HUNTING WHITETAIL AT THE MATADOR WMA

deedeevlasak@verizon.net I'm new to the forum, and this is my first post. I was lucky enough to get drawn for a whitetail hunt on matador wma in november. Anyone have an "experience" with hunting whitetail on that piece of land? I've been looking over aerial maps of the place, and am leaning towards trying to choose a compartment that is next to a river, or, creek drainage, when it is time to pick..Historically, I think the w/t are going to prefer the low areas, and the mulies would prefer the high ground. Any comments will be appreciated!

I haven't been on a public hunt in several years but I think you will have to draw for a compartment not pick one. At least that's how it used to be. Good Luck

Welcome to the forum. Never been out that way but if you can choose, I would definitely pick next to the river

Thanks for the advice. I'll pick an area that borders the river, if I have a choice. Usually rattling works in the panhandle area of texas around the time of year (I've hunted north of cottle county in the past, as well as the shamrock area). My hunt runs from nov. 14th-18th. Hope Elkhunter49 and rickym both have a great hunting season!

There is a member here, Mbavo, that rattled up a real nice 10 pointer there at Matador. Of course, there are no deer left at Matador. Everyone should just stop applying and save your $3.

You will get to pick a department, or at least is how it used to be, and also depends on how many hunters in your party, but most of the white tails are towards the front of the property, which is higher ground, there are some white tail in most compartments but most are in the front. If it rains a lot you don't near that river and will need 4x4. good luck

thanks, okjhutch. do you have any idea if the food plots that are on the wma are maintained? the aerial view looks like ther might be some good whitetail habitat around the south middle.

thanks, palehorse. what time of year did you rattle him up? did you end up shooting him? i know that around wellington (north of there), thanksgiving is pretty much the rut.

You got to give those guys out there credit, they try on some of the food plots but none of them really never make much, or at least the ones I have seen and I think I have been to each one. They may plant certain ones one year and others different years, I think a lot has to do with the budget they have to work with and the weather, but like I said you got to give those guys credit, they do what they can with what they have to work with. Usually the private ranches will have the better food plots. The deer out there still trickle through the old plots from time to time, but if they are not good fresh and growing plots I would not spend my whole time on them. It is a fun place to hunt i'll hunt it any time I get the chance and caprock canyons.

you can only do so much with a limited budget, as well as limited rainfall, when it comes to food plots! thanks for your post.

It wasn't me, it was Mbavo. They time the hunt to coincide with the rut though.

I killed a decent 10pt several years back at Matador.
I think it was mid November. We hunted in OX pasture that year.
We rattled up two good bucks to about ten yards. We were hunting in the bottom of a little draw.
One of the biggest bucks I have ever seen was in a little pasture that borders OX pasture, just to the west.
Can't remember that pasture off the top of my head.
Pale horse killed a stud of a mule deer at Matador also, oops I forgot there are no deer at Matador.

ta HF on being drawn ta hunt Matador WMA... One of the best threads on here in a while... Lots of usefull info... Best wishes on up coming hunt..

thanks for your info. it will be useful. do you know if non-hunters allowed to go out in the field with drawn hunters? my friend that was drawn with me might not be able to make the hunt, and i would like to take another friend for safety reasons.

i haven't had a lease for quite a while. i got out of deer hunting (only an occasional invite hunt for meat on friends leases). i feel really lucky that i was drawn, because i realize this hunt is probably one of the more desirable w/t hunts in the state (DRAWN HUNTS). i enjoy hunting different parts of the state, and never hunted this far west. i've hunted north of there (n/w of wellington, east of shamrock, south and east texas, hill country, on 40 miles south of kansas border (near spearman). it's all been fun. had a successful hunt every time, even though i might not have killed a deer every time! actually had a "little" heart attack in 2000 dragging a deer up near spearman. so, with that said, hunting means different things to different people. sometimes success is not measured in inches of horn, or pounds of meat. thanks, colt .45. hope you have "success" this season.

from what I remember, if someone in your party cant make it you can not have anyone else go in there place weather they hunt or not. You may call them and explain your situation and they may allow them to stay at camp if you camp there, but I doubt it. Just because the other party cant make the start of the hunt they will usually allow them to show up a day or 2 later and still hunt, but he has to check in with them and you have to tell them who the person is and he will be a day or so late and had to pay for his permit before the deadline like everyone else.

make sure you have your meds with you for that heart condition. This area can have and will be some ruff areas to hunt, it does not look like much driving out there but once you get back in there its a whole new world of wonderful hunting. Take everything you will need, because sometimes you may not want to drive back out to the camp/headquarters area to have lunch, just kick back out in you compartment and watch for animals, take a nap and before you now it a deer will be in view.

there is a lot of stickers, (sandburs)all over the place out there. if it rains a lot you don't want to be in the back area without 4x4, it can get a bit sloppy, and some places with out the rain has deep sand. If you don't check out (on the board) in the evenings they will be coming out there looking for you, and you don't want to be found back at camp drinking a cold one or in town, they wont come out until someone finds you, so really pay attention to checking in and out.

good luck

thanks so much for the info, and your concern! i know it'll be a fun hunt. really looking forward to it. will keep everyone posted on how it turns out.