Matador WMA GDE Draw

Well I finally drew a GDE with 12 PP's this year to Matador. Funny thing is I applied for the Chap, Kerr, and Powderhorn as normal. Yesterday at last minute I decided to throw $3.00 at Matador. I have already struck out on MD and Archery there, but went for GDE. If luck would have it I actually pulled that one off. I am pretty stoked about this hunt and have already done lots of research in the past. But if anyone has any pointers that have been or which pastures are better for WT I am all ears. I have never hunted in that area and primarily hunt in East Texas so it will all be a little different to say the least.

I don't post hardly at all, but read this forum daily. Figured this would be a good time to chime in.

What dates?

We had the tag two years ago, and it was a lot of fun. There are good WT in every compartment, and they really like the thick stuff. The private land right on the east boundary have lots of crops and cotton, you'll see tons of deer in them. They have a bunch of feeders along there, and quite a few of the deer slip out for corn, and come back into the WMA. Most of the better MD are in the ones to the west.

I'll be there for the 9th-13th and ready to just get out and enjoy some new hunting opportunities. It will be a nice change of pace for sure.

Congrats. I got drawn for antlerless 3 years ago and it was a great hunt. Unseasonably warm for December, but saw lots of Mule Deer and a couple of nice mature WT bucks. Saw a lot of deer, except for whitetail does that I was hunting.

I drew antlerless there 2 years ago. It was 70+ degrees the day I showed up. Woke up Friday and there was 3-4 inches of snow on the ground so be prepared for anything. I hunted north middle and seen a lot of mule deer. I seen three WT bucks that would have been shooters and one doe. Friday I had a pop-up blind setup on the middle pease river in the bottoms and seen one WT buck about 80 yrds out but couldn't shoot as it was antlerless hunt. All the other shots would have been 150-250+ yard shots or more. I walked a bunch and was wore out by the end of the hunt. You really need a four wheel drive truck as the roads are simply graded dirt roads and when it rains they turn into a real challenge. I think WT deer were taken in OX and suitcase compartments. I agree there west compartments have more mule deer and pigs. I camped on the WMA in camper. They have no electric or water so bring your own if you go that route. I would recommend getting there at least a day ahead of your hunt and drive several of the compartments to get an idea of where you want to hunt. In summary, I did not take a deer but enjoyed the hunt on a WMA I would never have seen otherwise.

Yeah just trying to figure out all the logistics of this hunt which is pretty fun. I have been looking at lots of maps to get an idea of the layout. I think I will be staying in Childress so I can at least have a nice shower and bed lol. Looking at all the deer that were killed last year the Middle/West side of the WMA seemed to produce the largest bucks for 2019. Everything that I have been reading is saying the East side is primarily whitetail which is what this hunt is for. Is a spotting scope needed if I was able to get the OX or surrounding areas? Or is it all fairly thick and closer shots? Need to make a day trip out there to get a fill for the area, but at a 6 hour drive it will be a long day. I do have a 4X4 with high clearance so that part shouldn't be an issue on the roads hopefully.

We had the OX and Suitcase compartments, on the East side of the WMA. There was plenty of open country there to use my spotter, and it really helped to identify and judge some of the bucks we saw, but passed on because of antler restrictions. There were some good points and slightly elevated spots to look down into the brush, or under trees or shady spots along the river. APEX Mapping Solutions specializes in public land maps, has a really good GIS topo and compartment map available for $20. Definitely worth it!

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