Whitetail Rut in the Texas Crosstimbers

If you hunt in north-central Texas and want to hunt the rut, research on white-tailed deer in this ecoregion has shown conception dates in the Cross Timbers and Prairies were as early as October 13 and extended to December 17. Thus, mid to late season bowhunters literally get the first shot as rutting bucks, but whitetails in the region continue rutting almost up until Christmas.

In the northern portion of the region the average breeding date was November 15 and the average breeding date in the southern part was November 17. Biologists recorded an average of 1.7 fetuses per doe and 95 percent of the females had been successfully bred.

The majority (90%) of the fawns are born by June 15 in the northern area and by June 20 in the southern area.