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...