Currently in stand in Chandler TX. We have 250 + acres. More like 350+ with the water down. The deer are not touching our corn. We put a food plot out which they don't touch ethier. We moved our cams from the feeders to trails since no deer come in. Started seeing deer on property. Bow hunted most of the season and never really got a chance at one since I have to try and "Intercept" them on the trails. Hunted most of the gun season and most days I see something but can't shoot because its antlerless or under 13 or close and not worth a ticket if I'm wrong.

This morning I see a small 7 point and of coarse pass. 10 minutes later a doe trots by with a decent buck on it tail with his tongue hanging out. I almost shot and ground checked this guy. 1250 for the lease,1000 for a gun,4000 for a 4 wheeler, 750 for cams and feeders, 500 for hog pens and corn,300 for stands multiple weekends working, countless days hunting and its come to this. Every deer I see I get about 15 seconds to make a decision and I just hope it turn and looks at me with his ears in an alert position. I'm so sick of passing on meat for my freezer so my neighbor has a bigger antler to disgustingly present on his wall to brag to his frineds. Texas regulation makes me want to puke right now. We have truley lost sight of what hunting is if you can't harvest a deer because its rack isn't big enough

ears are about 14 from tip to tip. use that as a gauge.


i agree on the ar's sucking. my ol lady say a really big bodied 4 this morning. would have been excellent freezer stuffing.

Ear tip spread will vary from deer to deer and area to area. From 13" to as much as 18". AR's are harder on some than others. Stick with it, it will pay off in time.

I know for a fact some deers ears are smaller than others. As a general rule yes....but.

That is a loaded question !! But then again, this site is PG-13

Sometimes!!!

A tape measure when they're motionless on the ground.

Now I am home and have had a chance to cool down. I dont want this to be a AR discussion but a 13" discussion. I'm still waiting on my first deer of the year and have passed on alot of average deer, 1 above average because they didn't give me a measurable look. They gave me a chance for a great shot, just didn't give me long enough to get my ruler out! Next decent buck is getting ground checked.

So if you're hunting meat why not shoot a doe?

I'll never understand why "meat hunters" insist on shooting young, small bucks. And why criticize those who wish to shoot large, mature bucks. If the horns don't mean a thing to you then shoot does. Simple solution.

I have yet to shoot a doe off our place, I want as many of them living as possible bc we usually see 3-4x more bucks.... And only going to get worse bc it seems every doe this yr is sporting a nubbin tag-along... It's a pretty good problem to have

I have no problem with hunters chasing large mature deer. To each his own. I just hate passing on deer for them to have that.

I would prefer to down a doe. Problem is that means I only get 4 days to hunt. Hopefully work wont call. I would trade all my tags to have shot a doe this morning.

Just because you don't see does doesn't mean they're not there.

Prime example: My last lease you'd see 12 bucks to every doe. However, Helo survey showed that we had 1.5 does to 1 buck. You just never saw them because bucks dominated the feeders and corn. The does don't come around because they get harrassed non-stop.

My set-ups cover a whole lot of ground away from the feeders where the deer have no problems coming out and being away from feeders.. We just don't have the doe #s utilizing the place as we do bucks bc it's the thickest mess you will find for miles. That has recently led to some hog issues as well. I've watched one doe the past 3 yrs and every stinking yr all she has with her is a nubbin fawn.

Prime example: My last lease you'd see 12 bucks to every doe. However, Helo survey showed that we had 1.5 does to 1 buck.

Like to get me one of them 1/2 does ! I dont have a very big freezer.