Devil's River SNA - Dan Hughes Unit (Big Satan)

I have been drawn for the TPWD drawn hunts Gun Deer - either sex, for December 2015, in this area. Can anyone provide any info about this area? Any whitetail buck success photos would be great. Thanks.

Keep a sharp lookout for exotics - especially Aoudad and Axis...

its rough country.

bring a good pair of bino's and hiking boots unless they assign you to blinds


Hunt the bottoms in that type of country

Thanks! I have found a lot on line regarding exotics in the area, and unlimited exotics are included, with this hunt. However, I don't intend to squeeze a trigger, before I have the whitetail buck I am looking for.

I appreciate that input.

Does anyone have any recent photos of whitetails from Devils River SNA

Personally, I would shoot a trophy aoudad or axis of the opportunity presented itself

Whitetail don't get that big out in that country.

A trophy axis might present several times before a trophy WT in that area.

Guy at work went there last year and they shot two decent bucks, both i would say around 110"-120" best i remember. They also shot a fallow doe. He said it was the hunt of a lifetime for the animals he saw, but wasnt allowed to shoot. He saw a long list of exotics

110-120" is a avg about average for a mature buck in that area

No way I'd pass up a 30" axis or aoudad for a 120" whitetail though.

Yessir, i agree. He saw elk, scimitar oryx , and aoudad ewes. I believe he said the oryx and elk were off limits. I dont think he saw any axis deer

Well, I am leaving today for my hunt, which starts tomorrow. Pretty excited! Will let y'all know what happens. Thanks for all the input guys. Hope y'all are enjoying some success this season. Happy Holidays!

Good luck. Takes some pictures.

Good Luck.

My daughter got drawn for the Youth Exotic hunt next month so would appreciate some intel when you get back.

Jealous! I applied to this but unfortunately didn't get drawn.

J W M, keep us posted! Please shoot an axis buck and ditch the whitetail..lol.
Good luck!

I have hunted around there a lot. You will be lucky to see a buck of any size, lots of small deer. But there are some great Auodads there.
I wouldn't pass on a big one, I have paid big bucks to hunt the neighboring property for them.
Take a gun you can make long shots with.

Any action?

Returned from my trip to Devil's River SNA, yesterday. That is an awesome place. Although I saw a lot of game, I did not shoot anything. Passed up several good young bucks (no regrets). I saw a fairly large buck at a long distance briefly, but was unable to get a good look, long enough to make a decision.
The bucks were responding to rattling horns, pretty well. I have attached a couple of pics I took of bucks that came to the horns. I hope I get to hunt this place again.

I also saw a lot of exotics, but chose not to shoot anything. Really wanted a large whitetail buck. Again no regrets.

I don't see a young buck but looks like a good hunt! your more patient than I.. woulda layed that heavy mature buck down

Let me correct myself. I saw a lot of young bucks, as well as the ones I posted pics of previously. Although the ones I posted my be mature, they were not what I was looking for. Although, this property is off limits to the public (except during the drawn hunts); after I was drawn, I spent a lot of time camping and scouting the North Unit (12 miles away), just to get a feel for the type of hunting I would be expecting, and to see what I could possibly expect in a whitetail buck. I saw several whitetail bucks at the north unit, that lets me believe there are some real trophies in this area. Not a lot, maybe; but worth the hunt.

AHHH that explains it! Cool pics love that area.. good fishing too!

You could go for years and not see any bigger than pictures posted. Go to south Texas or Texas panhandle for bigger deer.

S. TX cost more money than I have to play with.
Also, if I spent that much money, I might feel "obligated" to kill something. Just saying...

I can't see passing up the exotics.

Nothing wrong with passing on those animals. Don't have to kill to be a hunter.

I might've had to scratch an itchy trigger on that 2nd one.

Trust me, I thought about it.

Great pics. I love that part of Texas. I would of hammered an axis doe given the chance. Uhmmm good!

How many days was your hunt?

The reason they have these hunts is to get animals removed.

The hunt began with an orientation and safety meeting at 10AM on Friday. Following that meeting we drew numbers to determine which compartment we hunted in. Started hunting around noon on Friday and the hunt ended at 1PM on Monday.

Agreed

Very nice photos, sounds like a fun hunt. Glad you enjoyed it. I too put in for it every year.

You have more restraint than me; a few of those tasty exotics would have made it into the freezer. Hmmm tasty.