That’s a rule i could not live with

Are you allowed to shoot other deer prior to the rut? I can see how it's good business to get your doe harvest out of the way early. Which county, and is the property MLD? Are there hogs/other game opportunities?

No hunting the rut? I would not have killed about 75% of all bucks I've ever killed, including the last three that were my top three all time. Does he really think the genetics of the trophy deer are not already bred into the does?

We aren't happy, but what can you do other than pack up and leave. We are on MLD, but must stop hunting when rifle season closes per landowner rules. We asked for extended time after the season to makeup for not being able to target trophies during the first half of the season, but they wouldn't agree to it. My son killed his buck the Saturday after Thanksgiving last year and the older bucks were working scrapes but weren't chasing just yet.

This place was wiped out with anthrax and we've been extremely selective on what we take the last 3 years. Kind of hard to just give up on a place that we've been working to help build up. Finally starting to see some really great deer and great numbers.

In the last 3 years we've been allotted 30 buck tags and have taken 10 deer, 3 of which would be considered trophies. All 3 were killed last year, the previous 2 years we only killed culls and older 8s. We've let 10s and 12s walk every year we've been on the place so far.

Now this year we are told to shoot every spike we see and let the trophy bucks breed first. We have plenty of 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 year old 9's, 10's etc that will be getting passes that can breed. We have never shot yearling spikes and have always used our unbranched tags on 4x1s and freak culls. This year we didn't get unbranched tags, we got spike tags and are told to shoot the yearling spikes, they are inferior. We are just trying to do everything we can to keep the landowners happy.

For me its not a huge issue because I can hunt most weekends. Other guys have limited time off and the Thanksgiving week is usually their best opportunity to get to the lease and do some hunting.

We have several culls and management bucks on the hit list we can target beforehand. We still aren't shooting any does. My son shot a 13 point last year, so we aren't really looking for a trophy this year anyway.

But not overly anxious to sit in bad weather to shoot a cull.

everyone knows when i say im going hunting it means im going to camp. maybe kill. maybe cook. maybe watch tv. Weather is never the factor now days.

Bring it. Clear Sunday, 37° on Monday............Sunday may be prime time.

94 deg today Brenham Tx, where's fall? Have oats ready to plant need some moisture
To make easier on my planter. Still no pigs around hr.

I put my kill plot seed down last night and the first round of glorious rain just started here in Young county. Perfect timing. Made some adjustments to my camper crib today for the rain. Pop up canopy under the camper's retractable one and flat rocks from the creek for my entryway so hopefully I will not have a mud hole outside my door to step into this weekend. A peaceful night listening to the rain on my metal roof.

I don't believe I've ever deer hunted in shorts, but that record may be broken this weekend.

John, what ATC do you own? You gotta share a pic! I have two Big Red 250s.

3/10ths last night with the front, just a dust settler. Hopefully a lot more to come this weekend.

Same at my place in Mills county, between 3-4/10.

'Think it's just gonna be messy, nothing heavy at my place. We're going though, come hell or high water, 'cause she says she wants to be out there. I'm trying to save any decent buck for my son later, so I'll probably just try to kill some more pigs. They've moved back in en masse, but aren't running deer off...yet. TWA Adult Learn to Hunt is the 2nd weekend. 'Should be pleasant temps then.

I prefer temps as described by an old timer with whom I hunted for many years. "When the ground is frozen and all spewed up and cracks under your boots, them bucks are walking."

I killed my personal best archery buck the morning after a torrential downpour with a frontal passage, and right at daylight the rain stopped and all the creeks were running which masked my approach to my stand.
My butt barely hit my chair when I looked out and saw four deer with one being a huge 12 point that scored 160 pope & Young.
Deer hold up in the thick cover during those storms and soon as they pass they get up out of their bed to dry off and stretch.

A lesson I learned that morning driving to my lease in that lightning, rain and wind is, listen to that voice in your head telling you, "don't turn around the rain will stop!"

'Been in it. Ain't nuthin' moving.

I will give them a break this weekend, wet weather and nearing completion on significant home renovation has me looking forward to cooler temps nd drier weather....

84 200es Big Red with the shaft drive and reverse. That reverse is nice.

Nice I like it! I sold my 84 200 es a few months ago had reverse as well. Those are just amazing machines

Going to have some good company there

They kinda blew the forecast here. No rain today, small chance tonight, and none till tomorrow night. I came this morning and only planned to stay thru mid-day.

Yep, same here. And I'm not hearing any nearby shots from neighbors, so a lot of people must have stayed home. Looking at the radar though anyone hunting the panhandle is getting hammered with rain.

here, here !!

2.5 inches of rain so far today.