Here's my friend Karma. He's been on my cam for the last 3 weeks at a feeder feeding at almost the exact same time every night, 12:20. This is the most recent pic I have of him and its from 2 nights ago and if you look closely it seems as if he might be chasing a doe.

Anyways, this is my first TX whitetail hunt. Been hunting in Indiana my whole life and had some pretty good luck with some wall hangers.
This is my sixth hunt on the feeder which is the only spot hes been seen, I've tried all my indiana tricks on this deer without any success whatsoever;
Grunts
Hard rattle
Soft rattle
grunt grunt grunt gruuuuunt, rattle pause light rattle
Bleat bleat bleat, grunt grunt grunt
Tried putting out some doe estrus yesterday, still having no luck.

I know hunting styles are different all around the world, can anybody give me some advice on what might bring Karma out during shooting hours?

Wait till the rut. He will come

What is the estimated rut coming in? I'm hunting in midway county

Check the TPW website. They have a page in there labeled the rut in Texas. It lays out the historical rut for each area in Texas. You wouldn't believe the differences between N., S., E. and W. texas. It's literally 2 months different in some areas. I hunt in North Uvalde county and the rut starts the second week in December or there about. Sorry I don't have a link for you.

Found the link, thanks W2B for bringing it to my attention!

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

Aimless

Hunt at 12:20 am is what I would be doing. Have you moved your camera around to trails to try and find the buck in the daylight? My guess is he is not living on your hunting acreage and traveling to get there. The distance he has to cover is what is getting him to your feeder at that time. Good luck.

That's an interesting thought, I didn't consider the distance he is probably traveling.
And funny you mention it, I actually did sit out in my blind all night last night but of course a no show.
I will re set some cams and try to see which way he's coming in from. This evening I've decided to try a clearing in the middle of the woods nearest the only watering hole.

I love hunting in Texas, but the lease I'm on is completely almost covered in thickets. Much different than hunting open fields like back in indiana.


quote=stxranchman] Hunt at 12:20 am is what I would be doing. Have you moved your camera around to trails to try and find the buck in the daylight? My guess is he is not living on your hunting acreage and traveling to get there. The distance he has to cover is what is getting him to your feeder at that time. Good luck. [/quote]