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Devils river del norte aoudad
#8085448
12/11/20 07:26 PM
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 197
Hunter307
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 197 |
I drew a devils river exotic hunt for this coming January. I drew and shot a decent ram at PD canyon in 2017. I Also live and hunt in Wyoming (native Texan) so I usually hunt spot and stalk in the west.
Is there any advice those who have been on this hunt would care to provide? Feel free to private message me. Anything like how much fuel you brought, water etc. I've already reserved a camping spot (bringing a canvas tent)
I called the and spoke with staff on site already, but I'm trying to gather as much info as possible.
Also if anyone wants advice for PD canyon feel free to PM me.
Last edited by Hunter307; 12/11/20 07:54 PM.
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Re: Devils river del norte aoudad
[Re: Hunter307]
#8085552
12/11/20 08:44 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 877
wtjim
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 877 |
Call the WMA and reserve a bunk in bunkhouse. Full amenities kitchen to cook in and hot showers. Get I the rough country and stay all day. I killed 4 aoudad a d 2 Corsican there on a hunt. One hunter scored a 33” beast.
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Re: Devils river del norte aoudad
[Re: Hunter307]
#8086009
12/12/20 01:23 AM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 363
elvisp_bucks
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 363 |
Agree 100% with wtjim. It gets cold and you will be more comfortable in bunkhouse. I don’t think there are any bad units. We shot 2 auodads the first day right when we started and right off the road. Bring everything you will need and don’t plan on leaving the unit until the hunt is over. You won the lottery. Definitely one of the best draw hunts. Aoudads move all day too
Jason
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Re: Devils river del norte aoudad
[Re: Hunter307]
#8086035
12/12/20 01:40 AM
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 197
Hunter307
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 197 |
How cold are we talking? Certainly not below zero right?
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Re: Devils river del norte aoudad
[Re: Hunter307]
#8086652
12/12/20 05:19 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,611
MarkE
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,611 |
Which hunt? I drew the January 15th hunt.
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Re: Devils river del norte aoudad
[Re: Hunter307]
#8086850
12/12/20 08:48 PM
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 197
Hunter307
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 197 |
I believe our hunt dates are 22-25th, we're getting there a day early since we're driving from Wyoming (time to rest)
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Re: Devils river del norte aoudad
[Re: Hunter307]
#8087358
12/13/20 04:21 AM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,611
MarkE
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,611 |
Lookup the McKenna Ranch for lodging. Its within 20-30 mins away of the park. That's where I'll be staying during my hunt. I've never been there, but it looks like a nice place; beats primitive camping anyway. I've bow hunted a neighboring ranch and have shot a handful of ewes. There are a TON of aoudad in that country.
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Re: Devils river del norte aoudad
[Re: MarkE]
#8087455
12/13/20 12:56 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,611
MarkE
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,611 |
Oh, bunkhouse has been closed and will remain closed due to covid.
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Re: Devils river del norte aoudad
[Re: Hunter307]
#8087855
12/13/20 06:40 PM
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 197
Hunter307
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 197 |
Not too worried about camping. Heck at least we're going to be able to bring more gear than what we can carry on our backs, which is usually how I hunt. It will be pretty luxurious.
Glad to hear sheep numbers are high. From what I understand the axis deer are almost nonexistent
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Re: Devils river del norte aoudad
[Re: Hunter307]
#8087867
12/13/20 06:55 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,243
Erny
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,243 |
Congratulations on the draw. Never been so no help.
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Re: Devils river del norte aoudad
[Re: Hunter307]
#8088098
12/13/20 10:26 PM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,272
Biscuit
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,272 |
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Re: Devils river del norte aoudad
[Re: MarkE]
#8096321
12/20/20 03:28 AM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 52
Lone_Wolf
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 52 |
Oh, bunkhouse has been closed and will remain closed due to covid. That sucks, they could have let the first group that called use it at least. Its desert, dry air, it gets cold at night but nothing ridiculous and might be 80 degrees by 3pm the next day.
Last edited by Lone_Wolf; 12/20/20 03:30 AM.
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Re: Devils river del norte aoudad
[Re: Lone_Wolf]
#8125773
01/12/21 02:01 AM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,611
MarkE
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,611 |
Did anyone get drawn for this weekend's hunt? I did a little scouting a couple weeks ago and found 3 groups; about 30 total. One group had a nice ram or two I didn't see anything else other than whitetail. The road to the park is just as rough as advertised.
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Re: Devils river del norte aoudad
[Re: MarkE]
#8133221
01/18/21 04:47 AM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 52
Lone_Wolf
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 52 |
Did anyone get drawn for this weekend's hunt? I did a little scouting a couple weeks ago and found 3 groups; about 30 total. One group had a nice ram or two I didn't see anything else other than whitetail. The road to the park is just as rough as advertised. Scouting is kinda pointless since they won't let you choose your compartment
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Re: Devils river del norte aoudad
[Re: Lone_Wolf]
#8134071
01/18/21 09:24 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,949
Sniper John
gumshoe
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gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,949 |
Did anyone get drawn for this weekend's hunt? I did a little scouting a couple weeks ago and found 3 groups; about 30 total. One group had a nice ram or two I didn't see anything else other than whitetail. The road to the park is just as rough as advertised. Scouting is kinda pointless since they won't let you choose your compartment I don't know if Devils River allows it, but most of the drawn hunts will let you request a compartment change after the first day. I have killed trophy exotics on two past drawn hunts this way. One I requested a move to a compartment I had spent two days scouting and shot my ram right were I saw him during my scouting days. The other kill I had actually made two compartment moves as compartments came open due to other hunters going home. It finally got me into the area where I knew most of my target animals were located. Even if you only get to see the lay of the land, the habitat, how the animals move on the area, what they are feeding on, gear you need for the hunt that you would not have thought of otherwise, etc. scouting will increase your success greatly even if they give you a different compartment. Less so if hunt is by assigned blind of course. I got nothing for you Hunter, but sounds like your doing it right. Good luck.
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Re: Devils river del norte aoudad
[Re: Sniper John]
#8134505
01/19/21 02:39 AM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,611
MarkE
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,611 |
Even if you only get to see the lay of the land, the habitat, how the animals move on the area, what they are feeding on, gear you need for the hunt that you would not have thought of otherwise, etc. scouting will increase your success greatly even if they give you a different compartment. Less so if hunt is by assigned blind of course. I got nothing for you Hunter, but sounds like your doing it right. Good luck.
Ditto. I didn't choose my compartment, but I learned a lot scouting and learning the area better. I ended up taking 11 ewes and 6 rams. The biggest was 29".
Last edited by MarkE; 01/19/21 02:41 AM.
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Re: Devils river del norte aoudad
[Re: MarkE]
#8135806
01/20/21 01:02 AM
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 197
Hunter307
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 197 |
Even if you only get to see the lay of the land, the habitat, how the animals move on the area, what they are feeding on, gear you need for the hunt that you would not have thought of otherwise, etc. scouting will increase your success greatly even if they give you a different compartment. Less so if hunt is by assigned blind of course. I got nothing for you Hunter, but sounds like your doing it right. Good luck.
Ditto. I didn't choose my compartment, but I learned a lot scouting and learning the area better. I ended up taking 11 ewes and 6 rams. The biggest was 29". Thanks for the update. Sounds like you did great, congratulations! I'm doing final packing now, and heading out tomorrow morning...its a long drive from Wyoming. Double what we did for PD canyon. But I want a 30" ram bad! Lol
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Re: Devils river del norte aoudad
[Re: Hunter307]
#8135858
01/20/21 01:34 AM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,611
MarkE
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,611 |
There were two 30"+ rams taken during the prior hunt.
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Re: Devils river del norte aoudad
[Re: Hunter307]
#8144265
01/26/21 07:24 PM
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 197
Hunter307
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 197 |
We had a great hunt. We hunted every chance we could, caught some bad breaks with the weather on the two full days of hunting (fogged in until 10am Saturday and mist and fog until 3pm sunday). The two guys that hunted with me shot a 30" and 29" rams (I'll take credit for spotting them lol) both at about 660yds. I missed a decent ram (guessing 26ish) the last morning at 500....about 4 inches right over his back.
All together we killed 5 rams and 3 ewes.
I'd suggest using 12 power binoculars and definitely have a spotting scope. I used tract toric 12.5x50 binos, my buddies had swaro 12x binos and swaro 65mm spotter, vortex razor 10x binos and a razor spotter. We were heavy on glass and it proved to be worth it. Also we were lucky enough to draw a great compartment, but I think there are good rams in every compartment.
If anyone has questions or needs advice from logistics to hunt strategy pm me.
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Re: Devils river del norte aoudad
[Re: Hunter307]
#8144478
01/26/21 10:03 PM
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Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 56
J. Richard
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 56 |
Please post pictures! 30" rams are awesome.
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Re: Devils river del norte aoudad
[Re: Hunter307]
#8145593
01/27/21 05:49 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,611
MarkE
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,611 |
What unit did you hunt? I hunted unit 7.
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Re: Devils river del norte aoudad
[Re: Hunter307]
#8145854
01/27/21 09:05 PM
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 197
Hunter307
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 197 |
11 and 9
Just had some aoudad tacos, tasted great
Last edited by Hunter307; 01/27/21 09:11 PM.
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Re: Devils river del norte aoudad
[Re: Hunter307]
#8150509
02/01/21 12:00 AM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,272
Biscuit
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,272 |
11 and 9
Just had some aoudad tacos, tasted great Did you crock pot the meat ? I hear it’s tough
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Re: Devils river del norte aoudad
[Re: Biscuit]
#8150604
02/01/21 01:20 AM
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 197
Hunter307
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 197 |
11 and 9
Just had some aoudad tacos, tasted great Did you crock pot the meat ? I hear it’s tough Nope, just cooked it on the pellet grill on high. Had a steak last night, amazingly tender and delicious. I think most folks write the meat off as nasty because they don't want to deal with it.
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