Headed to Cotulla first week of January with best friend. I haven't hunted there in 25 years. I wondered what I should expect with the deer activity at this time.

Rut is just winding down depending on what part of the county at that time. But rattling is excellent. Lot of broken up antlers by that time also. Cold weather and deer will move better. Good luck.

Thanks for info. I just looking forward to be out for the hunt. It's not about killing something like it was when I was young.

Which direction from Cotulla?

Los Angeles is where my friend said the ranch is located. I have never been here before.

Good luck sir

I just got off the phone with my racing buddy & I’m heading down to his ranch in the very same area on the 27 th.

I’ll give you a report on the 29th.

Greatly appreciated.

We'll be heading there Monday morning for a week long hunt. The ranch is about 5 miles or so from where you're hunting at, as the crow flies. On the Nueces River. I'm ready too. I'll hopefully have a report for you a few days prior to the first.

It's going to be warm there in the Dull Flats, but it is in between the 1st and 2nd ruts. The bucks will already be somewhat wary, but moving steadily looking for that first little doe to be receptive and should come in to horns.

I hope you run into some bombers. There are some good deer out there. No telling what will come out of that low brush.

Well here is my hunt report from Coutlla.


First hunt in about 12 years. Took 5 hours driving from North east Houston.

Got there about 10: 30am & got everything put up in my friends trailers.

It was in the middle 70 degrees So We weren’t Looking to see many Deer.

Got to the feeder & fill it up, went on & filled up 3 more feeders in different locations on the 365 acres.

Had to deal with a few Cows & two Bulls crowding us as we filled one of the feeders.

I think they though we were there to feed them ?

Went back to the trailer & got a little snack & then went out for a early evening hunt.

I saw a few good does, but they had fawns/yearlings with them, so let them be.

Tuesday morning we went out again. I was in the same spot on the tripod. Saw about 5 more does.

They were on the small size, so I waited for a bigger one. Finally one stepped out & I picked up my 6.5 creedmoor only to see that I hadn’t chambered a round.

When I chambered the she took off like she has rockets. Gone in 2 seconds.

About an hour another deer stepped out in a small clearing next to the sendero (sp) about 130 yards away.

Put my crosshairs on him & shot him, he took off I thought there is no way I missed him.

Waited about 10 minutes & claimed down the tripod & went to the spot where I last saw him & didn’t see a blood trail.

Look & found some tracks, so I followed the across the Sendero into the Mesquite thickets.

Walked about 60 yards & found him, I didn’t see any blood trail. drug him back to the tripod about 200 or yards away.

We strung him up on the skinning poll & I noticed I shot him a little low & a few inches back of his shoulder.

My friend took him to Hodsons in Austin, as he got one yesterday morning as the fog lifted.

Go to back after the first of the year for another hunt.

Well done! Post a picture.



This situation can turn more dangerous than you might realize, crushing you up against the vehicle. And, they can peel an open pickup door completely forward. Don't ask me how I know.

Oh I realize the potential danger with the Cows!

They all stayed about 10 feet from us the whole time, but we didn’t take our eyes off them.

Unfortunately we didn’t get any pictures of my spiked buck. Just forgot sux getting old & forgetful.

I thought I lost my hunting license doh! Looked everywhere & could fine it. But I missed my CPAP case & when I checked the side pocket I found my license.

Thanks for all the info.

We saw about 20 deer in 2.5 days, just not all shooters.

Good luck with your upcoming hunt.

They have MLD permits so definitely need to remove some does.

You will never see all shooters. Maybe you have other problems beyond your fenceline.

I hunted for about 5 days SE of Cotulla on the Nueces River. The family has not shot a trophy now for about 3 years and now we are seeing some really good bucks that are relatively young, no more than 5 for a couple but most are younger. I shot an old 8 pt that dressed out at 137 lbs. I was one of several we had decided to cull. Even with the warm weather, they were still aggravating does pretty steadily.

Had a buddy with 500 acres east of Los Angeles back in the early 90's before all of the Gas Wells, wonder what the landscape looks like now with them?

I haven't been since early 90's so I'm sure nothing will look the same. I grew up hunting East Texas and the Hill Country so it's just good to see a change in scenery. I'm just looking forward to a good trip with friends. Good time, good food and good friends. The rest can just fall in place. I appreciate all the info

A lil’ east of Los Angeles, it was 27 degrees with no wind this morning. Saw lots more bucks than does. Every doe gets run at and sniffed. Saw big bucks trying to make things happen with doe fawns. Not real Ernest, but they were trying.

Violated my cardinal rule and shot this guy in the feed pen, the 3rd time he hopped in it. Been after him a while now and always came to the pen and leave through the brush. Had enough of him. Talk about a trophy cull. 24 inch spread with one beam being on 17 inches. Looked at you and you thought trophy. Liked to the side and you gag.

So lets see that "looked at you" view/pic?

A little difficult without having someone to hold the head up.

So, you only wait for buds to get there if the target is wow worthy....
On another note, are you outa tags yet?