east texas hunting

have two leases one in east texas (anderson county) and one in west texas (baylor county). West texas I always see tons of deer, almost never a hunt without seeing 10 plus and shot a nice 8 point opening weekend. Now east texas I have been hunting ever since and today is the first day I have even seen any deer and that was 5 does about 300 yards away. I have tracks and signs of deer and wildlife everywhere but I cant seem to ever see anything much less seeing anything to shoot. Am I just being impatient and it is much harder hunting than what I am used to or does this lease just suck. There are cows and horses on this place (300 acres). They dont seem to be over grazing it and so far they dont even come to the feeders or even to the food plots. I am using the stands that were on the property so placement would not be my choice but I figure I should be seeing some wildlife.

I was getting pictures of doe since June and October started getting 10,9,couple 8s and couple spikes and when November hit no pictures.Seems dead now but today got a couple doe coming to the feeder.Penty acorns and foilage but i think with the next couple weeks hey will be hitting feeders hard.Just be patient.East texas you have to hunt alot harder but their are some good deer.Good Luck.

at the house I see probably 20 plus doe a day and some bucks atleast a few days a week. Last week I got fed up and started exploring after the morning hunt and I think part is to blame on stand location but I figure I should see more than I am. Oh well I am not giving up yet but I am starting to think maybe I should.

The key to east texas hunting is patience. They cycle back and forth from food plots to feeders to acorns. The deer in east texas do not have to come out of the woods to get food. Another option you can try hunting in the woods around oak trees.

It's like that everywhere. I have been huntin the same woods for 20 yrs now. I know where to go. This past weekend, on my 3rd day of huntin, I finally saw the first deer. I'm blaming it on the akerns. They are EVERYWHERE. Deer don't need to move much or far. Give it some time.

they are just now dropping Sough of you Sqiggy as well..... East tx visibility and low pressure right around a bedding area are key ingredients to seeing a lot of deer. Go against suggestions of not leaving a lot of corn out overnight right around the bedding areas and they will usually stop by for a bite before bedding down.

they are just starting to move here.

The deer in East Texas see a lot of hunting pressure in most areas. And as a result, a lot of East Texas hunters often say the deer have "just disappeared" after the first two or three weekends of the season. Obviously, they've just change their travel patterns and move more at night. Once December rolls around, and especially during the holidays, I try to hunt more during the middle of the week as much as I can. East Texas deer just seem to know when the weekends roll around.

I also walk more later in the season and use the ATV only to bring one out of the woods. Eliminate the noise and you'll see more and better deer.

I agree with Dan. Make as little to no noise and none that is not needed. East Texas deer are very nocturnal. Do you have any cameras out. I do and I see big deer at my feeders between 12 am and 1 am at all 5 of our feeders. I hunted 19 years in West Texas and it is much easier than in East Texas. I have found them to move between 11 am and 2 pm. I am not sure if that is the moon that has them doing that or the hunting pressure. There is a ton of pressure in East Texas and IMO the hogs reak havoc with the deer.

I'll be in the stand from December 7th-11th and hope to see a shooter buck or a good hog!!! I have pics from about 3 1/2 weeks ago where 4 doe were frequenting my feeder every night from 11pm-1am! And a hog right after dark, but no bucks? I know I have bucks around there cuz I've seen them! My stand is about 100yds off the creek with akerns and my feeder is about 100yds off their bedding area! Anyway, the akerns have really taken a toll on this years deer movement and sightings for most of us! But I try to stay optimistic and hopeful as should we all! Good luck guys!!!

I walk in and out of there so no extra noise. And the area I am in there is not much pressure since the neighboring property is like 2800 acres with no hunting on it.

I checked the doe i shot sat morn and all she had in her stomach was green grass. no acorns or deer corn so she hadnt been visiting any feeders. Am starting to see a few more deer but not getting my hopes up to much but will still be in the blind sat.

Yeah I have 2 other large leases surrounding my lease so I know all about pressure and getting in and out of the stand as quiet as possible!!!

Ihunt Anderson Co. Montalba area we see lots of deer on our lease. This year we have no acorns at all so the deer are really hitting the food plots and feeders.I saw 14 does and 12 bucks last friday. The bucks are still rutting also.

according to GW in Hopkins Co they have been staying in cover with all the rains and acorns. we saw very few this past weekend until we were ready to leave on Sunday and then this big buck goes running past our camp chasing a doe. A friend shot a 6pt saturday night north of us and that was all he saw.

Don't forget to mention the big buck we saw Saturday morning on the way to town at 11:00am. 250 yds. He was chasing two doe.

I agree guys east texas hunting sux. Tell everyone you know to just not even bother hunting it because there are no deer in east texas.

I had 5 doe and a button buck in the food plot this morning. Both of my cams are showing bucks, only 2 shooters, but only in the wee hours of the morning. Give it a few more weeks and they will be in the plot. The last 2 bucks I shot came in December and January.

Nice

Nice

This is true, but hunting pressure can make them just as noctural when using food plots, as they often do with feeders.

IMO, a cold, cloudy and damp day during the middle of the week in mid to late December is one of the best times to keep watch over a food plot.

if they are still alive, that is one of the best times of the year to catch them slipping up when they start thinking with their stomachs. Right now our folks are seeing most activity between 8am-11 and are saying they are coming out of the woodwork right at dark.

In 20 years of hunting the same piece of land I have them about figured out now. These are different deer: they go nocturnal easier, they are more timid. I have learned to hunt wisely during bow season only on days w/ favorable wind and conditions. Have multiple stand sites and dont over hunt any one. Save the best sites for the best times (ie. rut etc.) Dont run four wheelers, dont move around the property except to hunt and back. Basically, just dont be a knucklehead on your property (eliminates 99% of east tx hunters).