Greetings all, I'll try to keep this short. And for the inevitable trolls who seem to abound everywhere these days: I admit to my ignorance. But, as Will Rogers said: We're all ignorant on different subjects. I'm 67 and didn't get into hunting til I was 55. But have been studying and learning hard since that time. I regret all the years I could have spent sweating and freezing in the blind. Lol. Was a serious Coastal wade fisherman and didn't want to "waste my time" hunting when I had a freezer full of Redfish, trout, and flounder. The first feral hog I took with my buddy, who had tried unsuccessfully for two years to get me hunting, I said: There are groceries running around out here! Hooked for life.

Have a small ranch north of Lampasas. About a mile, more or less, from Lampasas River. Low fences all around. Nice bucks and only a few doe coming in around August/September. Now, only a few bucks, hardly any doe. And mostly nocturnal. I suppose the drought had an adverse effect on the population. When we bought the place way back in 2011 we had a pretty vicious drought raging, but I had so many deer it was amazing. This summer we put water out constantly. My cellular camera showed not one deer drinking from the trough. There is a tank with water adjacent to the property that is still holding a little water. That tank was empty for many months, which is why we put water out there. Also put out Mummes's corn, minerals, and a mix of protein and corn in a gravity feeder. We have a mix of Red Oak, Live Oak, Cedar Elm, and, of course, Cedar. The rains have returned (had about 6.5 inches altogether in Sept.) somewhat, so I've been thinking that they are hammering available greens (there is a big alfalfa--I suppose--field across the road. From what I've seen in the neighborhood in Austin, lots of acorns in spite of the drought. So, my thinking is they are hammering those, as well. Yesterday morning, as I was driving with my grandson out to the ranch for opening Special Youth season, I noted, for the first time ever, not one deer on the side of the road staring, and no roadkill, either. Usually, 281 out of Lampasas is fairly carpeted with the picked-over carcasses of deer.

So, I realize this cannot possibly 'cover the waterfront', since there are too many variables, including predation, car kills, etc. Appreciate the input of the much wiser folk. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

When we hunted in Lampasas county the deer would hit the feed hard during dry years, we had a 300 lb protein feeder they would empty within a week.
Once it started raining with greens coming up and acorns falling it would slow way down.
I have the kids in Leon county this weekend and the oaks are loaded with acorns we are seeing deer but not a bunch.
2 small bucks were running does like crazy yesterday.
I have a place in Coleman county, all mesquite trees, the deer are hammering the feeders out there.
Good luck, and good job getting the kids out hunting.

You are dealing with my same issue!!!
With the heavy rains in Sept natural forage is abundant compounded with acorns your offerings are less then desirable. Acorns must be consumed and a frost to kill high protein natural food. Patience is the word!!!

Acorns falling right now in East Texas and the river bottoms are still dry. So hardly any sign of deer or hogs at my feeders. I'm guessing the season will be slow until the acorns are gone or the does are in heat. But since I haven't seen any does either, it might just be a slow year overall.

Acorns on the ground now and the bucks have been grouped together until this past week in our area. Is the reason we were seeing more deer and the same for not seeing them now. The doe we saw at feeders were run off by the bucks. Now we are seeing the doe at the feeder and not so much the bucks.

thanks

Called hunting.