Whether a buck of a lifetime is harvested, hunters should not get discouraged, because the longer it takes to realize a dream, the fonder the memory. 

Story and photography by Bob Zaiglin

Deer hunting season is approaching, and hunters are beginning to wonder how those white-tailed deer have fared and what they can expect to see this fall, particularly when it comes to antler size.

Deer hunters understand the benefits timely and abundant rainfall, particularly in the spring, has on antler size and recruitment.  They also realize the detrimental impact drought has on fawn survival, which dictates just how many trophy bucks exist not only this season, but more importantly in the future.  Veteran hunters also know dry years are common and wet years are rare.  Nowhere is this more evident than across the Rio Grande Plains.

Drought had a firm grip over much of South Texas and the Hill Country during the first half of 2025 until an excessive amount of rain pummeled the Hill Country and northern portions of the brush country in early July.  As a result, drought was alleviated as Hill Country rivers rose, in some cases to devastating levels, quenching the thirst of reservoirs like Canyon Lake and Choke Canyon that were at dangerously low levels.

The profusion of rain received in July will obviously benefit not only deer, but all wild inhabitants.  Texas, however, covers a vast area, and not all drought-stricken regions, particularly in the southwest portion of the state, received an adequate amount of the liquid gold.

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