I was traveling along Hwy 71 east from Llano toward Hwy 281 Sunday morning around 3am. I bet I saw 10 to 12 huge bucks grazing in the ditch. I even had to stop to get a better look at one, probably in the 160's, a 10 pt.

We just got on a place right outside Llano this year and I'm very impressed with what we are seeing so far. Then again we should the price it costs to hunt there.

A 160's LF in Llano? That's a deer I'd like to see.

Bet that kept you wide awake.

We hunt at Buchanan Dam on 29 and its been a super good year so far as far as food and water sources that the deer have available to them. Last year was the same way. Hope this year is a good year for big bucks like last year was. Should be a bunch of acorns out this year too.

He probably looked 160 because his body weight was only 89 lbs. In reality he was probably more like 120. At least that's what I've seen after hunting Llano, Mason and San Saba counties for the better part of my life.

Just keep driving through.

Been lots of 150-160 deer taken in llano/ mason
I had a mid 150's ten pointer at 15 -20 yards last year during extended doe season. Buddies wife had him in cross hair last week of season but couldn't calm down enough to shoot him. I had to see for myself so first spot I went to during does season.
Neigbhors shot a 23" wide ten that scored 158.

There been two deer taken on the ranch I hunt at/over 150 in the last four years. One being a 9pt.

Body weights from 120-160

I love llano county. Great deer there - something in the soil.

Bodies aren't huge, but a lot of really nice horns.

I killed a 145 in Mason a few years ago and saw a couple of bigger ones before season started....so nice bucks definitely are there....

Last years 8 point. Shot him about 8: 45 Wed morning after opening weekend. 19 1/2 inside spread. This dude was in full rut and on a mission if you know what I mean. Got him with the Golden Estruce scent.



I was a little disappointed that it wasn't this 10 point that I had on camera. The racks are similar in size and width. I never did see this ten point after September but he was coming in regular before October acorns hit. Funny thing though, the 8 point that I did shoot, I had never even seen him on camera before and I had several cameras out in my area.

Llano/Gillespie County line. Not bad bucks at all...

well, there was a legitimate booner killed in Gillespie County a couple years back on MLD land and a 160's ten (I believe) that was hit by a car just outside Marble Falls last year (Burnet County). There are good deer out there. I just think the smart ones/giants are almost exclusively nocturnal with all the hunting pressure that part of the world gets.

You got it right when you say hunting pressure...the lease I was on had 8 hunters on less than 700 acres. There was usually only one decent buck killed per year. Before the season I would see a couple of 150-160 bucks, perhaps even larger...took pics of them and yet when the season started not one of us ever saw them.

is the llano hilton still out there, a bit SW of llano off of 16, cant remember exactly...the first lease i was ever on by myself was just down the road to the west from it. biggest deer taken off of it was about 135" buck, body was big too, was a great buck for our area at the time.

The Llano Hilton is on 2323 just of 16. Go by it many times. Shot plenty of doe in Llano county and a 109 buck just west of Enchanted Rock. I believe the deer living in the granite are bigger than the deer in the rugged hills in Gillespie Co.

A good dear friend use to have 110 acres west of the fredricksberg off Harper Hwy, he has a 153 ten point on his wall, that was no older then 4.5. I had 140+ 8pt that wasn't 13" wide, stand in front of my pickup, as I was pulling out to go to town, peeing on his hocks year before last.

Seen lots of good 140-150 bucks in velvet, at his front yard feeder. The disappear hard horned though

thats cool, it was the mid-late 90's when i was out there. i think we were only a few properties down from it, beautiful country.

180 7/8" gross LF buck that netted book. Killed in the drought of 2011 season on a 400 ranch on the Gillespie/Llano County line.
http://www.texasbiggameawards.org/images/large/SeanHeep11_15532.jpg

beautiful buck

There are a lot of big deer killed in mason county and surrounding counties. Most ppl keep quiet about for good reasons. There are pockets that hold big big deer if not shot up

Llano county fall 2012. Low fence. Scored 147.......They are there. Patience grasshoppa......

What is the Llano Hilton???

just an old deer camp house with "LLANO HILTON" spray painted in the side of it real big

Ive hunted in Llano for 20 years, seen some really good deer over the years. Here a few recent ones, there have been some big ones killed years ago


The Freak
Lil bros 2011 buck
My 2010 buck

I've seen some awesome bucks in llano. I had a few in the crosshairs last year. I only get antlerless tags at the Buchanan ranch...

My Llano county buck from Nov. 2012. Low fence, scored 156

If yall want to see some huge bucks, drive thru Horseshoe Bay some afternoon.

I have a 132 in 8 pt hanging over my fireplace. Killed on a day lease in Castell.

Hasse?

Could be Mosely or Martin as well.

Ill be hunting my lease in Llano this weekend, hope to see a monster like that!

This is our third year hunting 425 acres in W. Llano Co, Castell area. After holding off on and not shooting promising bucks the first couple years, we are finally getting some age structure. This year I have four 4.5yos on camera and three 5.5yos. Somehow they have found a way to make it thru each season.

As said before, you will rarely catch these bucks at feeders in daylight outside of the rut. They "get smart" right about the time they shed their velvet, and will go nocturnal if they come to feeders at all.

We have a Wildlife Management Association going in Castell, and we are working hard to get as many ranches as possible participating. So far, we have more that 10,000 acres working on managing to WMA guidelines. The WMA and Hunter participation is the key to growing big bucks year after year. If anybody hunts in the area and wants info, shoot me a pm.

You will get a kick out of this..I got flagged down last weekend by a couple guys. They wanted to let me know there was a steer out walking on the road, and wanted me to put him up... I said ok but he has about 40 more with him. Let him know I'd slow down when you drive over a cattle gaurd

Nice deer but 156?

Bet they were wondering what happened to the rest of the fence.

I don't doubt there is big deer in llano, but I bet like all other stories there is some slight exaggeration going on here. 10-12 huge bucks on the side of the road in one trip???

Heck some neighbors of my parents have a typical 14 they have seen a couple times in Guadalupe Co. just down the road but that don't make it common place.

Robert Mosley's place?

Yes,, it was Robert Moseley's place. We have been hunting there since '99. We always managed to do well. Not always gonna kill em around the feeders. But, if you are willing to hustle,, there are nice bucks to be had. Any info on the hunting this year in that area. Acorns ?? Are they coming to corn yet ? I appreciate the help

Acorns are just about gone. But, it is as green as spring out there and the rut has kicked. For the most part the bucks could care less about corn for now.

Im leaving Dec 2 . Ill be in Castell for a week. Any info between now and then would help alot. Thanks again !

That is a great buck!

Depends on definition of huge. Lots of big ranches and a ton of small ranchettes. if ranchettes aren't hunted, the tend to hold great deer, probably do to pressure pushing them there

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe 136. Not 156

This was mine from last year, Llano has been great for last 7-8yrs

That's a stud, jmax. Congrats.

All the bucks in my sig are Llano deer from last 10 years or so

Score these bucks some of your tape measures seem to me broken. Or addition turn into multiplication. All Llano below.