Looks like I was blessed with a muzzle loader hunt on Bahia in February. Anyone done this hunt before and got some insight ? I’m super excited, but incredibly unfamiliar with the area.

Congratulations! The adventure begins.

I got lucky and drew it as well. I have hunted Laguna Atascosa, but never the Bahia Grande. What a great excuse to go to the Valley in February!!!!!! May follow go fishing a couple of days after the hunt!!

Trying to concentrate on work today, but on-x keeps pulling me away. [align:center][/align]

You lucky ba***rd. I was in the first group allowed in last February, bowhunters. The place was overrun with nilgai. I think I saw at least 20 each day. You will see lots of them if you stay well concealed; if you move around much you'll only see them in your binos running away at high speed, and forget about giving chase. There are huge open areas with little or no cover and they can see for miles, so the trick is figuring out how to close the gap without getting busted. There are also a few thickets, particularly near the entry gate, that could conceivably be hunted with a tripod stand. That said, the muzzleloader guys the following weekend did a lot better than us bowhunters; some guys actually just stopped their trucks, got out, and shot their nilgai within a hundred yards. GOOD LUCK! It is an amazing place. AND WATCH OUT FOR RATTLESNAKES, especially if it is a warm day. I missed a 60 yard shot low on a huge bull, and when I went to get my arrow it was stuck in the ground about two feet from an absolute monster of a rattlesnake -- so I let him keep it. The wardens are really good guys and very helpful, but also very clear about leaving the snakes alone.

Thanks for the heads up on the snakes. I figured they would be present, but I hoped they would be slow in Feb.

We hunted 2nd muzzloader shotgun hunt we killed 5 total 3 bulls 2 cows between 3 guys, seen plenty of animals seemed like just take your time theyll eventually pop up

We got drawn for this hunt last year. Almost lost it to Snowmageddon but we got there. Saw a lot of animals and shot at two. I would recommend a shotgun with rifled barrel. These animals are enormous to say the least. There really isn’t any way to sneak up on one. The terrain is open with bunch grass everywhere. Did see one guy who got a small cow but nobody else. Give me a shout if you want more info. Also, I got drawn for the black powder hunt in the Trinity River Hirsch unit this year. If anyone has any info on that I’d gladly take it. God Bless.

I’ll be there for the Feb 11-15 hunt. My first time there so I don’t know what to expect.

Good luck sir

I’m here right now bow hunting. Buddy of mine has seen a few while walking but they’ve been too far. I’m sitting in a natural ground blind but all I’ve seen is a doe. It’s super windy, 36 but feels like 24.

Any word from the bow hunters ?

One young bull and one cow taken last weekend when I was there.

Were they visible and hard to close in on or just plain hard to find ?

Where are you hunting? I saw a lot on the northside of the park. They're very hard to stalk, I had 4 unsuccessful stalks. I suggest finding a trail and sitting nearby, the bulls are chasing cows right now. Also, no use sitting in the thick brush, find some cover in an open field.