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TPWD Draw hunts
#6362616
07/08/16 05:39 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12,547
chital_shikari
OP
Minor in training
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OP
Minor in training
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?
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Re: TPWD Draw hunts
[Re: chital_shikari]
#6362631
07/08/16 05:54 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,424
jeffbird
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,424 |
I've been applying for nine years without being drawn.
Maybe this will be the year. Good luck to you.
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Re: TPWD Draw hunts
[Re: jeffbird]
#6362640
07/08/16 06:04 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12,547
chital_shikari
OP
Minor in training
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OP
Minor in training
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12,547 |
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
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Re: TPWD Draw hunts
[Re: chital_shikari]
#6362789
07/08/16 08:47 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,326
sqiggy
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
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.
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Re: TPWD Draw hunts
[Re: chital_shikari]
#6362827
07/08/16 09:23 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,300
Creekrunner
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,300 |
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
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Re: TPWD Draw hunts
[Re: sqiggy]
#6362830
07/08/16 09:25 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12,547
chital_shikari
OP
Minor in training
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OP
Minor in training
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12,547 |
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.
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Re: TPWD Draw hunts
[Re: chital_shikari]
#6362854
07/08/16 09:52 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,271
Palehorse
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,271 |
Don't bother with Matador. There are no deer at Matador.
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Re: TPWD Draw hunts
[Re: Palehorse]
#6362857
07/08/16 10:00 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 12,263
A.B.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
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Obi-Wan Kenobi
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 12,263 |
Don't bother with Matador. There are no deer at Matador. None!
Talent is a gift, character is a decision.
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Re: TPWD Draw hunts
[Re: dkershen]
#6362871
07/08/16 10:21 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12,547
chital_shikari
OP
Minor in training
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OP
Minor in training
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12,547 |
Am using those stats to decide! Some personal recon always helps though
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Re: TPWD Draw hunts
[Re: chital_shikari]
#6362880
07/08/16 10:39 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,407
WileyCoyote
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
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
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Re: TPWD Draw hunts
[Re: chital_shikari]
#6362964
07/08/16 11:57 PM
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 598
lms
Tracker
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Tracker
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.
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Re: TPWD Draw hunts
[Re: chital_shikari]
#6363370
07/09/16 12:51 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,243
Erny
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,243 |
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.
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Re: TPWD Draw hunts
[Re: A.B.]
#6363703
07/09/16 07:29 PM
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,606
Chunky Monkey
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,606 |
Don't bother with Matador. There are no deer at Matador. None! Same when I went hunting there a few years back. No deer!
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Re: TPWD Draw hunts
[Re: chital_shikari]
#6363755
07/09/16 08:15 PM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,096
Cajun Raider
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
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.
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Re: TPWD Draw hunts
[Re: Chunky Monkey]
#6374091
07/19/16 03:44 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 974
bossbowman
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 974 |
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
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