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Rita Blanca National Grasslands
#5895539
08/25/15 07:23 PM
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Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 915
rdhibbs
OP
Tracker
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OP
Tracker
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 915 |
Is any one from the Panhandle area? I am thinking about taking my son hunting on the Rita Blanca National Grasslands (TX side)He is getting a new 20 GA. single break action for Christmas and has a .22, and will be looking for small game or birds. It would also be nice to know if there is a particular plot that is better. Does any one have any fairly resent experience they would share, I hate to make the hundred mile drive for nothing.
Thank You Robert
To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, right or wrong - is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Theodore Roosevelt
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Re: Rita Blanca National Grasslands
[Re: rdhibbs]
#5895580
08/25/15 07:46 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 604
red bluff
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 604 |
Look it up on the US Forest service web site to be sure but I think some areas are closed to prairie dog hunts. I spent 4 days chasing pronghorn almost 2 years ago and never saw a rabbit. There were a few dove but that was about it. Lots of prairie dogs.
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Re: Rita Blanca National Grasslands
[Re: rdhibbs]
#5895592
08/25/15 07:52 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,262
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,262 |
Becareful there is a endangered ferret up there they are pretty serious about.
I'd call them directly
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Re: Rita Blanca National Grasslands
[Re: rdhibbs]
#5895793
08/25/15 09:52 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,721
JeremyKS
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,721 |
There are actually no ferrets on the grasslands yet. They are still considering it. We hope we have them shut down from releasing them but time will tell. There are some areas closed to prairie dog hunting. We have been seeing more rabbits this year but not just lots.
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Re: Rita Blanca National Grasslands
[Re: rdhibbs]
#5895843
08/25/15 10:23 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,891
Sniper John
gumshoe
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gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,891 |
If your in Dumas, you probably know more about the current conditions there than most on the forum do. It should only be an hour or two drive. I would get hold of a map from the forest service, call the district manager for rita blanca and take notes on the map while you pick his brain, then drive up with the map and pre scout it one morning.
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Re: Rita Blanca National Grasslands
[Re: rdhibbs]
#5895861
08/25/15 10:34 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,891
Sniper John
gumshoe
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gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,891 |
Look up Taylor Lakes WMA too. There is some small game and youth hunting there and postcard draws for same listed in the TPWD APH book. Again I suggest driving down to look it over if you can. Two different years I stopped there for a hunt, the hunt conditions were drastically different.
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Re: Rita Blanca National Grasslands
[Re: rdhibbs]
#5896178
08/26/15 12:52 AM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 14,768
jeh7mmmag
gramps
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gramps
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 14,768 |
Have a look here for some camping and hunting. Lake is way down to almost nothing. Good Luck General Season: November 7, 2015-January 3, 2016 Bag Limit: 3 deer (no more than 1 buck and no more than 2 antlerless -- all seasons combined) Special Youth Seasons: •October 31 - November 1, 2015 (early open season) •January 4-17, 2016 (late open season) Bag Limit: 3 deer (no more than 1 buck and no more than 2 antlerless -- all seasons combined) [Special Whitetail Youth Hunts restricted to persons 16 years of age or younger. A Special Resident Hunting (Type 169) license is required.] LAKE MEREDITH NATIONAL RECREATION AREA NON-GAME HUNTING SEASON: RABBIT: October 31, 2015 - February 28, 2016 COYOTE: October 31, 2015 - February 28, 2016 http://www.nps.gov/lamr/planyourvisit/hunting.htm
�Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.� ~ John Muir
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Re: Rita Blanca National Grasslands
[Re: JeremyKS]
#5896268
08/26/15 01:36 AM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,262
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,262 |
There are actually no ferrets on the grasslands yet. They are still considering it. We hope we have them shut down from releasing them but time will tell. There are some areas closed to prairie dog hunting. We have been seeing more rabbits this year but not just lots. that's a hell of a deal!!!
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Re: Rita Blanca National Grasslands
[Re: JeremyKS]
#5896580
08/26/15 04:23 AM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 507
TWarren
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 507 |
There are actually no ferrets on the grasslands yet. They are still considering it. We hope we have them shut down from releasing them but time will tell. There are some areas closed to prairie dog hunting. We have been seeing more rabbits this year but not just lots. What is the issue with reintroducing ferrets?
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Re: Rita Blanca National Grasslands
[Re: rdhibbs]
#5897075
08/26/15 04:14 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,891
Sniper John
gumshoe
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gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,891 |
Think about it. Reintroduction of a rare endangered species dependent on prairie dogs and prairie dog habitat. Those areas are likely to become a designated protected sanctuary closed to hunting and other activities. Hunting of prairie dogs in those areas would be closed, if not closed on all public land. And possibly could close prairie dog hunting and control altogether within the entire region. Same with the habitat in those areas and on adjacent private land. Drilling, agriculture, building of roads, etc. could all be restricted because of protections caused by the endangered species act.
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Re: Rita Blanca National Grasslands
[Re: rdhibbs]
#5897154
08/26/15 05:01 PM
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Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 915
rdhibbs
OP
Tracker
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OP
Tracker
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 915 |
Thanks for all the replays. Glad to see that some one is from Dalhart, I was beginning to think I was the only Panhandle boy on here.
My first plan was Lake Meredith But I have arthritis in my knees and ankles so the rough Terran and long walking pretty well nixed that plan. By the way Lake Meredith is now up to over 50' again. We have had over 30" of rain here this summer alone (average annual 18") and forecast for much more.
My son is 12 and dying to go on his first hunt,
We are going on a hog Hunt the first weekend in October near Clarendon, the next weekend he is going Prong Horn hunting with the Texas Youth Hunting Program near Dalhart, the next weekend is a trap shoot in Sunray, and a dear hunt near Hadley during the January youth hunt with the Texas Youth Hunters Program.
I will have to check out the Taylor lakes as well, it seams that we are headed for Donley county often.
I was looking for a close place to home so he could shoot his new shotgun, We may just need to go to the range and let him shoot it, hut hunting sounds more fun.
Thank You Robert
To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, right or wrong - is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Theodore Roosevelt
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Re: Rita Blanca National Grasslands
[Re: rdhibbs]
#5897954
08/27/15 01:05 AM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,721
JeremyKS
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,721 |
Sniper John pretty much hit the nail on the head. I own land next to the Grasslands and the last thing I want is an endangered species on my ranch. I don't really have anything against the ferret but all the red tape that comes with them and the Endangered Species Act is the problem.
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