First time in South Texas

[Gary in MD]

A friend, his wife and I decided to give South Texas a try for an early deer hunt and some varmint hunting. It was hot, in the high 80s and 90s, a little warmer than ideal deer hunting weather. LOL We went to a ranch that offers 11,000 acres, mostly high fence but 3000 was low fence/ fair chase. Actually it was three adjoining ranches owned and operated by the same people. I hunted the low fence area for deer and both areas calling coyotes and bobcats. I was hoping for a decent deer but wound up shooting my best deer to date. Since it was early in their season, we were the only three people in the lodge that week. We all shot nice deer and also killed coyotes, wild hogs, and javelinas.
Glad I brought enough ammo! LOL
When they say South Texas brush country is thick, they ain’t kidding!
I used my 30-06, 150 grain ballistic tip @ 3040 fps for the deer and took my Swift for varmints. The Swift was a little hard on the coyotes! Good times…
A couple pics -

 

[BTP]

No shortage of critters, I love it here.

 

[snert]

He got Swifted!

 

[Klong]

That is a nice buck!

 

[Larry Koch]

That is a nice buck!

It is but there as common as fence post down here.

 

[Gary in MD]

That is a nice buck!

He was my best deer to date by far, the wildlife biologist on the ranch scored him at 162 1/8"
I don't really care what he scored, when I saw him, I knew he was bigger than anything that I've killed.
I had no intentions of getting anymore deer shoulder mounted, but I'm making an exception...

 

[Gary in MD]

It is but there as common as fence post down here.

We indeed saw a ton of deer and a high percentage of bucks.

 

[Gary in MD]

He got Swifted!

Snert, you aren't kidding!
The load that I took on this trip wasn't pushing the limits, a 55grain Sierra spbt (I have a bunch) @ a pedestrian 3750 fps. I knew it was going to be warm there in South Texas and didn't want to run into pressure problems during the hunt. Normally here at home, I'm leaning on the powder measure a little harder. I also figured that the coyotes wouldn't be worth keeping so I wanted maximum carnage.
I went 4 for 4 on the coyotes and they all took a beating! Also used it on a hog which dropped at the shot and removed a large portion out of the javelina that I took.
I'm embarrassed to admit that I flubbed my only chance at a good-sized bobcat. He was at 200 yards and looked like he may not stick around, it should have been an easy kill. He was mostly quartering to me, and I think I rushed the shot, we found a little blood and a couple small pieces of bone but after searching the thorny brush and cactus, (over an hour) we couldn't find him. . It had to be a poor hit because I'm sure he would not have gone anywhere had I hit him properly.

 

[Downhill]

Curious, I believe Texas is in Archery season right now with the General season starting November 1st.

 

[mmcu]

Curious, I believe Texas is in Archery season right now with the General season starting November 1st.

This could very well be a ranch with Level 3 MLDP buck tags. If I recall correctly, that season opens in late September.

I'll leave it to Gary in MD to clarify.

 

[BTP]

ML

This could very well be a ranch with Level 3 MLDP buck tags. If I recall correctly, that season opens in late September.

I'll leave it to Gary in MD to clarify.

With MLD in Texas the "hunting season" opens October 1st, no restriction on means, and goes through the end of the late antlerless season. You're issued a prescribed number of tags that have to be filled during that time. Does and bucks based on the biologists review of the MLD properties wildlife survey.

 

[Gary in MD]

ML


With MLD in Texas the "hunting season" opens October 1st, no restriction on means, and goes through the end of the late antlerless season. You're issued a prescribed number of tags that have to be filled during that time. Does and bucks based on the biologists review of the MLD properties wildlife survey.

I believe this correct for the ranch that I hunted.

 

[Downhill]

I forgot about the MLD Permits. It is done in our parts for farms losing winter wheat to deer herds.