atthewall Posted November 2, 2009 Report Share Posted November 2, 2009 Roughly a week ago, the Texas Hill Country rut fired off in a big way! During recent years, warm weather, uncooperative moon phases as well as drier range conditions extended our classic rut out several weeks. This year's rut was different, cold fronts mixed with rain, excellent range conditions coupled with a full moon kicked off a very aggressive and well defined rut. Here's some scenes witnessed last week....ENJOY! Rob I've watched this buck for roughly 4 years now. Each year he simply amazes me. Junior "Bird Dogging" a hot doe LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted November 2, 2009 Report Share Posted November 2, 2009 OK, I think I'm in love. When are you taking me hunting with you? :) WOWZERS ...Fantastic pics and deer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted November 3, 2009 Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 Buckee, will you please pick me up on your way down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chenango Dave Posted November 3, 2009 Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 Awesome series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airman312 Posted November 3, 2009 Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 those are really nice pics...thanks for sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atthewall Posted November 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 Thank you y'all! Come on down - plenty of land and mucho big deer!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atthewall Posted November 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 (edited) Here's a few more Couple of months ago I managed to catch this pair in velvet. And a few more recent rut scenes Real late evening here Ghosting out of the cedar break Working a scrape line And this guy needed a drink LOL! This was this year's key to our "above average" rut. We went through a serious summer drought, broken by tons of rain and major drops in temp. Things simply kicked off in a big way. Edited November 3, 2009 by atthewall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaseasl Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 awesome pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 Wow, great pics, and truly a caliber of buck you won't find in too many places. Outstanding pics bud! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layin on the smackdown Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 absolutely awesome photos! Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnie Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 I was thinking, man I need to go to Texas, up until the spider picture, now NO WAY MAN Great pics thanks for sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 AMAZING PICS!! Thanks for sharing! Great job!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atthewall Posted November 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 Thanks guys! Don't worry about the Texas Tarantulas...it's starting to cool down now and they will hibernate somewhere out there.....along with the rattlesnakes Trekking through the brush out here, one should wear snake boots and always keep one eye peeled for rattlesnakes. Prickly Pear cactus, the huge expansive patches (we call them Pear Patches) are typical rattlesnake spots. The spines protect them from predators above and they can hunt the small critters that feed/live below the cactus. A few shots from yesterday evening. Each shot has a doe nearby....note the posturing....sniffing the wind as their doe tries to feed upwind. Bucks typically try to keep their doe pointed upwind..prefering to hang back downwind relishing that doe in heat smell. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesse8953 Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 Which one do you have your eye on? I would like to see any one of them in my crosshairs.Nice pictures,Maybe I should save my money up and hunt in Texas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atthewall Posted November 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 (edited) I have my eye on all of them Thank you! I enjoy studying this herd and it's a very rare place indeed.....no hunting....light livestock....huge ranch and no management. It has several natural springs, stream areas have been cleared just enough to provide browse/forbes year round. Denser areas full of cedar breaks mixed with oak, are left natural allowing for cover and other forage/browse options for these guys. It's low fence and the bordering properties are hunted but.....it's huge enough to contain many mature animals. I have been blessed to watch these guys live a full lifecycle from beginning to end. I roam here year round with my cameras...it keeps me out of trouble LOL! I hunt another ranch deep in the South Texas brush country (Golden Triangle - near Mexico). It's not prime there till roughly mid-December when the rut kicks-off. South Texas bucks are simply bigger....if you can believe that after staring at these guys. Scene from this morning Edited November 5, 2009 by atthewall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerdanmagic Posted November 8, 2009 Report Share Posted November 8, 2009 Incredible shots. I could look at your photos all day long. Please keep them coming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted November 8, 2009 Report Share Posted November 8, 2009 You are blessed with a great place for subject matter! Great pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adriandr Posted November 10, 2009 Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 Texas Hill Country Rut Any signs of the rut in the Austin area yet? Trying to decide of this weekend will be worth the trip since last weekend was so slow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atthewall Posted November 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 Thanks guys! Any signs of the rut in the Austin area yet? Trying to decide of this weekend will be worth the trip since last weekend was so slow. Yes the rut kicked off early this year, roughly 2 weeks ahead of schedule. Should be some backside rut activity around Travis County now....just make sure you hit the woods with a North wind. Things swing to the slow side on SE or S winds right now...enough heat left in the Gulf of Mexico to swing temps 30 degrees up on the wrong side right now. Here's one from the end of last week. Note his doe in the top left corner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandonBowling21 Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 truly awesome pics look like youll have a good season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.