BUCKS GALORE

The wife and I are on a new lease this year and I am seeing something that I have never seen before. The lease is MLD and we started hunting on Oct 3rd. and since then between the 2 of us, we have seen 28 bucks and here is the "never seen before part" we have ONLY SEEN 3 DOES. These numbers are actually eyes on only, if we saw a rump going into the woods unless we saw the front end that deer was not counted. Here is an example, Friday's count was 9 bucks and 1 doe, todays was 5 bucks and 0 does.

My question is "What am I seeing happen?" I have never seen lopsided numbers like this with over 9 times the bucks as does. The lease is in NE Texas north of I-30. Thanks Daniel

Never heard of that. It is usually just the opposite. I was on a lease in Erath County, where one year I did not see a buck the entire season, but saw a fair amount of doe. Are you able to talk to the previous lease holder? How many acres is the lease? Hopefully you can use all of your buck MLDP tags. Maybe pass on the doe?

That was me last year. Opening morning there was 5-8 bucks at the feeder at any time. It’s usually 5-8 does. I saw 2 does the entire day, saw prob 18-20 bucks and killed my 10 that evening.

I've seen a lot on places that have a very tight buck to doe ratio. The bucks will usually hit the feeders to fatten up prior to the rut. If your rut starts in early to mid November then all those bucks at the feeders will check every doe that comes to the feeder everytime pre-rut. The does are not ready to come into estrus so they do not come into the feeders(if they have good habitat) due to this constant "checking" and hassling especially by the younger bucks. I have had a very tight buck to doe ratio here for the last 7 yrs now. I know I have more does than I am seeing but the younger bucks keep the does off of the feeders. With this cooler weather recently the bucks are ready but the does are not. I am very dry so it gets hectic at the feeders when the does show up to feed. I have already seen a few bucks with broken tines back during the first week of October this year. Also have seen a few bucks with fighting scars from starting to roam around already. It was 38 here yesterday morning and attitudes are changing every day now. My rut activity starts in about a week or so every year.

We know the does are there because the LO hunts also and he sees a lot of does. I think maybe I am just thinking the rut is on when actually it is just pre rut and the best is yet to come. I just have never been on a lease like this before and the LO is one superb lease manager and every day guy, plus he helps in every way possible. Maybe the wife & I just need to be more patient, after all the season is only 30 days old with many more days to come.

I always though the pre-rut was the best time just for what your seeing. They know their is one or two hot does out there and they are looking for them. Once the rut starts and they lock down on a doe they don't move as much.

Sounds like a good problem especially if you are seeing some nice mature bucks. Good luck and post some pictures!

Had 6 bucks and 1 doe in front of me this mornings...so a normal hunt this time of the year. I of the bucks was a roamer...new to this blind. The other 5 were ones I had seen in person or on TC. I can tell the rut is getting a little closer since the new buck was roaming and looking...the others were more interested in corn and protein than the doe.

My feeder is 12-2, that is in person and on camera

I only have 2 doe BUT it's up from one last year so I'm happy.

I had 4 bucks and 4 does in this morning...perfect number of does for me to fill my last archery doe tag...so now there are 3 does.

It depends on what side of the property you are on. On the North we usually see 7 to 8 bucks to about 4 or 5 does. On the South, it is opposite, 15 does to about 4 bucks. .South is also the side we have neighboring hunters.

Happens to me in Guadalupe county every year. Last year my dad and I had a running count of 22 different bucks and there was a group of four does that ran together and a group of 3 does that ran together. The occasional single dove would pass through, but it was nothing to see 7-10 different bucks in an evening set.

The past 3 mornings here have been incredible. Anywhere from 3-5 bucks with a couple of studs showing up. I've seen chasing, fighting. About an hour ago the biggest deer we have on camera ran out of the woods and busted up a doe party. He cut one out of the group and they havent been seen since. Saturday morning I will be in full hunting mode. Right now I'm just watching.