We are in an extreme drought this year. That may bring concern for most people, but for us it's the perfect recipe for a stellar season. There are two major advantages that come into play during a drought year on our properties. First, mesquite trees go into overdrive producing bean pods and whitetail absolutely love them as it's a great source of protein through the summer and fall. Gotta love Mother Nature's way of providing during those extreme conditions.

Secondly, all of our main properties have consistent water - whether it be the river that runs through the properties or the natural spring-fed ponds and streams. Even in drought, we always have water. When the rest of the surrounding properties go dry, the numbers of deer and other wildlife that migrate down to our properties increases dramatically. Come Thanksgiving and peak rut, we expect a full-blown battle for turf - making for some intense rut hunts.  Years like this you may rattle-up 15-20 bucks per sit. There won't be a single square inch of sandbar that's not covered in deer tracks.  

This time of the year is all about gathering intel on our properties. Dozens of cameras are deployed so we can get a feel for where our bachelor groups (that our hitlist bucks have associated themselves with) are located. Over the years, we have noticed that our target bucks usually stay in the same general area during the fall as where they spent their summer. It's also the area we feel that they are most comfortable returning to during parts of the rut. We put a lot of hours walking through thick brush, trimming limbs on bow stands, and preparing fall food kill plots. Personally, I utilize Vycah Field Pants this time of year  because they're super cool during these hot months and very durable. With some of the rough terrain we navigate, these pants are without a doubt up for the challenge.