Howdy folks! Looking at the deer lease in southwest Childress county and wanted know if anyone had thoughts on hunting whitetails in that part of the state? I’m not too familiar but am looking to finally have a place to get our and have some fun. I’m definitely a management minded hunter, but I wanted to make sure if that is a part of the state where i’ll still see plenty of deer. Not saying I need to see 20 a hunt, but just know that I could see anywhere between 5-10 as well as have some decent trophy potential (150+). Does anyone hunt that part of the state regularly? Are these expectations reasonable? I just heard the drought hit that part of the state pretty hard and hurt the population pretty bad. Also, I’ve not been permitted to invite anyone, as I just received the unsolicited invite myself.

I can tell you that Childress County has some Big Bucks. 2 years ago my Uncle missed what would have been the biggest Buck he had taken shooting just over the back and this is from a guy who has hunted 40+ years through Nevada, Maryland, Virginia, and Texas chasing big Mule and Whitetail. I myself did not miss and got a solid 10 (did not score and don’t mind sending you the pictures). We hunted a low fence small ranch that my buddy has and seen 5-6 Doe and plenty of Bucks when we went out hunting box blinds. PM me your number and I will show you last seasons quality in that County. The drought did hurt a few years back but the last 2 years looks a lot better. This year Cameras go up next weekend But buddy is saying that it’s going to be a great season. His route leaving and returning from work has shown plenty of Deer and most importantly some good Bucks in Velvet. Good Bucks coming from a guy who passes on Bucks most would pay to shoot.

Big deer in that area

I went on a hog hunt in that area mid-February about 5-6 years ago. Didn't see any hogs, but saw plenty of deer!

Hunted there for a few years. There are some nice deer in the area but numbers may not be what you expect. Really depends on wheat, if you have wheat, you’ll have deer. Pretty much sums up my experience.

Biggest buck I’ve ever killed was in Childress on a cotton field that had been harvested. Seen prob 40-50 deer between a morning and evening sit mostly doe.

Didn’t weight him but he had a real big body and lots of fat.

It can be great hunting if the property your hunting has been managed correctly.

Not a high deer density area. If you hunt a wheat field you can see several in a sit. Native pasture maybe 5 deer a sit sometimes none.

150s would be above average for mature bucks, but they can score that and much higher in that area.

Wheat or just harvested cotton field is key in my opinion. As other have said, density is low but chance of a really nice buck. Drought from few years back took big toll on what now would be 6-8 year old class but last 2 years about 30-45 miles West of Childress,lots of good up and coming 3 year olds. Patience is a virtue in that country.

In that area how many acres per hunter is an important consideration, something to know before handing over money or signing a lease.

500 Acres per gun...don’t think there’s a lot of crop land but it’s a big property

Well, I went out there today and checked it all out. Very brushy area with a lot of canyons. Definitely appears to be well suited for mulies, but I’ll trust the manager that there whitetails too. A couple quick questions to throw out to ya’ll:

- Any suggestions on how to get around in that country when it is muddy without 4WD? We were bummed but only got to see a limited amount of the place because it was so muddy.
- Do ya’ll happen to see many hogs in that part of the state?
- When hunting the deer in that area, my thought is to spot and stalk along the ridges of the canyons and look for deer in the valleys/draws below. Is that effective for mulies and whitetails or do they end up coming up out of the canyons at all?

If muddy you must have a 4WD and know the terrain. Or have a backup plan to move a deer. Lots of pigs normally once the corn is flying.

You are better off walking when it's muddy without 4WD or at least an ATV. And even with those sometimes you are better off waiting or walking........or you end up walking a lot further then you wanted when you get stuck. The Whitetails will be in the mesquite flats and draws. The mule deer like the fingers that run from the top of the draws. They also like edge trails that run along the walls of the draw. Your best off hunting them spot and stalk with the sun at your back. The Bucks like to find cedar for shade with the wind at their back on the edge trails and upper bowls at the tops of the draws/canyons. Start with the water source and work a mile perimeter around it.

Own a place north of childress about 7 miles, we see lots of deer I would say on average 5 -8 deer a sitting, very rarely we will not see any deer, maybe 1 out of 20 sittings, this will usually happen late in the season. we just hunt feeders. have about 500 acres,some mule deer, and hardly any pigs, lots of turkey.

Some big/mature deer can be had. The issue is they are sure getting to be harder to find. Lots of leases really stacking the hunters on and that country doesn’t do well with lots of pressure.