Hunting Season, Finally!

TO SAY 2020 has been an “interesting” year, is quite an understatement. We’ve faced a pandemic, which totally disrupted our lives with scarce food supplies in grocery stores, face mask requirements, and social distancing. Not to mention wide-spread protests and riots in large cities.

However, now comes the part of the year where social distancing has been the norm for years—whitetail deer season in Texas.

Hallelujah!

More and more people are heading to the deer woods this year. Many have realized whitetail deer provide some of the best meat there is—totally organic, highly nutritious, low fat and absolutely delicious. That’s not to mention they’re great fun to hunt, as well.

For me, whitetail season essentially never ends, at least not the part about preparing. I began planning for the 2020 season the day the previous hunting season closed.

(Photo: Larry Weishuhn)

This includes late winter fertilizing of native browse species and select oak and persimmon trees, as well as planting native browse and seed-producing plants. Add to this, predator control, looking for sheds, planting food plots, and creating trails through thickets during the summer.

Also, I practice with my rifles and handguns, making certain my Trijicon scopes are still properly sighted-in with appropriate Hornady ammo. In addition, my crossbows, and even a new Seneca Dragon Claw air gun (which shoots broad-head tipped air-bolts) have played heavily in my preparation.

A big part of getting ready too, was to make use of Texas Raised Hunting Products’ (TRHP) Curiosity Lure. Then about the time whitetail bucks’ antler development was completed, I put out TRHP’s Scrape King. As the season progresses toward the beginning of the rut, I’ll start using TRHP’s Dominant Buck and Inflamed Estrus scent.

I hunt on my property about 70 miles west of Houston, even though it’s not very big. I also hunt in the Lower Panhandle, and a few other places scattered across the state.

The rut around my home place generally occurs in late October, but I have seen bucks chasing does in late September. In other areas of Texas, the rut occurs in mid-November to late December.

Fortunately, I get to hunt properties other than my own that have Managed Lands Deer Permits. This allows me to take several bucks and numerous does each year.

Although I do use trail cameras to get an idea of what deer are in the area, I truly like being surprised.

Early in the season, while the rut is not yet underway, I hunt food sources. I do have a couple of feeders on my property, but those are primarily for hogs. They also hold does as much as possible, which will in turn, draw bucks.

I will try to take does during the first days of the archery season as soon as it opens (I can legally take does with my crossbow during the archery season). Then as the season progresses, I will concentrate on mature bucks.

In November I will hunt areas that hold does where I have TRHP scent working for me. Last day of the previous season, I saw a couple of bucks on my property that I am truly hoping to see again.

Big antlers? Depends on your description. With any luck, those bucks will have eight or ten points this year with about a fifteen to sixteen-inch outside spread.

I am thankful that, once again, it’s our time of the year.

Email Larry Weishuhn at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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