was very dry from early July till late Sept. We then had 7.5" of rain followed by another 1.4" of rain 12 days later. We are as green as it can get for this time of the year, looks like spring. But, the deer are hitting the feed pens in higher numbers than I would have expected. I have only seen 1 new buck on cams over the last month now. He is mature and now daily at one feed pen. Other regular bucks have left or moved into new territories. That is very common IME for this time of the year.
This was a few days ago on Sunday morning when I looking for another doe to shoot. There was great deer movement from the time I got into the blind till I shot a doe at 9:30. I think I was up to 16 bucks and 12 does/fawns. Lot of snort wheezes and buck posturing, along with one short fight that broke out. Attitudes are changing daily between all the deer.

thanks THF members very helpful

Man look at those bucks

I’m in northern Mills. We’ve been rifle hunting since 10/2 (MLD) we’ve killed several bucks including a nice one last night. No signs of rut here. Haven’t even seen a buck check a doe. None of the bucks we’ve killed had staining on their tarsal glands.

Buck from yesterday evening.

Nice deer, congrats

so im guessing they went to another food source for now. acorns may be dropping. lots of food to eat right now. someone told they thought the rut started around the middle to the end of October. great looking buck congrats.

Evening?

You don't really mean at "night".....right?

Yeah, meant evening as stated under his pic.

Im no expert but its just that time for bucks to change patterns. They are ready to rut and just waiting on does. They no longer want to tolerate other bucks at a feeder and its time to start roaming anyway. They will separate into their own territories. Some are established due to dominance and others are roaming looking for a spot to set up shop. Yearlings have dispersed for miles. Scrapes and rubs need to be made for various rut related reasons and that takes time away from their usual feeder stomping grounds. Depending on the timing of rut in a particular area, the bucks are starting to go into prerut which means they arent really interested in eating much anymore. They are still around but maybe not so much at a feeder(camera.) Personally I last pulled camera cards on 11 feeders on Oct 12 and lots of bucks were still at feeders and at the same time. I could tell in the pics they were posturing and starting to get a little tired of the social interaction. Im pulling cards again today and tomorrow and I fully expect much less activity at feeders by bucks. If so, its just cause they are on the move doing their prerut thing. They are still around. Thats all in my humble opinion and I stand to be corrected by STx at any time.

Thanks freerange for the input looking forward to opening weekend

They're still friends at my feeder SE of Goldthwaite but there has been sparring from my two largest bucks-according to the camera it lasted nearly 2 minutes. Yesterday's pasture trip noted a lot of fresh rubs. I did jump a mature buck and doe on another part of the ranch. The buck had the choice to go left and keep cover between us, but he madly followed the doe which put him in harm's way (I passed for now). They were paired up in a draw and were the only two deer there. There had to be something going on.

It won't be long. Typical peak in Mills is around Nov 14th.

Northern Mills here. Some recent observations and history. I saw some chasing earlier in the month with the colder weather. One of my cameras read low 30's a few nights. Bucks are starting to swell/bulk a lot. 10/10 I saw a buck and doe locked. She ran and he was hot on her tail. That being said, I have seen breeding parties of 7+ bucks and the mature one holding everyone off in mid October in Mills. Not the peak, but likely one of the early/first to cycle. The peak on my place has always been 1st & 2nd week of November. Halloween is a very good time to be out also. We have a very pronounced & strong rut. But our area has a lot of does. It does drag on somewhat but you can tell when it is mostly over. As for staining, it is a gradual thing. The longer they scrape and rut, the darker their hocks will get. Mature bucks will have some scalding. Our shin oak, red oak, and live oak have very few acorns this year. We did have some recent rain, so some fresh growth under the grass has happened. Plus, local oat patches have popped. The deer are in a transition period for sure.

thanks guys. i think im just getting antsy. my lease is a good ways from where i live seeing deer on camera just nothing worth bragging about. but the big ones will move come time for the rut i hope

Tbgascorer, that appears to be some pretty good info. If you know your stuff we could use your input more often since you don’t seem to post often.

Sounds good, I will try to post up some more.

Buck activity has ramped up in Tyler county. Seen some decent ones and some dinks. One ol' boy's neck I caught on cam was getting a little swollen.

One of the bucks that has been staying in my middle pasture showed up the last two days 1000yds sw of his usual haunts. But everybody is still somewhat friendly. This cold morning (46) and the rain may help kick start things. I did watch two different groups of does yesterday. I didn't look at the trees to see how much, but both groups were working the typical Acorn areas, going from oak mot to oak mot and spending time under each one.

thanks quitshootingyoungbucks i was told that usually try to start rutting in mills from the second or third week in october i know weather plays a factor in it also. 8 days and counting til rifle season

quitshootingyoungbucks Where is your place located in Mills county?

I hunt just south of Goldthwaite and I still have bucks in bachelor groups. Still seeing a ton of hogs and the acorn crop at my place are just now starting to drop. The deer are killing the oates that are starting to come up. Should be a good season if the weather cooperates.