Whitetail Season Starts October 1st for Bow Hunters and Ends in February!
We have an exclusive relationship with private ranches offering whitetail hunts on 4 high fenced ranches covering 30,000 acres. Package hunts are available in both South Texas and West Texas. Trophy Whitetail Bucks are available in South Texas. Due to the type of ranches we work with, we also have an Extended Hunting season available for more opportunities. Some of these Ranches also have Exotic Species.
Whitetails:
Whitetails are the most popular game species in the United State: 20-25 million whitetails have been harvested by 11 million hunter. Deer are nocturnal which means that they can see at night and are usualy more active at that time. Whitetails spend most of their time looking for food and will be least active on days following a clear night due to a full stomach after a busy night of eating. Deer behavior is altered by many factors including but not limited to precipitation, position of the moon, wind, hunting pressure, and the rut. Deer travel to and from feeding areas in the last and first minutes of daylight, which is why they are usually seen at dusk or dawn. Texas hunting regulations allow hunters to harvest whitetails from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
Texas Whitetail Season:
Whitetail season traditionally runs from the first Saturday of November to the first or third Sunday of January depending on which half of Texas the hunting is done on. This year the traditional whitetail season is:
North Zone: from November 6th to January 2ndd
South Zone: from November 6th to Jaunuary 16th
What is an Extended Hunting Season?
A few ranches across Texas are privileged enough to be approved for an extended hunting season. The 
extended hunting season runs from October to the end of February when the deer drop their antlers. The South Texas and West Texas ranches that we work with have Managed Land Deer (MLD) Permits issued by Texas Parks and Wildlife that allow for this extended hunting season due to extensive land and deer management. To be approved for these permits, each hunting ranch must have a written Wildlife Management Plan that is approved by a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Biologist or Technician. MLD Permit deer do not require hunter tagging. the game tags on these deer are from the ranch and do not count toward the hunter's deer limit. This is an added oppotunity for harvesting more deer if the hunter chooses to do so.
Prime Time:
The best time for hunting whitetails is during the peak of rut (mating season). For these ranches the best time is in December although there are so many deer that anytime during the season a good buck can be harvested. It seems that this year, because of various indicators, the rut might be around the second week of
December.
Ranch Whitetail Management Programs:
Producing a quality whitetail takes good management of genetic lines, careful harvesting, and diet. Our management prograns include careful selection and addition of new breeding stock for improved genetics for producing the desired traits. Maintaining our high fence also helps to keep the bloodlines of these whitetails desirable. Highly managed Doe to Buck ratios with 1:1 being the goal also highly helps with maintaining a good genetic pool due to the built up competition with the biggest, strongest bucks mating. Age of animals harvested is carefully monitored to ensure that the best deer have the chance to produce the best trophy possible and reproduce to further the genetic lines. The South Texas and West Texas Ranches are high fenced and each use protien and mineral supplements in addition to natural rangeland to increase the health and size of the Whitetails on each property.
Ranch Set-ups:
Both of the South Texas Ranches have bow blinds available for bow hunters. Two of the ranches also have exotics available for multiple species hunts. The South Texas Ranch in Webb County had 20+ species available for hunt and the West Texas Ranch in Terrell County has 15+ species available.
Guides: Our Professional Guides, some of them are biologists, have years of experience in the mannerisms of whitetails insuring the success of your hunt.
WHITETAIL TERMS:
Sheds: The discarded antlers of bucks after the Rut. Deer grow a new set every year, usually getting bigger as the deer approaches maturity.
The Rub: Early in the season, whitetails rub their antlers on trees to remove velvet. It is necessary to prepare for rut, strengthening neck muscles for fighting. A "rubline" will give indication of a preferred travel route of a buck between bedding and feeding grounds.
The Rut: Mating season for deer. Lasts about 2-3 weeks. Usually peaks during December in Southern states. During Rut, deer are more active and less cautious than normal.
HUNTING TIPS
NOISE is one indicator to deer that there might be a danger close-by. Wearing soft clothes and rubber soled shoes is important when spot and stalk hunting as this helps the hunters to move with the least amout of sound possible.
MOVEMENT: wearing clothes that blend into the environment helps cover movement that would startle the deer.
SENT: is another important indicator. Many whitetail hunters and guides believe one of the most important things to do is cover human sent. One methods of hunting is preparing a sent pathway. A Doe in Extrus sent is usually recommended and widely used.
HIGHLY CONCENTRATED AREAS of Rubs is a good place for a stand.
HUNTING METHOD: The hunting is done mostly out of blinds and by rattling. Rattling is the imitaiton of bucks fighting by clashing or hitting deer horns together. But the spot-and-stalk hunting method can also be used depending on the hunter and/or the situation.
MOON PHASES: have been known to influence the behavior of deer. Feel Free to check out the moon phase when looking to book your hunt.
WEATHER: Warmer than average temperatures during deer season minimize activity. Wind makes deer nervous due to the distraction of their senses making it more difficult for them to identify possible threats.
SCOUTING: Look for trophy deer year round. Use binoculars and cameras set up on water places or feeders to locate good deer. Look for signs of bucks like rubs, sheds, and droppings.
General Hunting Safety:
10 Commandments of Firearm Safety (As done by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Todays Hunter in Texas 4th Ed.):
- Watch that muzzle! Keep it pointed in a safe direction at all times.
- Treat every firearm with the respect due a loaded gun. It might be, even if you think it isn't.
- Be sure of the target and what is in front of it and beyond it. Know the identifying features of the game you hunt. Make sure you have an adequate backstopdont shoot at a flat, hard surface or water.
- Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot. This is the best way to prevent an accidental discharge.
- Check your barrel and ammunition. Make sure the barrel and action are clear of obstructions and carry only the proper ammunition for your firearm.
- Unload firearms when not in use. Leave actions open, and carry firearms in cases and unloaded to and from the shooting area.
- Point firearm only at something you intend to shoot. Avoid all horseplay with a gun.
- Dont run, jump, or climb with a loaded firearm. Unload a firearm before you climb a fence or tree, or jump a ditch. Pull a firearm towards you by the butt, not the muzzle.
- Store forearms and ammunition separately and safely. Store each in secured locations beyond the reach of children and careless adults.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages before or during shooting. Also avoid mind- or behavior-altering medicines or drugs.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Hunting Ethics Recommendation:
A Responsible Texas Hunter 4Cs (As done by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Todays Hunter in Texas 4th Ed.):
- Careful: A hunters commitment and attitude to basic rules of safety.
- Courteous: A hunters behavior. To be courteous is to be polite or gracious.
- Considerate: A hunters respect for others.
- Capable: A hunters abilities including marksmanship, outdoor skills, knowledge level, and good judgment.
Contact Indianhead Ranch at 830-775-6481 or email us at info@indianheadranch.com