The 7th Day Of Bow Season. The morning hunt - JimboTX hunted the 3rd Fence and saw 2 does behind him. The Duck saw several does at his Dry Pond stand.

The 8h Day Of Bow Season. This morning the Duck saw a bunch of deer. Robbie and I didn't see any. The Duck loaded up and went home for a few days.
This afternoon I'm hunting at the Pocket (where I got the 11 point last year). Robbie is going to be at the Point -- there has been a whole lot of traffic there.
As I neared the Pocket I jumped 3 deer, uggg. Five deer came through my area while I sat the stand. Robbie hunted the Point and saw 4 deer (too far away) and watched an armadillo take a mud bath in a big puddle. There is a heck of a lot of deer sign at the Point.
The 9th Day Of Bow Season. This morning it was so moonlight when we went out it was like early morning. No deer movement anywhere.
Right now Robbie and I are headed to the "Windmill " area. It's thick as heck, visibility is lousy, which puts the deer in close. We're wondering if we will see the wild hogs that Rick saw on Tuesday. In a few short hours we will know.
This (Sunday) afternoon was one hot Texas day and the deer didn't move. The oak tree I hunted has the "Wilt", some darned tree disease that kills the tree. Last year this spot was a Live Oak acorn thicket. This year the trees are all dead, many of them are on the ground. But there's still lots of deer sign in the area.
The 10th & 11th Day Of Bow Season. I won't be able to hunt for a couple of days.
The 13th Day Of Bow Season. Early this morning Rick Phillipi saw 6 does, all close range. John had an 8-point buck cruise him. They were both in the thick woods that turns into the bedding ground. I hunted in the Canyon doorway and saw 6 does and a buck with a normal right horn and an inch high mushroom looking horn on the left.
(Afternoon) Right now, we are heading out again. Rick is returning to the stand where he bagged the turkey last week. John is in his tripod in the CS strip. And I will be at the Point.
Last evening Rick got the wild turkeys in again and missed a gobbler. Then a large doe came in and he filled a doe tag. At the Point I surprised a bunch of turkeys when I got there. Several does came up late afternoon but it was getting to be low light so there were no shooting opportunities.
On the evening hunt: The woods here started turning brown today. It's a subtle change in coloration, the green leaves of the oak and elm trees suddenly have a tinge of yellow brown to them. Autumn is coming.
The 14th Day Of Bow Season. This morning I located the first big buck I've seen so far. He was bedded down near the Pocket, where I got an 11-point last year. I also had 25 wild turkeys (hens and some jakes) get real close to me and saw one lone doe.
The weather is changing, the wind is blowing hard, it's overcast and it's a bit cooler. I'm heading out for the evening hunt. I think I'll go to the Point and see what shows up there.
My evening hunt was at the Point. The weather alternated between windy and real windy. Then it rained. I saw exactly the amount of deer that I usually see before a front arrives, zero.
The 15th Day Of Bow Season. This morning Robbie hunted the Poiint and saw a buck traveling with 2 does. His son Robert (16) hunted a stand behind my house and saw 3 does. We went into town to eat and saw 6 does in a group. It's raining, one of those slow soaking rains that are good for the land. Right now Robert is practicing, he's been at it for an hour, he's a natural archer with good form and grouping.
Yesterday morning I located the first big buck I've seen so far. He was bedded down near the Pocket, where I got an 11-point last year. I also had 25 wild turkeys (hens and some jakes) get real close to me and saw one lone doe.The weather started changing, the wind is blowing hard, it's overcast and it's a bit cooler. My evening hunt was at the Point. The weather alternated between windy and real windy. Then it rained. I saw exactly the amount of deer that I usually see before a front arrives, zero.
The 16th Day Of Bow Season. (In progress.) (4:02am) I just woke up and it is not raining! The weather forecast for today says "rain", but yesterday it said "scattered thunderstorms" and it rained all day, so who knows. The weather has always been hard to figure.. Robbie and his son Robert are down and if it's not raining when they wake up at 5:45 we will all give it a go.
(11:00am) The weather forecast for today says "rain", but that's wrong. It is cooler though, in the low 60's. This morning Robert (15) hunted on my fenceline in a tripod stand. He spooked several deer going to his stand. Later on a doe hopped the fence and surprised him, he saw four more further away. Robbie didn't see anything. I saw a fork horn. Right now everybody is taking a nap. We are going out around 4:00 this afternoon.
(4:00) Right now we are leaving for the afternoon hunt. I'm at the center of my place in a new stand called the Mound, Robert is in Alex's Road and, if it's not too muddy to get there, Robbie is at the Point.
On the afternoon hunt Robbie saw a fork horn at the Point. His son Robert (15) and I didn't see any deer. But it was a beautiful afternoon. Sixty degrees, overcast with a light breeze. Perfect deer weather. I was watching a big Jack Rabbit and suddenly a Gray Fox took him out and carried him off for dinner.
The 20th Day Of Bow Season (In Progress).
(10:30am) This morning a doe and a fawn browsed by me. It was late morning, after 9:00. Donald Duck just came in from hunting the Dry Pond stand and he saw 3 bucks. He rattled and in a few minutes he spotted the white Stringhead and a heavy horned forky came in. Then a big 8-point showed right under Don and charged the smaller bucks and cowed them. Then he sparred with Stringhead. Due to the sound of their horns clicking and them stomping around noisly Don decided not to shoot and see if any other bucks would show. The 8-point switched to the forky and they sparred for 20 minutes. No other deer showed.
 (7:43pm) I'm the first one in from the afternoon hunt. I hunted my 3rd Fence Corner stand and saw 13 deer. One was a heck of a big buck but I was sitting and he was on my right side and slightly behind me and I couldn't shoot. This is the first time I sat this stand and all the activity was behind me. This stand will probably be ok in the morning when the traffic is the other way. In the Windmill area Rick Phillipi saw a buck in hot pursuit of a doe. It's the first time this season any of us have seen a chase in progress. It is a good sign. Rick also saw 4 more does. Donald Duck hunted the Canyon and saw a huge doe with a button buck. Then two coyotes came up and he shot but missed.
The 21th Day Of Bow Season (In Progress). (6:50am) I'm headed out for my 3rd Fence stand. Maybe big boy will come from the other direction today.
(11:00am) Don had several deer in his Dry Tank stand area. Rick and I zipped. Right now, I am going to move the stand I hunted last night, so I can see the area better. I don't have much time because this buck may come back now, but when the rut starts (next week) the chances won't be good to see him again.
(Friday: 7:30pm) I hunted the Windmill Corner in the cedars. At 6:00 I rattled softly. A buck came right away. He was mature but had tiny forked antlers. As he marked a bunch of the cedar limbs I could see two more deer through the trees. They all left. Later a doe came up where the cedars were marked. Then the tiny horn buck appeared and came up to her. She'd have none of him and left. I'm headed to check on everyone else.
(8:30pm) Rick got another wild turkey. He is some impressive turkey bowhunter. John didn't see anything. Don saw some does.
The 21th Day Of Bow Season (In Progress). (6:50am) I'm headed out for my 3rd Fence stand. Maybe big boy will come from the other direction today.
(11:00AM) No one saw any deer this morning. Rich and John returned home. The Duck and I are still hunting.
(Friday 7:25pm) A buck day. At the 3rd Fence stand a fat 6-pointer passed by right directly under my treestand. He stopped and smelled my ladder (I put it up yesterday) but was unconcerned. Later a Forky came by within 10 yards. Later I saw another buck waiting by the fence crossing. The rancher that leases my corral for his horses cam up and made a bunch or racket. The buck stood still and watched him. On the way out saw that he had the water trough working. The deer love well water and my trough was a regular stop before a cow broke the float. I'm heading to check on Don. The Duck hunted the wheat field and saw dozens of deer. He is on a heavily travelled crossing.
The 23th Day Of Bow Season (In Progress). (7:18pm) This afternoon I am hunted the December Tree area (another core rut area, it's been hot for 6 years running.) There was one small scrape under the perennial scrape tree. I saw 2 deer about 100 yards off. The Duck hunted the edge of the wheat field. He saw 2 does and 1 buck. Slow afternoon.
(3:01pm) I just returned from scouting the Pocket area. Tracks are everywhre (after the recent rain). What I wanted to know was if the Pocket's Core Rut Area is active again this year. Yes! It was! (Nothing beats hunting an area that you know.) This is not a random scrape, it means that the rut has started.
(10:05am) I hunted 3rd Fence again. No moonlight and it was dark going to the stand. Some deer snorted me and spooked. Didn't see any deer, just me and the squirrels. A beautiful, cool fall morning. Invigorating. The Duck hunted the Dry Pond and saw several does.
The 24th Day Of Bow Season (In Progress).
(Monday 6:40am) This morning I'm taking a different angle on the same problem. I'm hunting a funnel and a corner on one of the routes that big boy probably uses to get to the bedding area.
(Monday 10:21am) The funnel has two different routes. One at the edge of the woods and the other along the edge of a steep dropoff. I can see the trail in places and the deer all used that route today. I have a stand on that route too, at the edge of the bedding area. But you can only hunt one at a time. The Duck hunted the Canyon and saw a big doe and two yearlings. He heard turkeys several times.
(Monday 8:20pm) I hunted the 3rd Fence Crossing and saw no deer. The Duck hunted the Dry Pond and got snorted.
For dinner Don cooked up breaded venison backstrap, mashed potatoes, southwestern style beans and sausage. It was darn good.
The 25th Day Of Bow Season (In Progress). I'm not going to be able to hunt this morning. I have to go into the office. Larry and I worked on the Old Chat and got it back up and did maintenance on the Clubhouse refresh and sped it up.
I hunted in the afternoon, at the 3rd Fence stand, but didn't get out until 5:00pm. It showered briefly several times. One lone year and a half doe walked by. That was it!
The 26th Day Of Bow Season (In Progress).
(Wednesday 8:50pm) Another buck day. I hunted December Tree and saw a nice 8-point work the scrape and come up by me. He waited for some time. Two does moved through but he just watched them.
Rick had a big 1-point in close in the Back but didn't get him. Doug saw some does in the Strip.
(3:45pm ) MESSAGE: To JimboTX -  From my back window I can see a major flock of wild turkeys feeding along fence #2 right toward, you guessed it, your stand. If you can, when you come today, get here early afternoon.
(10:40am) Doug is the man! This morning he watched a nice 8-point mark cedar limbs on the trail that leads right to him. He made a perfect shot and we just finished field dressing his buck. Rick Phillipi saw 2 does. I hunted December Tree area and saw 3 doe families and 6 solo does, a total of 12 in all. Two of the does approached the scrape.
(5:50am) It is one dark morning. Foggy, 66 degrees and moonless. It has been raining but it just stopped. I'm headed for the December Tree rut area. It'll be the first time I've hunted it in the morning.
The 27th Day Of Bow Season (In Progress).  This afternoon I hunted the the treestand in the Windmill area and saw 4 does. They all were solo. Two of them got real close. Rick hunted the Back and saw 2 does. Doug drew a blank in the stand where he got the 8-pointer yesterday. JimboTX hunted the 3rd Fence stand at my place and saw 2 does. At dark the moon was bright, just about overhead, and about half-moon.
This morning the deer didn't move. I hunted the Pocket. Rick was in the Back and Doug was in the Strip. After hunting I moved one of my tripods from the Pocket to the Windmill area and switched the treestand (it was squeeking).
The 28th Day Of Bow Season (In Progress).  (8:00pm) JimboTX hunted the Rock Ledge area and saw 4 does further down the hill. John and I hunted the Back and didn't see anything.
(9:39am) When I slipped into the December Tree scrape area it was pitch dark and I spooked a deer. Couldn't tell what it was. Later a 6-point checked the scrapes (now there are two, the real one at the DC tree and one I made up the hill) three different times. The sixer has a swell looking Texas shaped rack, high wide and curved real nice. He's gonna be a bomber in a couple of years. JimboTX hunted the Mound and saw one doe. It showered briefly a couple of times, maybe the weather will cool off (fingers crossed).
Here is where we are right now for our deer season. The bucks have broken up their buddy groups and are looking for does. Several does are running solo too, their hocks are coal black, and a few does are in rut. The Duck, Rick and I have all seen bomber bucks. Two of my "traditional" core rut areas have active scrapes and I saw an 8-point work the December Tree scrape. In addition, the Windmill area looks like it is going to "pop" also. Bucks and doe are mouthing cedar limbs and there are lots of fresh rubs. This area is adjacent to a huge bedding area of cedars and smaller oaks, so it is perfect for a rutting gathering place. Rather than try to find the core scrape area I set up a tripod in the woods between the area's two major fence crossings. I've wanted to hunt this area for years but the trees were too darn short. Now they are tall enough. Also, my property is between two bedding areas and is getting good deer traffic, both bucks and does.
The 29th Day Of Bow Season (In Progress).
(Saturday 8:00pm) On the afternoon hunt an unidentified deer came in to the nearest scrape; but I was, apparently, brain dead and didn't see it, until it caught me moving around--which, unfortunately, I was doing because I had totally zoned out and started swatting at mosquitos. Later on a doe came through. John hunted the Point and no deer showed up.
(Saturday 3:00pm) I just got back from putting a tripod stand up in the Pocket area. Driving in I saw a buck bedded down that had one very fine set of antlers. When he saw the truck he ducked his head down in the grass. I didn't bother him, I want him "liking to hang out here". He was by the "Y" Tree, which is very near the Pocket's core rut area.
(Saturday 10:30am) This morning JimboTX hunted my 3rd Fence crossing and saw 4 does. John hunted the Back and didn't see any deer. I slept in.
The 30th Day Of Bow Season (In Progress).
(Sunday 7:44pm) After the rain the road through the property was one mud hole after another. One lone forky came by the Pocket. A pack of coyotes sounded off nearby as I was getting down from my treestand. It was a nice 3 hour sit, sunshiny with large white clouds. The wind started gusting just before I left home so I took my camo coat along. Good idea. The temperature was 78 degrees when I left and now it's 56 degrees and falling.
(5:00am) It's raining. I waited awhile and it didn't quit. I went back to sleep. This afternoon I'm hunting at the Pocket. Last year, on this day, I harvested a heck of a nice 11-point there. We'll see what happens this year.
(8:00pm) A couple of does came through. Later a young buck passed behind me. And that winds up the Texas Archery Season for 1998.