We have our ranch located in southern Atascosa County in Texas. We have had very little rain this year and we are not feeding anything (too expensive for corn/pellets and too expensive to drive out there.) The grass is like straw and there are no weeds. Just a bunch of wilted leaves on the brush in the "low" spots of our place. The only thing green is the mesquite and cactus. Will the deer survive the hotter summer months of June/July and August? They will have water in our larger stock tanks throughout the rest of this year. I suppose they will eat the twigs and cactus. I am assuming that the antlers will be way below par come hunting season.

I think a biologist can fill you in on what could happen if the drought continues. I don't know myself but would expect disease could play a part. In the 1970's we had a drought and wild blue flowers bloomed and the deer fed on them and caused deer to catch a disease...best that I remember. We lost many deer during those years. For me, I can't afford to feed very many deer with my bank account. I still feed my area with two feeders and water. Getting many guests.

That's what I'm afraid of. I would be spending alot of $$ to feed racoons, rabbits, birds, etc. Throwing corn and feeding deer pellets attracts EVERYONE in our animal kingdom and not just deer.

At some point, you have to quit worrying about it and let nature take its course. Don't stop praying for rain though! I've worried so much about the pasture that I've given up. I got to that same point regarding Oak Wilt in the central Hill Country. You can throw a bunch of money at it, but, in the end, the Wilt wins. I keep a couple of corn feeders going and feed protein once a month, but it's gone in just a few days.

And things are so bad, the coons and deer are triggering the triggers on my pig traps, including diesel-soaked corn, before the pigs can get to it at night. I'm close to the quitin' stage on that too for a while. I do have coon traps set tonight though.

I've seen pictures from the 7-year drought in the '50s. It ain't pretty.

Deer have been surviving the heat and the cold for millions of years. Why would you think they would not be able to adapt and survive in their natural habitat? Corn and protein are not natural food for them in the first place.

^^^^These are basically my thoughts as well.

That's why you should have multiple traps out and carry your 22
when you check them.

I’ll second the they are tuff critters and are use to dealing with the climate. That said I’m sure weights and inches will be down and some or many will die.

The deer have been a little standoffish of the house since we built it, but the past few days I’ve had them within arms reach of the house eating from what is growing here I have been watering. They ate all the leaves off two but oaks I planted too.

Call your regional TPW office and speak to the biologist that covers your area. They will be able to answer your questions and give you great advise. The TPW biologist in my area came out to my property and walked it with me pointing out a number of forbes and preferred deer browse. She made suggestions on habitat improvement and assisted me with getting a grant to convert my wheat field into native grasses. That field is now a year round magnet for deer and other wildlife.

The deer will go the neighbors place and eat their feed.

The Mesquite and cactus will help them to survive, although not very nutritional. Often there are weeds growing that we don't pay attention to that they will seek out and feed on.

I spent over an hour on the phone this morning with our new biologist regarding the ranch we are closing on at the end of this month. She compared this drought to the episode of 2011 that lasted almost 18 months. She has seen very few fawns and typically they should be showing by now.Her first priority was/is get your numbers in line with what the habitat can support. Right now mother nature is punishing the fauna and there is little forbs or weeds for the deer to eat. Fawn recruitment will be low this year so it would be a good time to get the extra mouths off the pasture so when the drought does break the other animal units can come back stronger and faster. Nature can be cruel and this its way of resetting itself whether we like it or not!

Yup
They are hungry for sure. Saw two yesterday evening about 3/4 mile apart on a county road before sundown and that never happens by us this time of year!

The bottom line is that if the drought continues, the old, weak, and sick will die horrible deaths and make the herd that is left that much stronger.

I have two protein feeders, and 3 corn feeders on my place. I have the corn feeders turned down, but they are really using the protein feeders. Usually average about 200 lbs a month, the past 3 months, it has jumped up to about 600 lbs a month.

Do what we used to do in a drought when I was a youth for the goats. Cut lower limbs off the oaks and other trees that goats and deer eat the leaves. Amazing how it worked and improved the pasture.

I've heard stories of deer coming to the sound of a chainsaw.

When we had our biologist out he showed us the things they look for to determine deer populations. One was how hard the Hackberry bushes are getting hit as they are a staple in the deer's diet. Eventually, the plant stops growing vegetation within the deer's reach and takes on more of tree shape.

Pretty good crop of mesquite beans here.

That's a great idea that also reduces clutter so you can see better once the season rolls around.

I read where they produce more in a drought.

I've read the same.

To be honest probably too many mouths in the pasture.


Still, I am continuing to feed them.

I will be shooting my limit of does come opening day of bow season however

Yup...same here but they don't seem too interested in those. I still have plenty of brush and briars for them to eat. Cut down a mesquite loaded with mistletoe and they ate every speck of the mistletoe. I hand feed corn and protein every evening and they are there waiting for me..... eat every kernel before anything else gets a chance.

I too will be knocking down does come Oct. 1 (if that's the day MLD starts). One in the morning, one in the evening. Axis does have showed back up at the feeder, which means the grass is gone again. Pray. For. Rain.

I was out at our ranch in Southern Atascosa County and the mesquite beans are plentiful. Dug out the dried up pond and are now waiting for rain.