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1st phase of rut near Abilene / Merkel
#3658355
10/14/12 08:05 AM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 355
FtWorthBobWillsFan
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 355 |
We hunt South of Merkel near Castle Peak.
Anyone have rut data for that area based on previous years?
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Re: 1st phase of rut near Abilene / Merkel
[Re: FtWorthBobWillsFan]
#3658404
10/14/12 11:18 AM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 31,058
HWY_MAN
THF Celebrity
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 31,058 |
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.
Yes! A Weatherby does kill them deader.
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Re: 1st phase of rut near Abilene / Merkel
[Re: HWY_MAN]
#3658418
10/14/12 11:39 AM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 612
Huntsmanda
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 612 |
"Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not." - Thomas Jefferson
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Re: 1st phase of rut near Abilene / Merkel
[Re: Huntsmanda]
#3658651
10/14/12 02:22 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11,573
dlrz71
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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.
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Re: 1st phase of rut near Abilene / Merkel
[Re: dlrz71]
#3660196
10/14/12 11:30 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 139
memarkers
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 139 |
We had some chasing this weekend in Coke County as well.
Mark Chatelain
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Re: 1st phase of rut near Abilene / Merkel
[Re: memarkers]
#3660234
10/14/12 11:47 PM
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,872
ffread
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,872 |
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!
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Re: 1st phase of rut near Abilene / Merkel
[Re: ffread]
#3660282
10/15/12 12:01 AM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11,573
dlrz71
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11,573 |
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.
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Re: 1st phase of rut near Abilene / Merkel
[Re: dlrz71]
#3660627
10/15/12 01:39 AM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,534
kmon11
junior
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junior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,534 |
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
lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true Mainstream news might be fun to watch
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Re: 1st phase of rut near Abilene / Merkel
[Re: kmon11]
#3660686
10/15/12 01:57 AM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 355
FtWorthBobWillsFan
OP
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 355 |
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
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Re: 1st phase of rut near Abilene / Merkel
[Re: Huntsmanda]
#3660698
10/15/12 02:02 AM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 355
FtWorthBobWillsFan
OP
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 355 |
Thanks so much for this link... very good info
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Re: 1st phase of rut near Abilene / Merkel
[Re: FtWorthBobWillsFan]
#3660738
10/15/12 02:09 AM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 176
basehitchamp
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 176 |
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...
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Re: 1st phase of rut near Abilene / Merkel
[Re: basehitchamp]
#3660821
10/15/12 02:25 AM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4,073
RedSnake
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4,073 |
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.
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Re: 1st phase of rut near Abilene / Merkel
[Re: FtWorthBobWillsFan]
#3660969
10/15/12 02:50 AM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 10,533
DQ Kid
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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.
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Re: 1st phase of rut near Abilene / Merkel
[Re: DQ Kid]
#3660973
10/15/12 02:51 AM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 10,533
DQ Kid
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
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Posts: 10,533 |
After Thanksgiving, it's as if the bucks are either all killed off or have been abducted by space invaders. Very weird.
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Re: 1st phase of rut near Abilene / Merkel
[Re: DQ Kid]
#3661344
10/15/12 05:58 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 19,498
Erathkid
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Posts: 19,498 |
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.
Life is too short, as is. Don't chance it. Don't text and drive.
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Re: 1st phase of rut near Abilene / Merkel
[Re: Erathkid]
#3661581
10/15/12 12:48 PM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 10,533
DQ Kid
THF Celebrity
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Posts: 10,533 |
Agreed Erath, thanks for the reinforcement on this, good stuff!
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Re: 1st phase of rut near Abilene / Merkel
[Re: DQ Kid]
#3661598
10/15/12 12:54 PM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 5,294
8pointdrop
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 5,294 |
Bucks still together in north Nolan co.
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Re: 1st phase of rut near Abilene / Merkel
[Re: FtWorthBobWillsFan]
#3661846
10/15/12 02:21 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,139
DENTPUSHA
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,139 |
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.
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Re: 1st phase of rut near Abilene / Merkel
[Re: DENTPUSHA]
#3661886
10/15/12 02:36 PM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 355
FtWorthBobWillsFan
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 355 |
we never have any of our mature bucks on photos during the day.... smart rascals
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Re: 1st phase of rut near Abilene / Merkel
[Re: FtWorthBobWillsFan]
#3664713
10/16/12 01:49 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,791
DocBailey
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,791 |
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.
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Re: 1st phase of rut near Abilene / Merkel
[Re: DocBailey]
#3665083
10/16/12 04:16 PM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 355
FtWorthBobWillsFan
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 355 |
10-4 Doc... thanks... good info
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