Sponsored by: Tex-Mex Outdoors,
Living in Texas has its advantages, especially in January, one day it can be 70 degrees then wake up the next morning and the temperatures can be in the low 30’s. Our rut is geared to cold weather. Those wiley old bucks can be hot chasing doe’s one cool morning then laying up under a shade tree in the afternoon when the temperatures go up into the 70’s. But let an Ole Blue Norther blow in and those bucks will be on the prowl for days.
It was the third week of January and I was on the road selling archery equipment, when my cell phone starting ringing. It was David Green from the famous Inflight Outfitters Ranch in South Texas. “Jim, If you have any opportunity you should get your butt down here now! It’s been warm for the past 3 weeks but we have a cold front coming in and I think those bucks are going to go crazy!”
The next day, Wayne and I were in Mathis Texas sitting on the front porch of Inflight Outfitters, a 5000 acre ranch that is managed for big bucks. That afternoon it was in the high 60’s and lots of sunshine, perfect turista weather! Terrible for rutting bucks. We went out with my trusty bow in hand and set up our blind along a food plot with lots of scrapes, rubs and deer trails coming in and out. That afternoon we saw lots of deer, does, small bucks, one really bruiser of an old buck that was not interested in rattling horns, grunt tube, hot doe scent or ugly hand language. He just walked out of our lives, never to be seen again.
There is something about a 5 AM wake-up. It’s just an evil sound. I staggered out of bed, showered, dressed in my camo and started the day with hot coffee & several chocolate donuts. We were shortly back in our ground blind along the same food plot, it was cold and overcast in the mid-30’s, 100 % humidity with a 10 mph wind. We had ground fog and we couldn’t see much. Wasn’t much better as magic time arrived with barely enough light to see 20 yards. I went to work on my grunt tube and a rattling sequence. Within minutes, fog and all I could see this monster buck stepping out of the brush. He cautiously scanned the food plot, looking for the buck fight. I gave a low guttural growl on my grunt tube and that’s all it took for this buck to lay back his ears, put on his swagger and come in.
I picked up the bow that had been resting on my leg and waited for that perfect shot angle. At 25 yards he turned and gave it to me. I settled my sight pin on the buck and hit the release. The arrow went through both shoulders and landed 10 yards on the off side. At the sound of impact the buck exploded off the ground and the race was on. We watched as the mortally hit buck ran a huge circle out into the food plot then circled back toward the brush line. We could see the Grim Reaper gusher as he ran and within seconds, it was over.
After the high of the hunt had died away we got down to the business of photos and getting my buck into the truck and head back to the camp house What a thrill to be able to hit the weather just right for the second rut . Thanks to David Green and the fine folks at Inflight Outfitters for their hospitality. If you would like a hunt of a lifetime be sure to contact David. I know you will not be disappointed.
For more please go to: DAVID GREEN @ Inflight Outfitters/ PHONE: 361-547-0495 / or email: INFO@INFLIGHTOUTFITTERS.COM
Equipment Used On This Hunt:
Arrows: Victory TKO-Rip 300’s / Blinds: Rhinoblinds /Bow: Xpedition Xplorer SS / Broadheads: Afflictor 1 & ¾ Inch Cut/ Boots: Russell Moccasins “Snake Boots” / Bow Case: Lakewood Cases / Clothing: TLH Lost Camo / Cover Scent: Nose Jammer / Game Scout Cameras: Spy Point / Knives: Knives Of Alaska / Lighted Nocks: Nockturnal / Lights: Elusive Wildlife Tech / Optics: Zeiss Sport Optics 8×32’s / Stabilizers: 365 Archery / Sights: HHA Lite King Pin.L
