texashuntingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Beatixre, MooseSteed, Trappernewt, casyoo
71987 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
dogcatcher 110,788
bill oxner 91,416
SnakeWrangler 65,413
stxranchman 60,296
Gravytrain 46,950
RKHarm24 44,585
rifleman 44,461
Stub 43,764
Forum Statistics
Forums46
Topics536,988
Posts9,719,164
Members86,987
Most Online25,604
Feb 12th, 2024
Print Thread
TPWD Draw hunts #6362616 07/08/16 05:39 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12,547
C
chital_shikari Offline OP
Minor in training
OP Offline
Minor in training
C
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12,547
Anybody hunted mule deer (gun or bow) on TPWD draw? Which WMA should I apply for? How is archery conducted (spot and stalk or do they have blinds or do you bring blinds etc.)?

There is a separate category for exotics, yes, but there are some deer hunts that have exotic as opportunistic. Specifically looking at Government Canyon, Kerr, and Enchanted Rock. Anybody seen any exotics out there?
Which draw hunts have exotics that are actually see-able? Anyone hunted, killed, or seen an exotic while deer hunting?

I'm planning on applying to 10 hunts this year and want to narrow down which Gun/Archery Deer hunts I'll apply for.

Which hunts are y'all gonna apply for?

Re: TPWD Draw hunts [Re: chital_shikari] #6362631 07/08/16 05:54 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,422
J
jeffbird Offline
Extreme Tracker
Offline
Extreme Tracker
J
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,422
I've been applying for nine years without being drawn.

Maybe this will be the year. Good luck to you.

Re: TPWD Draw hunts [Re: jeffbird] #6362640 07/08/16 06:04 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12,547
C
chital_shikari Offline OP
Minor in training
OP Offline
Minor in training
C
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12,547
Originally Posted By: jeffbird
I've been applying for nine years without being drawn.

Maybe this will be the year. Good luck to you.

Wow...I guess I got lucky last year that means. Then again it was youth only

Re: TPWD Draw hunts [Re: chital_shikari] #6362789 07/08/16 08:47 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,326
S
sqiggy Offline
Veteran Tracker
Offline
Veteran Tracker
S
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,326
I wouldn't put in for Kerr for exotics. I hunted out there early 2000 and this is a HF research facility and I was told then they were trying to kill off every exotics there. I have hunted 4 times there and never saw any exotics. May still be some there, but will be in very low numbers.
Now, I drew a archery exotic hunt at devils river. I missed a aoudad and killed a nanny. Nobody could ID the nanny. Said it could be a cross of somekind. Another guy on the hunt killed a ram and missed a whole bunch of other animals.
I don't know about the other places you mention.

Re: TPWD Draw hunts [Re: chital_shikari] #6362827 07/08/16 09:23 PM
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,138
Creekrunner Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,138
I drew Mule Deer rifle on the Sierra Diablo in 2008. Compartment hunting (no blinds), spot and stalk. I chose unit 1, it's the biggest and hardest to get around. In hind sight, I should have been more confident and explored the unit further to the north more. The biologist said that if you see forked horns to shoot it. I did the first morning. Not a huge rack, but I was happy. Just chilled and enjoyed far west Texas the rest of the hunt.



None of the other 3 hunters shot anything bigger, but one gentleman shot a narrow, very old buck. It's primitive camping, no trailers, and, no matter when you kill, you're there until the hunt is over (4 or 5 days, if I remember), at least at Sierra Diablo. TPWD personnel leads you in and out.



I've been putting in for Black Gap for a few years, Mule deer gun again. Lots of folks swear that Elephant Mountain has the best mulies. 'Never been there. Wherever you apply, it's open country. I don't bow hunt, so the bowhunters will have to advise you there, but I would want a rifle to reach out and try to take any buck I saw. A young man like you should be able to handle the primitive camping easily.


...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
Re: TPWD Draw hunts [Re: sqiggy] #6362830 07/08/16 09:25 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12,547
C
chital_shikari Offline OP
Minor in training
OP Offline
Minor in training
C
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12,547
Originally Posted By: sqiggy
I wouldn't put in for Kerr for exotics. I hunted out there early 2000 and this is a HF research facility and I was told then they were trying to kill off every exotics there. I have hunted 4 times there and never saw any exotics. May still be some there, but will be in very low numbers.
Now, I drew a archery exotic hunt at devils river. I missed a aoudad and killed a nanny. Nobody could ID the nanny. Said it could be a cross of somekind. Another guy on the hunt killed a ram and missed a whole bunch of other animals.
I don't know about the other places you mention.
I am applying for the deer hunt at Kerr; have very close family friend in that area and it would be an excuse to meet with him. Applying at Devil's River for gun hunts, as I'm applying with both myself and my dad on the application.

Re: TPWD Draw hunts [Re: chital_shikari] #6362838 07/08/16 09:31 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12,547
C
chital_shikari Offline OP
Minor in training
OP Offline
Minor in training
C
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12,547
Any info on Garner SP?

Re: TPWD Draw hunts [Re: chital_shikari] #6362854 07/08/16 09:52 PM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,271
P
Palehorse Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
P
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,271
Don't bother with Matador. There are no deer at Matador.

Re: TPWD Draw hunts [Re: Palehorse] #6362857 07/08/16 10:00 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 12,263
A
A.B. Offline
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Offline
Obi-Wan Kenobi
A
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 12,263
Originally Posted By: Palehorse
Don't bother with Matador. There are no deer at Matador.



None!


Talent is a gift, character is a decision.
Re: TPWD Draw hunts [Re: chital_shikari] #6362866 07/08/16 10:11 PM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 24,258
D
dkershen Offline
Rev Dave
Offline
Rev Dave
D
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 24,258
You should always check the harvest stats from previous year. Good info:
https://www2.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/h...est_Summary.pdf


To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

www.NewHopeEquine.com - Health and Healing through Horses.
Re: TPWD Draw hunts [Re: dkershen] #6362871 07/08/16 10:21 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12,547
C
chital_shikari Offline OP
Minor in training
OP Offline
Minor in training
C
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12,547
Originally Posted By: dkershen
You should always check the harvest stats from previous year. Good info:
https://www2.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/h...est_Summary.pdf
Am using those stats to decide! Some personal recon always helps though smile

Re: TPWD Draw hunts [Re: chital_shikari] #6362880 07/08/16 10:39 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,407
W
WileyCoyote Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
W
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,407
Garner is a very very tightly controlled hunt, drivers put you out for 4 hour session, pick you up for lunch and take you out for a 4 hour session. TMI for here but I won't go back. Axis only Exotics as I recall.
Ron

Last edited by WileyCoyote; 07/09/16 02:22 PM. Reason: accuracy & added content

It is TIME for Term Limits, cause Politicians are like childrens diapers and for the same reasons...Robin Williams

"These are the times that try men's soul's"...Thomas Paine

"Those who fail to learn from History are doomed to repeat it" ....Santayana
Re: TPWD Draw hunts [Re: chital_shikari] #6362964 07/08/16 11:57 PM
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 598
L
lms Offline
Tracker
Offline
Tracker
L
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 598
Hunted Guadalupe river state park last year with my son in-law and we shot 3 white tail, 1 axis doe and 1 Sika doe. Assigned blinds, some hunters got deer and some saw nothing, we just got lucky.

Last edited by lms; 07/08/16 11:58 PM.
Re: TPWD Draw hunts [Re: chital_shikari] #6363370 07/09/16 12:51 PM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,236
E
Erny Offline
Extreme Tracker
Offline
Extreme Tracker
E
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,236
With the new draw system the odds are pretty slim of being picked. I apply for a lot of hunts and most years don't draw a thing. Having said that, over the last 25 years I have been on some great TPWD hunts including some very hard to draw hunts like Pronghorn at the Rita Blanca and Mule Deer at Big Bend. Good luck to all on the draws. You can't win if you don't apply.

Re: TPWD Draw hunts [Re: A.B.] #6363703 07/09/16 07:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,606
C
Chunky Monkey Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
C
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,606
Originally Posted By: A.B.
Originally Posted By: Palehorse
Don't bother with Matador. There are no deer at Matador.



None!


Same when I went hunting there a few years back. No deer!

Re: TPWD Draw hunts [Re: chital_shikari] #6363755 07/09/16 08:15 PM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,096
C
Cajun Raider Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
C
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,096
Kerr is great. Got a buck and doe there in first 15 minutes of hunting.


Don't talk the talk if you didn't walk the walk.
Re: TPWD Draw hunts [Re: Chunky Monkey] #6374091 07/19/16 03:44 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 974
B
bossbowman Offline
Tracker
Offline
Tracker
B
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 974
Originally Posted By: Chunky Monkey
Originally Posted By: A.B.
Originally Posted By: Palehorse
Don't bother with Matador. There are no deer at Matador.



None!


Same when I went hunting there a few years back. No deer!
The Matador has gone to pot, used to be great, not anymore frown

Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 2004-2024 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3