Picked up a new lease about 20 miles northeast of Aspermont. Curious if anyone has some knowledge of the area. Deer population, size etc etc.... Extremely rough terrain but good draws, heavy cover and water. Anyone hunted out that way

I haven't hunted there, but I've always heard that it can be pretty good out that way. I know a guy who grew up in Aspermont and still hunts up there, and he's got some very fine bucks on his wall. I'd say at least 4 of his deer go over 145" easily. But, that's probably over 50 years of hunting.

As a bonus, he is the best shot when it comes to bird hunting that I've ever seen and it isn't even close. When we go dove hunting he can sometimes limit out without missing a bird. He says that he learned to shoot by hunting quail as a kid, he'd just pack some water, take off across the ranch on foot, and flush coveys all day (without a dog).

I've always been interested in hunting that area, so I will be following this thread.

We almost bought a ranch on the Salt Fork. While touring it, we saw plenty of deer. GW said there were mulies there as well. I have two friends that hunt SW of Aspermont. The buck pics they pull of their game cams are quite impressive. The reason we didn't buy the ranch was because no city water lines bordered the property. The well water was liquified gypsum.

It can be very good hunting in that area. You just don't want to hunt more than 1 man per 500 acres to have consistent mature bucks to harvest. Good luck this season.

I hunted the west county line a few years ago and it was pretty good. Biggest buck seen on camera was in the 150 range and there were some pigs there.
I am currently hunting the southwest end of the county so we will see how it goes. I know there's plenty of deer there and lots of pigs. I haven't been out to the lease and not seen pigs. I'm hoping with all the rain the year that antler growth is going to be good.

There are no deer in Stonewall county.

not a large number of deer but when you see one chances are he will be a nice one

More like 1 per 1000 acres unless you have a VERY disciplined group. Most ranches up there are way overloaded to get the price per gun down. I don't blame folks for trying to make it affordable. I just have seen very few deer counts/management plans up there that recommend taking more than a buck per 800 acres+.

This ^^^^^^ unless your neighbor(s) has a man to every 300 acres then you are much better off with a man to 1500-1600 acres on a lot of those ranches up there. The place I hunted on we had 8 guns on 14,000 acres and not every one killed a deer each year.

Yep

I'd hunt up there in a heartbeat

Yikes. Not so good news. Guess I will find out. We have 640 acres with 3 of us. Thanks for the responses

Checked cameras the other day and am seeing good numbers of deer and pigs. Couple mature bucks showing some potential. Still too early to tell with all the rain.

It is not that there are not any deer or mature deer in that county. It is more of how long the hunting will stay good with to many hunters for that ranch if you are all shooting a buck every year. What your neighbors are doing will be as important or more than what you are doing on many places.

Not really bad news. There is plenty of hog and other predators to hunt. Dove hunting should be very good.

The quail have recovered well. Just manage it correctly and limit your harvest to 1-2 mature bucks. If you don't control it this way, there will be future years where you will see no mature bucks for a entire season.

Better to have 1-2 to harvest each season that all 3 of you can get excited about. I would hope on that much acreage your not paying a per hunter price that would make you feel like you over paid if you didn't get a mature buck.