Texas Hunting Options

[crs]

All - just received this in the mail :

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/TXPWD/bulletins/2618d69

 

[buck wild]

Not sure what you mean by “as many as you want in each category.” The system will let you buy only one draw per category per year. And like you I have many preference points for sheep, pronghorn, oryx and some others. Maybe after another 13 years I might actually draw a hunt.

You used to only be able to put in for one area per hunt selection. Then several years ago they opened it up so that a person could put in for multiple areas per hunt category as long as you paid the $3 entry. It caused the odds of getting drawn to go really low. It was very unpopular and maybe they have gone back to just one entry per category.

 

[crs]

Gater,
I have found you a hunting lease opening within 1.5 hour of north Dallas.
I was talking bird hunting with a DWWC friend and mentioned your plight and he said he has an opening on his deer lease and would be happy to discuss it with you. He said he has lots of good deer, hogs, and hears coyotes every night but does not hunt them. May even have wild turkey there.
I will PM you his name and phone number and you can check it out.

 

[crs]

PM sent.

Now back to planning a bird hunt.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Gater,
I have lived in Dallas suburbs for 50 years and it took me a while to determine what worked best for me.
So far Gizmo and rockhawk have given you good advice, so here are my two bits:

Join either or both of the Dallas Woods and Waters Club and the Dallas Safari Club to make contacts and get to know folks and here they hunt.
DWWC just wrapped up an opening day dove hunt out at the Rivers West Ranch on the clear fork of the Brazos - big lodge is too big for just one person, but with 20 folks, it was affordable and fun.
Next week, a few of us are bound for Dalhart in the Panhandle for Pronghorn in an area where I have take a Texas record book buck; my first hunt there was with DWWC.

Also, WRT leasing land for a family or group to hunt. I did that on a ranch down near Comanche for 18 years. It was a great place to camp, picnic and hunt with my family, but when my kids went to college, I bought my own few acres out east of Dallas and retired there. I grew tired of maintaining a lease and my acreage, and began to use guided hunts for nearly all hunting - birds and big game. Texas has a plethora of such places and shopping around some is fun! I am not an outfitter, but know some good ones.

And there are the exotic ranches! An almost infinite selection of critters to hunt and remember that in Texas elk are exotics with no closed season! Cow elk taken on a day hunt ranch a couple years ago:




And a DWWC friend with his big bull water buffalo taken near Hondo:


And there is a neat place we go just north of the Red River to hunt feral boars with dogs! Great fun and they bring in the dead ones, clean them, cut them and drop into your cooler while you eat lunch!

Welcome home!!

I like this! But, what are you doing with that cow elk? You should immediately skin it and quarter it. Then you and your fellow hunters each haul a quarter on your backs (and/or a quarter or two on a game cart) two to three miles back to camp. And what’s up with the Tractor? And I feel sorry for the guy hauling the hind quarter of that buffalo on their back! Ha! Ha! Ha!

 

[crs]

CEH,
The last big game I skinned and quartered was when I assisted my guide in 2012 in SW Colorado. A 330 bull of 6 points. Even on that we walked to camp for an ATV and guide drove it to elk- I walked there (only a mile or so across the Huerfano river and up some ridges and let down a few barb wire fences for the ATV). Old poacher trick from Texas Panhandle.

The cow elk was in a much more civilized place and the retrieval, processing and icing in coolers was part of the package. Nice Lodge too. The home place on that ranch was really impressive.

Similar at exotic high fenced ranch south of Hondo - the tractor was older and used a chain from the big bucket to lift the buff carcass up for gutting in the field; slit, shake, shake and done, Then back to the cleaning station and cool room for skinning and hanging by the staff. The buzzards and Mexican eagles make short work of any offal. The details of that hunt would make a funny shot story, but might cost me a hunting buddy, so "mums the word".

 

[CoElkHunter]

CEH,
The last big game I skinned and quartered was when I assisted my guide in 2012 in SW Colorado. A 330 bull of 6 points. Even on that we walked to camp for an ATV and guide drove it to elk- I walked there (only a mile or so across the Huerfano river and up some ridges and let down a few barb wire fences for the ATV). Old poacher trick from Texas Panhandle.

The cow elk was in a much more civilized place and the retrieval, processing and icing in coolers was part of the package. Nice Lodge too. The home place on that ranch was really impressive.

Similar at exotic high fenced ranch south of Hondo - the tractor was older and used a chain from the big bucket to lift the buff carcass up for gutting in the field; slit, shake, shake and done, Then back to the cleaning station and cool room for skinning and hanging by the staff. The buzzards and Mexican eagles make short work of any offal. The details of that hunt would make a funny shot story, but might cost me a hunting buddy, so "mums the word".

That’s awesome on both accounts! A330 bull is great! I’m hoping if I draw my muzzle loader license next year (after 24 years), I’ll have a shot of at least a 330 bull? It’s been so long though, I’ve actually lost interest? That’s kinda of why I’m here on AH. Maybe when I can afford it, I’ll be able to hunt a Cape Buffalo or at least PG and not have to wait many years to do so? Great hunting stories! Thanks!
CEH

 

[crs]

CEH - remember that you can always come to Texas and shoot elk and exotics with out the long flight to foreign countries and hassle with rifles and not letting you wear a pistol for snakes and other varmints.
My Colorado elk:

 

[CoElkHunter]

CEH - remember that you can always come to Texas and shoot elk and exotics with out the long flight to foreign countries and hassle with rifles and not letting you wear a pistol for snakes and other varmints.
My Colorado elk:

Beautiful elk and nice rifle!

 

[crs]

CEH and Gater,
Five (5) Trophy book red stags for $1000 each !!! On an exotic ranch with too many old breeding bulls. Lodging included in a luxury ranch house and paved roads in pastures.
The red deer cow that I shot there in May of this year:

This is the lowest price I have seen , so I tipped off my son. They will not last long as the list price is usually at least three times this.
This is an example of deals that you can get when you know some outfitters.

 

[Gater]

If I wasn’t having surgery 1 week from today I’d jump all over that!

 

[crs]

Understood, Gater.
My Mohs surgeon removed sutures from my left hand this morning. Looks good to go for weekend Pronghorn hunt and then mowing pasture after that.

PS best of luck with surgery.

 

[wesheltonj]

CEH and Gater,
Five (5) Trophy book red stags for $1000 each !!! On an exotic ranch with too many old breeding bulls. Lodging included in a luxury ranch house and paved roads in pastures. . .


This is the lowest price I have seen , so I tipped off my son. They will not last long as the list price is usually at least three times this.
This is an example of deals that you can get when you know some outfitters.

Where at , inquiring minds want to know. Please PM me the details.

 

[buck wild]

yes we could make it an AH red stag hunt- I'm in if this deal materializes please let me know @wesheltonj @crs

 

[Gater]

Where at , inquiring minds want to know. Please PM me the details.

yes we could make it an AH red stag hunt- I'm in if this deal materializes please let me know @wesheltonj @crs

There was a miscommunication - the price isn't $1000 per stag, it was $1000 OFF per stag, so the total for the hunt is $4000 per animal.

 

[CoElkHunter]

CEH and Gater,
Five (5) Trophy book red stags for $1000 each !!! On an exotic ranch with too many old breeding bulls. Lodging included in a luxury ranch house and paved roads in pastures.
The red deer cow that I shot there in May of this year:

This is the lowest price I have seen , so I tipped off my son. They will not last long as the list price is usually at least three times this.
This is an example of deals that you can get when you know some outfitters.

crs,
I get dibs on shooting from the elevated tractor bucket AND one of the front quarters for the two-three mile pack back to camp. The rest of you can argue over shooting positions and the remaining front and hind quarters! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
CEH