well, I can say that my best bucks have been in late Dec or early Jan and mid morning....

arg.. can't edit

and that's both in South Texas (Refugio) and Central Texas (Goldwaithe)

I also have seen our best bucks during the post rut. Also it seems to make the bucks congrogate around one single doe. I have seen on many ocasions 4-5 bucks trying for one doe. The most I can remember seeing was 11 bucks after one doe, the buck that was "protecting" his property had his work cut out for him.

With what William was talking about, sometimes that buck will 'corner' a doe when she's about to come in, then defend her against all comers.  That doe just wants out of the corner, and all the inferior bucks want is to get to the doe.  When that dominant buck goes to fight another buck that gets too close sometimes its just long enough a youngster will beat him to the punch while he's away.  Really, something like that can go on for hours....looks worse than a 3-ring circus!

David you are right on that. Although it can be real interesting to watch. Sometimes reminds me of the good ol' days back in high school when we guys was tryin to "protect" our property!!!!!Man I don't know how I survived those good ol' days.

David and William you are right, those doe coming in late have the pick of the litter.  Remindful of the old 'Sadie Hawkins' dances!

During the peak of the rut for sure. The buck you see in the post rut will be chasing does more during the rut. And on my lease in South Texas, if you wait till post rut the bigger deer will have broken tines from fighting. The peak of the rut is always the best to catch a deer off guard. The post rut is better to hunt food plots and feeders, since they are drained from the rut.

Broken tines, from bucks fighting, mostly seem to occur during the period a couple weeks before the rut peaks on our lease.  That two week period just before peak is when we have witnessed the most serious fighting amongst the bucks.

Speaking of broken tines, I have not seen that many on our place this year, another indicator of a 'trickle rut' I'm thinking.  I know our buck doe ratio (1 buck: 1.6 doe) is the same as has been for the last 4 survey years we have done.

Ken,

You know, I hadn't thought about the lack of broken tines this year.  Great point.  Usually we see a LOT of that really from right after the first of the season on.  Haven't seen much of that at all so far this year.