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Texas Panhandle Hunting 2023-2024
#8873457
06/25/23 10:44 PM
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Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 15
Gstevens4570
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 15 |
Hunted up in the Donley/Collingsworth county area for years but have never seen this much rain. Any of y'all been through this before and what was the outcome for deer habits?
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Re: Texas Panhandle Hunting 2023-2024
[Re: Gstevens4570]
#8873462
06/25/23 10:51 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 103
Yakblue
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 103 |
I hunt in northern hall county. Lot of rain in April and may. The deer I have on camera look in way better shape than they did this time last summer. Antlers look good too.
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Re: Texas Panhandle Hunting 2023-2024
[Re: Gstevens4570]
#8873478
06/25/23 11:10 PM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 24,470
dkershen
Rev Dave
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Rev Dave
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 24,470 |
Sssshhhh.. ain’t no deer in the panhandle.
To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.www.NewHopeEquine.com - Health and Healing through Horses.
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Re: Texas Panhandle Hunting 2023-2024
[Re: dkershen]
#8873616
06/26/23 11:16 AM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,276
kry226
The General
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The General
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,276 |
Sssshhhh.. ain’t no deer in the panhandle. ^^^^^^^^^^^ I'm also in Hall and have seen it like this a couple other times. Off the top of my head, I don't recall any significant changes in deer habits, except maybe a slight reduction in activity at feeders during the early part of the season. Heck, feeder activity is pretty sparse right now anyway. I'm also hoping the thick vegetation might help a few fawns get through early life that might otherwise fall prey to opportunistic critters. Haven't seen much for antlers (not many resident bucks on my place), but the does I've seen look very healthy. And as the old saying goes, "big rain, big antlers", so I'm hoping for better antler quality this year too. Good luck.
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Re: Texas Panhandle Hunting 2023-2024
[Re: kry226]
#8874574
06/27/23 11:18 PM
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Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 15
Gstevens4570
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 15 |
Sssshhhh.. ain’t no deer in the panhandle. ^^^^^^^^^^^ I'm also in Hall and have seen it like this a couple other times. Off the top of my head, I don't recall any significant changes in deer habits, except maybe a slight reduction in activity at feeders during the early part of the season. Heck, feeder activity is pretty sparse right now anyway. I'm also hoping the thick vegetation might help a few fawns get through early life that might otherwise fall prey to opportunistic critters. Haven't seen much for antlers (not many resident bucks on my place), but the does I've seen look very healthy. And as the old saying goes, "big rain, big antlers", so I'm hoping for better antler quality this year too. Good luck. Thanks! We have a handful of does frequenting the feeders everyday but as you said, pretty sparce. Hopefully all the good bucks won't be broken by 3rd weekend of November this year lol.
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Re: Texas Panhandle Hunting 2023-2024
[Re: Gstevens4570]
#8879391
07/08/23 04:21 AM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 454
TonyUSMC
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 454 |
Our place in shamrock has been horrible the last 3 yrs… Dry and the coyote population has taken its toll, last year they were way out of control but a helo hunt took a lot out. The last time we had close to this much rain I had a 140 grow to a 173. Hoping we have similar outcome this year but we lost a lot of deer to the long drought we had. We need 3 yrs of this rain to get back to what we had.
AIM SMALL MISS SMALL!
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Re: Texas Panhandle Hunting 2023-2024
[Re: TonyUSMC]
#8879608
07/08/23 08:01 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,444
onlysmith&wesson
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,444 |
Our place in shamrock has been horrible the last 3 yrs… Dry and the coyote population has taken its toll, last year they were way out of control but a helo hunt took a lot out. The last time we had close to this much rain I had a 140 grow to a 173. Hoping we have similar outcome this year but we lost a lot of deer to the long drought we had. We need 3 yrs of this rain to get back to what we had. We saw a serious decline in over all rack size on our Briscoe County place this last season. Hopefully some of those 130"+ mature bucks I saw last season will be 150"+.
An unethical shot is one you take, that you know you shouldn't.
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Re: Texas Panhandle Hunting 2023-2024
[Re: onlysmith&wesson]
#8880567
07/10/23 09:41 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 454
TonyUSMC
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 454 |
Unfortunately we saw the same and lost maybe 30% of our herd. We usually have 1-3 150’s but in the last three years we’ve had 1. God willing the ranch will turn around with the much needed rain.
AIM SMALL MISS SMALL!
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Re: Texas Panhandle Hunting 2023-2024
[Re: TonyUSMC]
#8880608
07/10/23 10:32 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,444
onlysmith&wesson
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,444 |
Unfortunately we saw the same and lost maybe 30% of our herd. We usually have 1-3 150’s but in the last three years we’ve had 1. God willing the ranch will turn around with the much needed rain. I wouldn't say we lost herd #'s much at all, if any. There was always water to drink, just very poor browse conditions. Definitely hurt rack development.
An unethical shot is one you take, that you know you shouldn't.
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Re: Texas Panhandle Hunting 2023-2024
[Re: Gstevens4570]
#8881073
07/11/23 09:06 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,120
Flashprism
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,120 |
I'm in Dickens county. Last year was a total mess!!! No rain all last year until end of August then 5" and another 5" first week of September. Place went from a from a desert to a jungle. No fawns sited all hunting season and almost no deer came to feeders. I saw only one shooter out of range!
The 10 inches in late summer 2022 kept forage through March 2023 when the the rains started. We have received regular rain fall all spring till now and we are 20% above the 10 year average at 17". I'm at my place now mowing and resetting blinds blown over due tp recent storms and tornados in the area..
I'm very optimistic as the place is greener than ever!!!! I'm hearing many quail .calling all over my place. I'm sure with low fawn survival last year we will be down in numbers how ever with the extremely thick cover and excellent forage we should have a banner year in fawn survival. .
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Re: Texas Panhandle Hunting 2023-2024
[Re: Gstevens4570]
#8881075
07/11/23 09:08 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,120
Flashprism
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,120 |
I'm in Dickens county. Last year was a total mess!!! No rain all last year until end of August then 5" and another 5" first week of September. Place went from a from a desert to a jungle. No fawns sited all hunting season and almost no deer came to feeders. I saw only one shooter out of range!
The 10 inches in late summer 2022 kept forage through March 2023 when the the rains started. We have received regular rain fall all spring till now and we are 20% above the 10 year average at 17". I'm at my place now mowing and resetting blinds blown over due tp recent storms and tornados in the area..
I'm very optimistic as the place is greener than ever!!!! I'm hearing many quail .calling all over my place. I'm sure with low fawn survival last year we will be down in numbers how ever with the extremely thick cover and excellent forage we should have a banner year in fawn survival. .
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Re: Texas Panhandle Hunting 2023-2024
[Re: Flashprism]
#8886802
07/22/23 12:52 AM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 454
TonyUSMC
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 454 |
I agree 100% with the fawns!!!
AIM SMALL MISS SMALL!
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Re: Texas Panhandle Hunting 2023-2024
[Re: TonyUSMC]
#8888828
07/25/23 09:58 PM
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Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 15
Gstevens4570
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 15 |
Old lease was in Armstrong County. First year on the lease south of Shamrock is this year so I guess we'll see. I know there are good bucks in the area as the salt fork runs through our lease but have not caught any on feeder cameras. Plenty of healthy does and fawns though.
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Re: Texas Panhandle Hunting 2023-2024
[Re: Flashprism]
#8888837
07/25/23 10:07 PM
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Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 15
Gstevens4570
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 15 |
I'm in Dickens county. Last year was a total mess!!! No rain all last year until end of August then 5" and another 5" first week of September. Place went from a from a desert to a jungle. No fawns sited all hunting season and almost no deer came to feeders. I saw only one shooter out of range!
The 10 inches in late summer 2022 kept forage through March 2023 when the the rains started. We have received regular rain fall all spring till now and we are 20% above the 10 year average at 17". I'm at my place now mowing and resetting blinds blown over due tp recent storms and tornados in the area..
I'm very optimistic as the place is greener than ever!!!! I'm hearing many quail .calling all over my place. I'm sure with low fawn survival last year we will be down in numbers how ever with the extremely thick cover and excellent forage we should have a banner year in fawn survival. .
My wife could not believe how green it was when we were up there in June. This is our first year on this property (also near Shamrock). I have tons of healthy does and and a handful of fawns that are frequenting the feeders, which is good, but only one or two small 90"-110" bucks passing through. I know the area grows big'uns so we will see.
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Re: Texas Panhandle Hunting 2023-2024
[Re: Gstevens4570]
#8889047
07/26/23 10:57 AM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,276
kry226
The General
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The General
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,276 |
My wife could not believe how green it was when we were up there in June. This is our first year on this property (also near Shamrock). I have tons of healthy does and and a handful of fawns that are frequenting the feeders, which is good, but only one or two small 90"-110" bucks passing through. I know the area grows big'uns so we will see. That's generally what I see every year. My place is mostly a doe sink, with a few resident younger bucks. Then in October, there they are. They show up for a few days, check things out, then disappear for a few weeks until the first of November. Don't get discouraged if you don't see too much right now.
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Re: Texas Panhandle Hunting 2023-2024
[Re: Gstevens4570]
#8889052
07/26/23 11:05 AM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,444
onlysmith&wesson
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,444 |
Headed up this weekend, been two months since I was last on our Briscoe County place. Expecting the river bottom to be overgrown, prolly spend most of the day trimming some shooting lanes. An early October freeze would be too much to hope for.
An unethical shot is one you take, that you know you shouldn't.
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Re: Texas Panhandle Hunting 2023-2024
[Re: Gstevens4570]
#8899116
08/11/23 01:20 AM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 454
TonyUSMC
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 454 |
Heading to the lease at the end of the month to fill feeders and set up cameras. Anyone seen any good growth on their bucks from last year?
AIM SMALL MISS SMALL!
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Re: Texas Panhandle Hunting 2023-2024
[Re: TonyUSMC]
#8900059
08/12/23 09:57 PM
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Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 15
Gstevens4570
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 15 |
Heading to the lease at the end of the month to fill feeders and set up cameras. Anyone seen any good growth on their bucks from last year? I don't have history at the new place but several ranchers and friends that are up there have told me there has been good growth with all the rain.
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Re: Texas Panhandle Hunting 2023-2024
[Re: Gstevens4570]
#8901759
08/15/23 11:51 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 454
TonyUSMC
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 454 |
That’s great! We dried up on rain a little hope we get some more!
AIM SMALL MISS SMALL!
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Re: Texas Panhandle Hunting 2023-2024
[Re: TonyUSMC]
#8912945
09/07/23 01:27 AM
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Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 15
Gstevens4570
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 15 |
That’s great! We dried up on rain a little hope we get some more! We just got back last week. Ours was dry as a bone. There is at least more water in the salt fork than usual. Ton's of does on the cameras but the buck's are staying hidden.
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