Most whitetail hunters go to Texas for a chance at a Big Rack Buck, me too, I hope, but not to the detriment of the hunt itself which should be a challenge. I hear and see on video that the elevated stand challenge in many cases is in choosing the right buck and having him in a position for a kill shot without injuring other deer. It does seem simple but after watching 40 deer over the hunt, adrenaline has been rushing all over the hunter for most of the trip just as it was on my South Africa hunt. It is just not that easy! The hunter must maintain control and remain outwardly calm to make the shot. Perhaps so, but I want more…I want to call in a BIG BUCK with rattling antlers and a grunt call in such a way that his eyes are wide and nostrils flared and ready to fight to the death for rights to mate.
Lets say for fun that you were a large handsome 10 point buck and you have been hearing other bucks spar lightly with each other for days in early October. Sparring is a half-hearted fight to see who is bigger or badder and no one is injured. So you (the 10 point) continue to lay there in your bed chewing your cud, but instead of hearing tines tick you hear grunts followed by smashing antlers “big antlers” with all heck breaking loose. Then you hear silence…nothing! So you the big 10 point get up out of your bed to see what all the fuss is about… and walk towards the sound of the fight from a downwind angle to catch scent. And you smell buck tarsal gland and some doe in estrous perhaps. What does that 10 point think? A. that the bucks stink. or B. that a doe is in estrous and the bucks are fighting over her. I would certainly choose B.
What this means to the 10 point is that two other bucks have found one of “his” does in estrous and are fighting to the death for mating rights.
Scents can do this without antler rattling too as I killed a large NH 8 point just this way near his bedding area. Stiff legged the 10 point lowers his antlers and walk at the sounds determined to intervene. I killed my second NH 8 pointer and shot him at 20 yards as he came at me after a rattle grunt sequence with fight in his eyes till a 300 grain bullet from my muzzleloader struck his shoulder.
I may have to rethink a large racked Texas deer though and just attract him with a large set of rattling antlers and no calls. If antlers smashing together are large, then this, some say will keep the lesser bucks away and draw in larger racked deer.
Your guide is your expert! And you need to listen to your guide.
In New Hampshire just getting any buck is a good deal and a lesser set of rattling antlers can work.
The first does come into estrous in mid to late October in this Texas area and increase in mating activity as November ensues.
November or more exactly mid- November is the near the peak of the whitetail rut. More importantly hunters want to know when it begins in earnest. My research in Texas finds that different areas; North, South, East and West have different start and peak times according to Texas Wildlife Biologists. I believe strategically that the best time to hunt and get the drop on your buck is just as the rut begins and does each day increasingly come into estrous. Often a cold snap or weather front can influence its start but is largely dependent on when the doe comes into estrous.
Instead of being wary, bucks are obsessed with finding a doe to mate with, and some caution goes out the window.
In my Texas hunt area the beginning of the estrous rut is measured at around October 15th and peaks around November 18th according to biological studies. This is just as it is in my home state of New Hampshire give or take a few days. My hunt dates can’t be any more perfect in late October.
https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/planning/rut_whitetailed_deer/table/#prairies
Your best bet in finding a nice buck in Texas is to locate the does, just like New Hampshire.
The largest antlered bucks did not get large by being stupid.
They will often wait till the does are feeding in an open area and as darkness begins, they will come out, often at last light if at all. Many of the largest antlered bucks are nearly nocturnal. So the hunter gets exposed to lesser bucks, 6 and 8 point and must pass on them to get an opportunity at a larger antlered deer. Deer that I would shoot at home at 6 and 8 point, should likely be passed up if possible.
The chase, is important to me so rattling from a blind or camo set-up makes good sense for me and the lesser yet nice 8 point bucks may end up on my meatpole. Getting the drop on’em unaware that you are not another buck is really exciting and YOU ARE the hunter.
Before you arrived your guides know where the big bucks are seen and it is often the case to follow your guides strategy given your desires.
Scentless Body Sprays etc. – In prep for a ground hunt you need be scentless. Shower and keep hunt clothing and boots in a plastic container. Use state of the art scent removing products that destroy odor and gasses from bacteria, new products with silver in suspension are some I would consider. Most work pretty well, but it is what you eat and breath that also contribute to smell and body odor too.
Breathing and Throat Clearing – So breath issues perhaps should be considered l if I am in a ground blind. “Dead Down Wind ® makes a mouth spray that eliminates odor yet reduces coughing and the tendency to clear your throat. I use a bite of tart granny smith apple chunks to bath my throat and keep from coughing and clearing my throat. This should be addressed as vitally important.
Wind detection spray powder helps in a setup and to understand wind patterns around you. Get some for your pocket!
Binoculars are a must. I am a fan of Leupold products. I like the BX-2 Tioga 12×50. They are cost effective. https://www.leupold.com/binoculars/hd-binoculars/bx-2-tioga-hd-12x50mm
Good Hunting!
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