We hunt South of Merkel near Castle Peak.

Anyone have rut data for that area based on previous years?

I'm about 100 miles west of there and we're showing no signs of the rut and don't expect anything until about mid November at it's earliest.

Check out:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/planning/rut_whitetailed_deer/

Had a small buck chasing and grunting on the 5th and several pics from my cams of bucks chasing. Hoping there will be a lot more movement this coming weekend and for the rifle opener.

This is west of Abilene in Coke cnty.

We had some chasing this weekend in Coke County as well.

May be some very young bucks chasing around hoping to try and catch one before rut starts and the big boys go to looking but I find it hard to believe the mature deer are showing any signs.

I am in Breckenridge and all bucks on our place are still running together!

I had a 7.5 yo 8 pt on camera. Doe was at the feeding block about to bolt and he was in the background nose down. Next pic he was at the feeding block then they were gone.

Should be a great weekend coming up and first weekend of rifle season I hope.

Hunt 2 places less than 30 miles apart and the peak of rut is usually at least 3 weeks different. One place is postoak country and the first week of season is almost always heavy rut activity.

The other place is Mesquite country and the rut is not until about the end or November.

Those are in Eastland and Callahan counties

thank y'all for the feedback... when hunting near weatherford, ive seen the first phase consistently hit around the new moon before halloween and the second phase hitting right before thanksgiving... im interested to see if this holds true there in Merkel b/c they obviously have the same moon phase

Thanks so much for this link... very good info

I am in Merkel...been out there 2 weekends so far and have seen no signs of eary rutting at all...same local small bucks on cams...no roamers...still in bach groups...

I hunt between sweetwater and blackwell. the early rut seems to kick in gear the last week of bow season -- over the years i have had numerous bucks respond to rattling as early then. The peak of the rut usually is between the second week of nov thru thanksgiving out there.

good info, thank y'all

Historically at my place in Young county, my best game cam pics have taken place from about mid-late Oct. through Thanksgiving with the peak being the last week of Oct. - 2nd week of Nov. Most of those bucks are with does.

After Thanksgiving, it's as if the bucks are either all killed off or have been abducted by space invaders. Very weird.

Low deer density will do this. We have approximately 1 deer per 25 acres. Not high, at all. Once the primary rut is over, you have to be persistent in your quest to connect...Stay out in the pasture as much as possible.

Agreed Erath, thanks for the reinforcement on this, good stuff!

Bucks still together in north Nolan co.

Didn't see much action this weekend out by lake abilene. Had a few pics of young bucks checking does but nothing major. Havnt seen any of the mature bucks on cam during the day for almost two weeks.

we never have any of our mature bucks on photos during the day.... smart rascals

I'm up north of the Noodle area west of Anson and all the mature bucks have disappeared from cameras and bachelor groups. I still have groups of 3-5 younger bucks running together as well. No signs of them chasing does yet. They usually don't start rutting in our area until late October or early November.

10-4 Doc... thanks... good info