I hunt along the Pecos River in in North West ValVerde County and because my football team is still in the play-offs I havn't got to hunt as yet. Traditionally we generally see pre rut activity around Thanksgiving and the rut generally starts early December. Has anyone seen much going on?

Just got home today, we also hunt along the Pecos river. They are starting to fool with does some but for the most part there still in it for the corn not the lovin. Check out the post I made a little while ago and see what we killed.

What ranch are you on out there? I (also) am on the pecos in Pandale, same results as LMH...real early pre-rut. Hopefully a few more cold nights and we'll start seeing real good movement.

Also alot of bucks cruising all day long.

LMH are you hunting the flats or more of the canyons and gourges?

Specifically our most of our feeders are out from the mouth of the small canyons with a few stands along the river. Four of those deer came off the river and the others from the canyons.

We hunt in the Blue Hills Area. About half of our place in rolling Cedar Breaks the other is deep Canyons and sheer clifs of the Pecos.

I've placed my blinds in the deep draws and canyons this year. Most of the other people on the ranch hunt the flatter areas. No on wants to hunt those draws becaue its such a pain to get into those areas to setup blinds and service feeders. I think its going to pay off though. No one has hunted these places in years. Our river access is limited, due to steep cliffs, but we do have a meadow area that is on the river. Its the furthest spot from camp. You think I should setup a pop up or a brush blind in this area?

I hunt one canyon removed from the river.I have a natural saddle the deer move through to the river. I generally fewer deer but I never harvest a doe until spike/ doe season. Generally 8-12 does yearlings daily. The older does breed early yearlings later. Your question I like hunting the river because dominant bucks always run the river. Great cover water andfood. Have a doe in heat and they will be found.

My river area is pretty limited, four mesa's lead down to the water, its like a huge funnel, with about 300 yards of river front. There isn't any open land, its all mesquite trees and small oaks that cover a meadow leading up to the river. Maybe I'll get down there tomorrow and see if there is any activity in the bottom of that meadow.

Oline--I hunt northwest Val Verde county, too. Right on the Pecos. We came back last weekend with two nice eight points. I'll try to figure out how to post pics on here. The bucks looked ready, but the does showed no interest. Going back next week for four days--hopefully rut will be in full swing then. You're right--first of December seems to be the ticket for full blown rut.

Good luck ! Traveling to San Antonio with my football team a we speak. Hope were still playing a few more weeks. I miss hunting but I love winning!!

I hope your team keeps winning! We'll keep you informed on here how it's going out West. Keep us posted on your team.

lost in overtime 28-29. Finished 12-1 for the year! Going hunting.

Might take your rattling horns. Responding to them real good right now out here. The young one's are still harrassing the females, but the big one's have changed a little. They have all (had 24 different bucks coming up) suddenly gone their seperate ways and different bucks are showing up. I think the front coming sunday will kick things off. The big 8 I saw chasing just a bit ago has his mind back on food after only 10 yards. So, I think it's just around the corner.

Just got back from the ranch (pandale, on the pecos). Saw one monster 10 pointer (we let walk) , lots of mature 8s. The rut isn't full swing, but its darn close. Seen deer that I've never had before. I'll be back next weekend FOR SURE. I had ZERO response to ratteling horns. I probably rattled 15 times. The mature bucks were chasing does around, but most does weren't totally in estrus yet, so they were jumpy and weren't havin it.

The cold front should really kick it up. I think next weekend is going to give great results.

Just witnessed one heck of a battle right before the wind changed at 5:30 pm. Two 8's and a 10 got into it. Mind you they were two or three year olds, but what a fight. The smallest 8 got run off halfway into it, then the bigger 8 went after the 10 that showed up looking to see what was going on. The 10 whupped his keister ! About 25 minutes after they left, which they ran off after they finally parted, I put in a 30 second , very loud , rattling session and got the 10 to come back. Inside the ears around 110 B+C, but he was p!ssed ! Hair on the back of his neck was standing straight up. (so was mine at 10 yards). I could actually hear his heavy breathing as it was very quiet before the wind switched to the northwest. My kingdom for a video camera !