Seeing next to no buck kill pics, guess the unusually warmer temps have them bedded down in daytime, what gives? In prior years, 2-3 weeks into archery, we'd seen a handful of nice buck pics by now. Hope this trend breaks soon....

For me, it’s warm ( which doesent bother me, I killed one of my best bucks when it was 90 degrees in November) but winds haven’t been the best for my archery sets.

I’ve sat 4 times and twice the wind got me and blew the deer out.

I had an opportunity at two mature bucks, one is a flat horn old buck that I’m gonna let my son’s friend have a crack at, as it will make a great first buck for someone.

Have another 8 coming into the same feeder, he is just a nice representative hill country buck, not big but not little. He’s safe from me, I would probably let my oldest son take him as he hasn’t killed a buck in 6 years.

I’m not seeing just an overwhelming amount of buck sightings or buck sign, but it’s not dead either and could be much worse.

I’ve got my sights set on a trio of bucks, hope to get one of them arrowed before the season is over.


I do know of two very, very nice low fence Gillespie county deer that were killed first weekend of archery season.

Some of the hunters are also holding out on cooler temps. I got a doe in the freezer, might as well hold out on better weather to take care of the meat.

On the other hand, less hunters on a hot day, less pressure until it cools down.

I think we greatly underestimate how you can handle meat before it spoils in higher temps.

Go to Africa and watch how they handle game, will give you an eye opener regarding game care after the shot.

I’ve killed most of my wall hangers in “bad conditions”, full moon, high temps and oftentimes both.

You gotta get out there. Waiting for better weather is fine if your ok with missing opportunities

Agee and a few other good bucks have come in the same time frame during New Moon. My favorite time to hunt full moon is 9 to 2.

If I were smart I would have got out for the new moon last weekend. The deer move more in the day when it’s pitch black out at night. Next new moon is Friday November 1st. If we can hopefully have overcast conditions it will be a real good day.

I know there is no substitute for time in the woods, but I don’t have a lot of time. Most of my practice sessions at this point, I just step out back and fling a fixed blade at 50. As long as I hit that softball sized circle, I call it good. Not much time for chilling outside shooting my bow. Focusing more on my daughter’s archery at this point.

Side note the Elite Ember is a damn fine starter bow. Crazy watching kids grow.

Think I under estimate how many are out hunting with cold steel vs shooting hot lead, probably 20-80% cold steel vs hot lead..

I would say in Texas that is about the right ratio.

Due to our liberal rifle season length, a lot of guys are no bow or "bow only during archery", then switch to a gun. And you will always have the camp where if its over 75 degrees they won't go sit in a bow blind ( but will in a rifle blind).


In some areas bow season is the best time to get a good buck....they are not pressured and are patternable. In other areas, its not an ideal time, due to too much food and no rutting activity.

I had an elite ember that I bought as a bow to shoot for fun. I put 72K arrows through it back when I was shooting everyday. Sold it and it is still slinging arrows as far as I know. It's a smooth bow. Not very fast but that's the trade off. I think it is a great hunting or target bow for young'uns. Up until I bought the Lift, all my bows have been elites, at least for the last 10 years.

Someone came into the shop and sold us an old Energy 35. I bought it and am rebuilding it as a fun bow. May even shoot some 3d with it just for grins.

All I know about are heavy speed bows. I twisted my Amazon bow up to 77 pounds, I got the highest limb deflections possible for my PSE Brute NXT and they made over 90 pounds. Then I got the 80 pound PSE Xpedite NXT from Archery Talk. But now I am thinking about starting over with something like a Elite Basin. I bet that thing would be dead quiet with a heavy arrow, more quiet than even a trad bow. Also looking at the Hoyt Torrex, and pretty much anything on the lower price spectrum that I can afford new. I want to let my pro shop build and tune it for me.

The only problem is I am not a great hunter. I am a pretty OK archer though, so I really like heavy and fast bows.

There are, at least were, good bucks where I am. There just don’t come out near me until it gets really cold in the rut and post rut. I’m planning on bow hunting all general season if I’m given the choice. There’s just something about being close to the animals

Great hunters are made, not born. The only way to get good at killing animals is to get out there and kill animals.

It's combined of two main points: getting in front of the animal and then being able to pull it off once the opportunity presents itself. Alot of times people struggle with the latter, but creating the opportunity comes first.

Many folks have a notion in their mind that a great hunter consists of being some Predator-like creature who slips around the woods undetected but that is not the case.

Step one....you have to have access to properties that hold animals. You can't kill what isn't there.

Step two....you have to get out there. Having access to suitable properties isn't going to help you if you are not in the field.

Step three.....You have to put the time in. The "best" hunters I know are not the most knowledgeable or tech savvy woodsman. They have a pretty good yet basic understanding of reading sign, animal travel corridors and set ups. But they put the work in. They are hunting from before dawn to after dark. They go further and stay longer. That's the secret. They are willing to do what others are not to put animals on the ground. There is no magic formula.

Step four....Luck. Its better to be lucky than good. Luck will often trump everything else. Securing step one is key, but luck can, and often does, take the place of the other two steps.

Figure out what works for you, what doesn't work and have fun doing it.

I have had the same two bucks in range and presenting opps multiple times. One is a definite mature buck with pencil thin antlers and short wide rack, he isnt making my heart flitter so he gets a pass. The other is a year younger and narrow, again not making my heart flitter so he gets a pass too.

There is a buck that has a double main left side, appears to be branched, and would make my heart flitter so just waiting on him to present a shot. I also know there are many other big deer “around” that will start showing when it cools and the rut approaches.

There is one doe i have my heart set for. Old, large, and skiddish. She needs popped and when i get a chance she will die.

Nothing wrong with being selective. I prefer to do my doe/deer work when it isnt 90+ degrees and bugs are flying. But i have had many sits already this season and plan to sit most of saturday esp If it is rainy like forecasted. Bucks will be out refreshing scrapes…

TxTro, very good post.

If a buck doesent get you excited, no reason to shoot.

I’ve been fortunate to have killed a few nice bucks. What I’m looking for is mature with antlers with a nice shape & configuration. Or something odd and cully.

If I remember the numbers right, last year there were 2.8 million licenses sold and 168K archery endorsements.

I bet that’s pretty accurate.

Interesting data because you know those 168k were deer hunters.

I be a surprising percentage of that 2.8 million were not deer hunters. Lots of guys are bird only

I had the wind hit me in the back of the neck briefly Saturday morning which got miss stomp, stomp, blow all in a huff. If I get her in range again she dies, she kept up the stomp blow routine for 200 yards...

This sat looks like East wind which is horrible for my stands. But I'll go and explore the other side of my lease. Cool weather and can't shoot anything from the couch!