A dumb family of deer and a smart family living close together; happens with humans also.

It's 30k acres, we hunt one side of the river that's 17k. There's one ranch hand that works the whole place other than seasonal works 2x per year that last 4-5 days. A lot of the sections can go months without any human intervention at all. When I say pressure, it's pressure in general from human activity. The deer, especially the mature bucks that we NEVER see other than the rut, seem to be most sensitive to noise. They are just not accustomed to human scents, noise or sightings of vehicles. We see hogs from a Ranger, they're hauling [censored], deer the same way with exception to the mule deer does. My approach to my hunting set ups, the last mile is most often on foot. When I take my very quiet daily driver truck over my Ranger, I see a greater amount of deer once set up every time.
I've hunted North East Texas (Red River County), the Hill Country, Young County, Wise County and Foard and Hardeman County. This ranch, the deer don't have enough exposure to human activity to be comfortable with it. That's my belief.

It's 30k acres, we hunt one side of the river that's 17k. There's one ranch hand that works the whole place other than seasonal works 2x per year that last 4-5 days. A lot of the sections can go months without any human intervention at all. When I say pressure, it's pressure in general from human activity. The deer, especially the mature bucks that we NEVER see other than the rut, seem to be most sensitive to noise. They are just not accustomed to human scents, noise or sightings of vehicles. We see hogs from a Ranger, they're hauling [censored], deer the same way with exception to the mule deer does. My approach to my hunting set ups, the last mile is most often on foot. When I take my very quiet daily driver truck over my Ranger, I see a greater amount of deer once set up every time.
I've hunted North East Texas (Red River County), the Hill Country, Young County, Wise County and Foard and Hardeman County. This ranch, the deer don't have enough exposure to human activity to be comfortable with it. That's my belief.

my buddies ranch you drive around and deer haul arse, but you can trip a feeder, stand there and shoot a doe in the head with a pistol.

As it relates to the topic, I doubt that can be said of a 150" + mature buck.

we shot him, while 6 of us built a big mesquite fire for coals for cooking a brisket on the pit. We where in back yard. He stepped out into a 2 acre oat field which is basically part of the yard. He could of cared less about music, fire and us. 87 yard shot, stabilized from fence post

Admittedly not a head shot with a pistol while you're standing at a feeder he ran to. I'm done with corn and protein; I'm going to brisket.

Tell me you are a new hunter without telling me you are a new hunter.

I am going to quote Aron Snyder:

“If you are hunting in Texas, and not within a couple hundred yards of a feeder, you’re probably not going to see anything”. (paraphrased)

It’s way harder to hunt without bait where bait is legal. And deer accustomed to feeders are more weary. Also apparently there is actually more deer where bait is used. Not less.

So yeah, it’s hunting. Unless you are baiting deer where it’s illegal, and you probably have the only bait pile around. Those deer not accustomed to bait piles or feeders will be easy to kill.

Texas is different.

As it relates to the topic, I doubt that can be said of a 150" + mature buck.

More I think about this, I've had a lot of mature deer including a few 150 plus with in 10-30 yards while in a high rack also

As it relates to the topic, I doubt that can be said of a 150" + mature buck.

Does a deer know that he is a 150” deer?

At what antler size do they become wary?

The OP hasn't posted on the forum since 10-10-23. Y'all can probably relax.

You must have been dragging a brisket.

5 hunters on STX 8k acres LF

all these are from high rack, some are cell phone others are camera, all <30 yards at some point. I use to have a lot more pics, i havent hunted that ranch in a long time so I deleted most of them.

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Truly some awesome racks.

what's the price on the heads ?

5 hunters on STX 8k acres LF

all these are from high rack, some are cell phone others are camera, all <30 yards at some point. I use to have a lot more pics, i havent hunted that ranch in a long time so I deleted most of them.

That 3rd pic has gotta be the most swolled up buck I’ve ever seen. He’s built like a Nilgai