2016 Draw

Here's what I plan on doing. Any of y'all hunted any of these before? Or visited; I'd like to get an idea of how hunt works and apply according. If y'all could help me out with the TBDs, that would be great :)1.Exotic—Palo Duro Canyon SP
2.Archery Exotic—Garner SP
3.Pronghorn—Rita Blanca Grasslands
4.Archery Deer—Mason Mountain WMA OR Government Canyon SNA
5.Gun Mule deer—TBD
6.Gun Deer—Kerr WMA
7.Gun Deer—Brazos Bend SP
8.Exotic—Devils River SNA
9.Exotic—Mason Mountain WMA TBD
10.Gun Deer/Mule Deer TBD

I have been to 2 of the places you listed. Kerr and Devils River.
Kerr has some GREAT deer.
Devils River is mostly aoudads but also have other goats/sheep. It will be a spot and stalk over very tough, rough terrain.

Have been on several of those.
1. Palo Duro for aoudad - fun hunt, my partner killed 3 small ones and I missed a huge ram. Couple other hunters killed also. Very tough physical hunt, park at the top and hike a lot to get around edges or down in canyon. Good numbers of aoudad. Saw a few hogs too, and lots of mule deer going into the park. DKirshen here on THF can tell you more about that.... Compartments 1 and 2 are close to the headquarters and can be hunted from the top. 3,4,5 are the best and are a loooong walk down (1000' elevation and about 3 miles).

2. Caprock Canyon Mule Deer-nice country, hunt not worth the odds they show. On our hunt, I only saw two bucks and couldn't get a shot. Partner killed small 4x3, and one other hunter shot a forked horn, so 2 out of 8 permits success. Most bucks go back and forth into the private wheat on NE corner of park, or cross the highway boundary on the N side. Get the right compartment on the draw, you're good otherwise tough hunting. If you have an ice storm, you can't get to half the compartments, and they don't have the equipment to get you back out. I would not go down the deep paved road in canyon with out 4WD and chains if icy. Saw a lot of hogs, tracks of aoudad but no live animals.

We were drawn for Mason Mountain management hunt a few years ago. Fairly easy hunt. We killed our six deer and a hog the day we got there. The lodge was nice and the people were great. We cooked steaks, sipped a little Crown, and drove back home the next morning.It was a good time. We had our fishing rods in case we killed out early but they wouldn't go for any fishing in the stock tanks. They said they were afraid it would interfere with others hunting. I told my buddy we shoul just fish the lake by the lodge but he insisted on asking permission to fish.

If you get drawn for Garner, you need to practice shooting out of a One Man pop up, and around the campground & RV hookup fixtures & brick wash house where my blind was. You also need to hope for some cloudy cool weather as you are not allowed to move the critter from where it died & into the shade, to prove you not hunting out of you flagged & staked shooting lanes. Don't get too comfy either for a long sit. and need to be ready for the super short pick up hunt session schedule's too on a moments notice. BTDT and don't need to go back.
Ron

I hunted Palo Duro in January. Shot a mule doe and a pig

Palo Duro is a great park, and I love driving thru it spotting animals of all sorts. Saw several big whitetails in there, just below the shop. The surrounding country has some amazing mule deer also, and we have found aoudad most anywhere we set up the scope.

great info guys thx

I signed up for

Gun Deer- Guadalupe SP, Inks Lake, Enchanted Rock, Mason Mtn, Governement Canyon and Pedernales Falls

Exotic- Devils River and South Llano River

Muley-Sierra Diablo

Last year was my first year to start the draws. Definitely may just go to the hill country for a week or so to try standby hunts also. It sounds like it is a solo deal only since it looks like you cant bring anyone with you on almost all of the hunts.

Im already getting the fall bug thinking about hunting trips~!

If you are looking at stand by's at Guadalupe River, don't overlook Honey Creek if they'll let you stand by for both of them. They are drawn at the same place, the GRSP HQ. Honey Creek is lots smaller and does not get the foot traffic from the Park, but has the same density or more critters. Good Luck, you'll need it to score SB's.
Ron

I am worse than a kid at Christmas with these hunts. Done spent almost 200.00 applying for hunts. Love seeing all the new and different areas across the state.

When you renew your registration on your vehicles, don't check the "Donate to Texas State Parks" box. You've done enough. 'Hope you get drawn on something good.

Just doing my part!