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Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
#7010089
12/24/17 06:57 PM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 350
pmnitro
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 350 |
We hunt SW of Llano, our 8th year. Quality of deer and antlers getting better each year. We took the credit for it. Letting better bucks mature, year round feed. Free choice protein, discussing with surrounding hunter with same practices. We left good bucks the last weekend, and knowing this year will be even better.
Fast forward to this year = can't find a deer past 3 years old. Nothing seen to make any of us to sit up, much less take the gun from the corner of the stand. Lots off deer on the place, just no good horn or mature deer.
We are mostly mesquite with scattered large live oak trees. Some trees loaded with acorns - some with none.
No good buck on any game cameras. Any of you hunting the same area and experiencing the same results???
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: pmnitro]
#7010097
12/24/17 07:06 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,788
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,788 |
Ive seen a very good upper age class representation but this year mass is way down for some reason. Lots of pencil horns. I hunt the Mason border
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: pmnitro]
#7010161
12/24/17 08:28 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 4,459
majekman
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 4,459 |
My Cuz has a place near Cherry Springs in Llano co. He thought he was gonna have some good mature ️️deer and that simply hasn't been the case. He's had the place 20yrs and says this may be worst year ever for mature deer. Had some good uns on cameras and they all went POOF in Oct
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: pmnitro]
#7010180
12/24/17 08:47 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 651
huntincoach
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 651 |
I think it's a low fence mid to upper State problem this year. Drought of 2011 decreased this yrs 5-6.5 yo deer. We left some good ones walk last yr and can't find any as well.
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: pmnitro]
#7010312
12/24/17 10:18 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15,743
QuitShootinYoungBucks
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15,743 |
Mills county here, we have a ton that are a 1-2 years away. I haven't seen one yet I thought was older than 4.5. I shot a doe and a spike and will likely take another doe next week.
https://web.archive.org/web/20170223065011/http:/www.rrdvegas.com/silencer-cleaning.html
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: pmnitro]
#7010358
12/24/17 11:04 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 7,807
Deerhunter61
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 7,807 |
As I stated before...it's been an off year this year for sure! In the mornings I usually see 15-20 bucks but they are all young and a lot of them are culls. I've shot 1 cull but might shoot another if I don't see a decent buck in the closing weekends!
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: pmnitro]
#7010488
12/25/17 01:03 AM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 650
jmh004
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 650 |
I hunt in Mills County. I've seen a few mature bucks, but nothing to write home about. Ended up taking an old 9 point that never grew any eye guards, and a couple doe. Will take one more doe this week, then start getting ready for turkey season.
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: jmh004]
#7010666
12/25/17 04:24 AM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,714
TAT
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,714 |
I hunt in Mills County. I've seen a few mature bucks, but nothing to write home about. Ended up taking an old 9 point that never grew any eye guards, and a couple doe. Will take one more doe this week, then start getting ready for turkey season. I would like to see that deer! Sounds like a awesome cull/trophy to take!
It's not how you fall, It's how you get up.
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: pmnitro]
#7010680
12/25/17 04:46 AM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 650
jmh004
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 650 |
He was a main frame 10, but with no eye guards. He had a little nub that was scoreable where a G1 should have been, but it wasn't a true eye guard. It was a cool looking deer, I'll try to post later.
Last edited by jmh004; 12/25/17 05:00 AM.
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: pmnitro]
#7010689
12/25/17 04:59 AM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 650
jmh004
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 650 |
Kids were super pumped about me bringing home a deer.
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: pmnitro]
#7010884
12/25/17 02:21 PM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,099
Wilhunt
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,099 |
We hunt north of llano and it has been disappointing. Too many young deer.
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: jmh004]
#7010892
12/25/17 02:34 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 4,459
majekman
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 4,459 |
Kids were super pumped about me bringing home a deer. Fine looking buck and even better looking family. Congrats! You are a blessed man.
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: jmh004]
#7010903
12/25/17 02:56 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,714
TAT
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,714 |
Kids were super pumped about me bringing home a deer. Awesome all the way around! You have some rifles to buy in the future!
It's not how you fall, It's how you get up.
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: pmnitro]
#7010908
12/25/17 03:00 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 650
jmh004
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 650 |
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: pmnitro]
#7010946
12/25/17 03:38 PM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,856
REALKILLER
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,856 |
If I may, I cant find a 5 yr old to save my life in east Tx. Good news is that I have seen a lot of 4 and under bucks. Been waitin on the heavy 10 with points all over his bases to come out that I saw last Febuary, no deal yet. Had him at 10 yards last year in Jan. Passed him for B&C hopes.
Recently got a gym membership, strange folks! I like to show up the roid zombies with my full motion curls with the 55lb. bells. Not their cheater short stroked light weights. It's holarious.
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: pmnitro]
#7011256
12/25/17 09:45 PM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,681
Txhunter65
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,681 |
I know one reason there aren’t many 5.5 and 6.5 is because of how sever the summer and drought was in 2011 and 2012.
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: pmnitro]
#7011596
12/26/17 04:38 AM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 156
crooked horn
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 156 |
Same on my place. Did not have a single sighting, or trail cam photo, of a mature deer. First time since I've had cameras, 12 years or so, that I didn't even get a pic of a "good" deer.
Thank you...thank you very much
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: jmh004]
#7011915
12/26/17 04:23 PM
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 641
Buck25-06
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 641 |
Kids were super pumped about me bringing home a deer. nice buck congrats
I know allot about everything-Everything about nothing!!!!
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: pmnitro]
#7011949
12/26/17 04:40 PM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 486
Hunter Daddy
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 486 |
I know how your feeling Pmnitro. I hunt south of San Antonio and we let go many 3.5 - 5.5 year old deer last year. Had them on camera, mostly at night about 8 mature bucks. We have not seen them yet this season. I spoke with an area biologist and he said that Atascosa county had received good rains in November and the deer just don't want to move. Too much to eat. Our protein feeders and corn feeders have very little use from the deer up until around December 20th. We just need more cold weather to get them moving. Perhaps now is the time for the bigger bucks to move.
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: pmnitro]
#7011977
12/26/17 05:01 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,697
Pitchfork Predator
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,697 |
Hunting conditions like we have been experiencing are the primary reason for MLD extended seasons. That's why I told my brother, and all members hunting MLD to be patient. Our season is only at the halfway mark and the cold weather will improve buck sightings in the age classes that have been missing on camera.
The drought has been felt no doubt. But there are 5 year olds that were passed last season that are still out there.
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: pmnitro]
#7012984
12/27/17 02:40 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,127
kdkane1971
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,127 |
Lack of mature bucks for us in Concho County as well. Ton of 3.5 & 4.5 year old bucks with great potential, but 5.5+ were almost non-existent. In fact, I saw a total of (2) bucks which were 5.5+, one of which a 7.5 yo 8-point which was more management deer than trophy that I killed in November. I watched him bully every buck that came within 40 yards of his doe for several hours one afternoon, including chasing one buck for 400 yards and off the wheat field at the end of the evening hunt. Bad genes had to go, so I made a plan to find him and kill him the next day.
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: pmnitro]
#7013281
12/27/17 05:38 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,084
Bucks and Ducks
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,084 |
Im in Llano too and its been tough, culled a crazy spike last week to get some meat.
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: pmnitro]
#7013366
12/27/17 06:47 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 103
BQM88
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 103 |
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: pmnitro]
#7015478
12/29/17 12:56 PM
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,352
copperhead
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,352 |
I live on the Burnet/Llano county line. Lot's of mature bucks here in the city limits of HSB. That seems to be where I see the older deer now.
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Re: Hunting the Hill country - a bust this year
[Re: pmnitro]
#7025050
01/04/18 10:19 PM
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 61
Plainview
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 61 |
I have a Ranch in Edwards county SW of Rocksprings. Hunting started very slow until after Thanksgiving and the cold Weather. After the Snow hit, the Rut was on!!!!! Deer started coming to feeders and chasing like crazy.
Rut continued through end of December. Killed some nice deer, but none of the Big Mature Deer have shown their face at feeders or cameras all season.
Can't wait til next Season!!!!!
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