We finally drew a tag at the Chaparral WMA for archery deer. Anybody else draw? Anybody been on the achery hunt? I have hunted the chap several times for Javalina and one on management buck, but this will be my first archery hunt. I am pretty excited at getting a shot at a true public lands trophy deer.

That's awesome man! That is one place I still haven't had the opportunity to hunt.

I hope you are successful and get a nice deer. How many are in your party?

Two

Congrats!

I was drawn last year... ALl pastures are great.. hunt where you think you wouldn't.. I saw one of the biggest bucks in my compartment where we entered our compartment and the most connecting roads were.... basically where it looked ideal for hunting was not where he was hanging out. Let me know closer to your hunt which compartment you get... I remember where the guys who bagged a buck hunted... Also since a crossbow is considered archery I suggest you take one.. you will have an easier time since you wont have to draw. The biggest buck on that place at the time was killed when I went last year.

I plan on using my crossbow for the hunt for the reason you mentioned. Did you guys kill anything?

It's a high fence hunt so it should be like shooting fish in a barrel

Just kidding...congratulations and good luck, sir!!! Hope you kill a monsta!!!

Archery hunters might have a slightly different mindset but from my rifle hunt last year I know hunters that passed on some really nice bucks that they should have shot because they thought that a 170+ was just around the corner. I guess they didn't pay attention to the long briefing; a trophy is a mature buck, 5 1/2 years or older. If I remember right, the average deer in this class is in the low 150s. Despite the game fence, this is old school brush country without the supplement feed and food plots. Reminds me of South Texas hunting as a kid in the '60s before even corn feeders became the norm. There are food plots on the map but those are where they simply drag a disk without planting anything. Sure a dude killed a 176 or so with a crossbow, but those are the few unique animals on the place. I also ran across a fellow that spent time getting a picture of an extremely large 10, mid 160s, within minutes of sitting down in the brush on the first day. He thought, this is the Chap, I'll see what's bigger. Well the "Chap happens" and he never saw another deer with horns. Just offering this to keep your once in a lifetime hunt and expectations in perspective.

I hunted the "Baldy", the extreme NW pasture by myself on the last rifle hunt. It is an 680 game fenced pasture to itself. Very thick brush but every road and large trail had evidence of a hunter having been on it. The deer responded to that pressure as well. I killed a very large 8 that was 7 1/2 years old and it was the only opportunity I had on the hunt.

That's good stuff Ranch Dog

Mustang pasture is a dayum good one. Hunted it twice. Lotsa good bucks. Cuz took a 165 there several years ago and I missed long shot at a real NT hoss that was on their helo survey.

Thanks Ranch Dog for the info.

Majekman thanks for the heads up on the Mustangs pasture. This is one hunt that I have been looking forward to drawing for years.

Anyone else been on the bow hunt there?

Up to see if anyone else on here is going.