When would you expect the rut to begin in North Texas (specifically Montague county)?

TPWD seems to say the peak in the north part of the Cross Timbers is 11/15.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/planning/rut_whitetailed_deer/#E11E6

I would think that would be close. Im north of there and it seems we may be a hair earlier.

I hunt Navarro county and we generally get the most rutting activity Oct 23-Nov 5.

Seems about right. The farther N/NW you go it peaks later in November.

In Briscoe County, I killed my buck on November 20th, he was chasing a doe. Two days later, I saw another buck mount a doe and on 12-3 my hunting partner saw a buck mount a doe. Our lease is about 25 sq. miles, and this activity was spread all over the ranch.

When I hunted Archer County it was between the 2nd snd 3rd week of November.

I’ll see rut activity from the last week of October through mid December. I would say daylight buck activity usually peaks for the first and last 10 days in November. The true “rut” period usually isn’t a ton of action as bucks are locked up on does

I watch them every day and night. I betting on the 2nd week of November.

We hunted in Wichita county for 10 years and the week of Thanksgiving always had new bucks cruising/chasing.

Here at my place in Palo Pinto county, it usually starts the last week of October and goes till about the ides of November

It’ll kick off a little around Halloween

They will be chasing opening morning of rifle season

2nd week of Rifle will be real close to peak

It’ll peter out around a few days after Thanksgiving

I’ve hunted Wise Co for almost 40 years

I saw a buck chasing last weekend in Navarro. Have seen them chasing as late as new years day down there too.

Gus hit it nail on the head. 12th to the 18th is typically "wide open". There's so much that factors into what you see on the ground but either way get ready and good luck.

I’m east of Waco about 40 miles. The bucks are checking the feeders. If the rut’s not here, it must be close.