The deer movenent has really slowed down the last 2 weeks with the temps in the 80’s and the acorns still falling. The deer are mainly moving at night during these warm spells but roaming in the daylight hours during these little 1-2 day cold snaps. We really need a good cold front and a hard wind and some rain to get rid of these acorns. Most have quit hunting, but our little bunch still needs to take about 20 more deer to meet our quota that the bioligist requires. We have until the end of Feb though and the weather will turn around by then, Jan and Feb are really good months to pattern and harvest deer on food sources just like in the early season.

We have harvested some nice deer here in ETX this year with several 150 and 160 class deer being reported as well as a 17pt that went 175 taken in Newton Co. On our place their have been several in the 140’s and one in the 150’s, with them being 5 1/2 years old and older. Our counties way to the south and west in the hill country and south tx have been doing real well with several deer over 200 taken as well as one that went in the 270’s gross. Monsters have also been coming back across from old mexico as that country that is usually dry had a great winter,spring and summer with lots of plant growth and flooding waters and it is really showing up in the horns. A record setting year for sure.

Duck hunting during the first split has went well for most everyone I have talked with. Several of the guys I work with went this morning and killed their limits with no problem. I am hearing of really good hunting on the sulphur and red river as well as on some of the major E TX lakes. Dam b is full and loaded with vegetation and has been holding a fair number of birds and has been giving up limits to everyone that I have talked to that is hunting it. The creeks are full of wood ducks with all the acorns that are falling and are perfect for jump shooting.

I have bought a finished squirrel dog out of VA and am awaiting his arrival. When he gets here we are going to hunt him hard and see how many squirrels we can finish the season out with. Here in Texas not a whole lot of people squirrel or rabbit hunt any more, but we have beagles and now a feist to extend the season with. Squirrel season closes the first weekend in feb and the limit is 10 per day. There is no closed season or bag limits on rabbits.

There is plenty of time to do lots of hunting, so dont let the warm weather end it for you. Get out there and get with it, you cant kill them sittin on the couch wathin football.