I hunt the west side of granbury lake and man the deer were moving the first three weeks of November. However the action has seemed to go cold and the deer are all mingling when I see them. Does are sticking together and young bucks are running together which is dynamically different from one month ago. I'm from Indiana and have spent my entire life hunting deer but back home the deer DO NOT mingle till the rut is completely over and the winter is set in. It's hard for me to believe the deer are so focused on food right now considering they were chasing and seeking just a few weeks ago. Just wondering if it's time to start burning up those doe tags or keep holdin out in the hopes they may drag out the monster back there? Any help would be appreciated

The rut is most likely over in that area. I would take your Does.

I hunt in Erath county which is not far from you. The rut has been over with here for a couple weeks. Time to take those does.

2nd rut is hitting right now. I've seen the same thing as you have, but had a mature buck on camera making a scrape next to one of my feeders this past Tuesday in the middle of the day. 1 doe picture followed by 5 different bucks within 3 hours.

I'm about 50 miles north of you.

I hunt 5 miles west of thorp springs which is basically granbury on my ranch and I have a lease in Parker county just north of Lipan so I'm right in the same area as you. The activity has been strange this year the rut seemed to start a little early and I think the 2nd rut is close to over or already over, I haven't seen any bucks chasing in a while the latest I have ever seen a buck chase in person was December 10 back in 07 and he was really chasing they ran through a big open field at full speed and he was less than a foot behind her. Personally I haven't noticed any interest in food my feeders have mountains of corn under them and my spots that have been hot in the past haven't even got pics! If the deer are eating its all been acorns it is a bad acorn year it seems to be like this every other season, last season was amazing but the year before was bad so next year should be good. Unless you are seeing a bunch of does I would hold off another week or two both of my places don't have near the amount of does and we don't like to shoot them, on my place only people who have never killed a deer before are allowed to take does and the drought has hurt fawn production very badly. We have some great bucks in this part of the state but they can be hard to get, before too long when the 2nd rut is definitely over the bucks will be tired and come in to feeders more often even in the daylight.

Good luck & happy hunting

Well the peak rut is over but still will be some does coming in and the bucks won't quit till the last one is done. The buck in my sig pic on the left was just shot last Sunday and he is an old boy that had 4 does with him (not chasing) his hocks were dripping and his legs were black. Don't give up yet. I would still hunt the does but food source will be the ticket (which is where the does will be). He came from the south side of town between Granbury and Glen Rose off 144. Good Luck

Pic of the buck shot last weekend.

Thanks a lot for all your input guys. Guess I will go ahead and knock down a couple of older does on the spread. Nice buck Landsurveyor I have a buck I seen three times this year gotta be pushin 155-165 main frame ten deep chocolate horns... Pray the good lord shows me favor! And as far as does go, the drought may have affected the fawning this year but I suspect these damn yotes took more of a toll in the end. Deer prodominantly throw twins every year and studies have shown that older does are more apt to throw doe fawn where younger doe throw more buck fawns. I'm seeking a more balanced herd so looks like my family will feast on the flesh of the old.

Well sitting in the stand right now and I've only seen a doe...she was movin hard so maybe something else will come runnin along

Well....... Found my big buck this mornin... Hung in the fence with his horns lopped off sure hated it ended that way but so are the fruits of life. Appreciate everyone's input and hope the lord smiles on your hunts