Texas Hunting Times

Mountain Lion Stalks Deer Hunter

There are a lot of deer hunting stories out there that veteran hunters share while at the deer lease sitting around the campfire, but I will never forget the time we were hunting in Central Texas. It was early season and we were bow hunting, and never expected a mountain lion to be in the area. It had to be about 1986 and I was 14 years old. I would hunt by myself, but usually in close proximity to my father.

My dad would walk me to my deer stand which was brush blind at the base of a couple of big cedar trees. We’d always make the trek quietly though the spotty habitat and then dad would pour me out a little corn out along my shooting lanes. Before we’d part ways he would always tell me not to move until he came back. He hunted about 160 yards West of me.

One evening, it was about 45 minutes until dark and I had two deer come out about 15 yards in front of me and and start chowing down on the corn. As the two does doe ate, they settled down and I was just starting to think about positioning myself for a shot. Then suddenly, the deer throw their heads up and stare directly in my direction, but I had not even budged. Continue reading Mountain Lion Stalks Deer Hunter

Deer Hunting the Texas Panhandle

I recently went whitetail deer hunting in the Texas Panhandle and was totally surprised with the terrain. I’d always heard of the giant whitetail bucks that live in this part of Texas, but had never hunted it. I found myself deer hunting in a whole new way. We spent a good amount of time driving around and glassing some “mountains” and I finally saw a buck that looked worthy of chasing on the third day of my hunt. The buck looked big, really big, so I decided to leave the comfort of the jeep to close the distance on foot.

I first saw this buck about 8:15 in the morning shortly after I parked along a hilltop, but he was a long ways off — probably about 1,500 yards. I watched the big-bodied buck bed down, but I moved in closer and could not find him back until later in the day. As I covered the distance, the brush seemed taller and I got a bit off track, but I knew I was in the general area. I realized at this point that I was a long way from the East Texas deer lease I used to hunt as a teenager.

Then boom, there he was at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Just when I thought the deer hunting had turned sour, my luck had changed! The buck had got up and I believed he was moving towards a water trough off in the distance. I think I really just lucked into spotting him from about 700 yards away, even though I thought I was right on top of him. As I watched the buck he bedded down again, but this time I marked him really well, just north of a lone shrub. He was in the shade and I was going to make my move. Continue reading Deer Hunting the Texas Panhandle

Oklahoma Buck Gets Hammered!

The whitetail deer gun hunting season opened this past weekend in Oklahoma and I my top target was a big mature 8 point buck that I had caught on camera on several occasions. I was willing to hunt hard to bag this buck, so I spent 8 hours in the deer stand on opening day, first catching a glimpse of him at 9 o’clock in the morning as he jumped a fence about 425 yards away. At least, I thought it was him.

This “sighting” was enough of a relief for me, as I had heard at least a 10 rifle shots since sunrise within a mile of our deer lease. The big buck appeared again shortly after 10 o’clock as he had moved closer, but the buck was still moving through a bunch of trees at around 200 yards with enough brush and sticks and grass to obstruct a clean shot. I thought my deer hunting season was really going to start off with a bang as I waited about 10 minutes for him to reappear closer and on the edge of the brush. That didn’t happen.

As it turns out, the buck went downhill, moving down into a deep, heavily wooded draw. I lost him. With the “video” of the big buck playing through my brain, I waited and hoped that he would turn around and head back my way. I had identified this Oklahoma buck as a shooter from my game camera photos, and after seeing him in person I knew he was the real deal. Continue reading Oklahoma Buck Gets Hammered!

Deer Hunting Lease in Perspective

Whitetail deer hunting has become a big business across all of the deer’s range. Most hunters have seen the price of their deer lease rise over the years to keep up with demand, and the demand for real estate in general. Finding a good deer lease is a key component to quality long term deer hunting and management. Without being able to afford your own land, you are up a creek without a paddle if you can not count on being on your deer lease from year to year.

Yes, a deer hunting lease is a place where hunters can purse whitetail, but it is more than that. A hunting lease is supposed to a place where hunters share good times and memories, rather than something that creates a profit for some middle man. As I mentioned earlier, deer hunting and deer leases have become a huge business, with lots of folks in between trying to put money in their pockets. I’m all for making money, but when you head out to find a lease make sure you know exactly what you are getting into. Continue reading Deer Hunting Lease in Perspective

Deer Hunting: What is a Cull Buck?

One of the biggest ongoing disputes around almost any deer hunting camp is the answer — or lack thereof — to this question, “What is a cull buck?” Well, the answer will vary from property to property depending on the quality of whitetail bucks found there, but there are some general rules that apply. Many hunters will shoot spike bucks for cull bucks, but this is not recommended if you have a low number of bucks compared to the number of does. If your deer lease or land has plenty of bucks, then the harvest of spike bucks would be warranted.

Other bucks that qualify as cull bucks or management bucks are those deer with unfavorable antler characteristics. These could be bucks that lack 1 or both brow tines, bucks that are 7 points or less and 2.5 years old or older, or 3.5 and 4.5 year old bucks that have 8 points or less, without broken beams or tines. These 3.5+ year old 8 point deer are now commonly called “management bucks” because the theory is these are good bucks to remove for management of the deer herd. By removing all these cull bucks, it allows hunters and landowners to let the good young, middle aged, and mature bucks to do the breeding and pass on their genes. Continue reading Deer Hunting: What is a Cull Buck?

Deer Hunting: Too Many Stand Locations?

Sometimes hunters do some crazy things when it comes to deer hunting, especially when it comes to stand location. Or stand better stated, when it comes to stand locations. Deer hunting success is a lot like good real estate: location, location, location! But sometimes as hunters we get overzealous and want to place hunting stands all over the place. It is always good to have options, but too many options can drive a hunter crazy.

I have a buddy who had a 600 acre property that his family owned and only he hunted. The place was less than an hour from his house and it held a good number of deer. Sounds like a total deer hunting dream, right? The only drawback was that he had set up 5 hunting stands and feeders and had multiple food plots. This would be okay if 4 or 5 people hunted the property, but he for the most part was the only guy deer hunting it every year. Continue reading Deer Hunting: Too Many Stand Locations?

Deer Hunting for Sucessful Deer Management

A hunter or landowner interested in managing whitetail for better deer hunting is often unaware of many of the methods to produce and grow future trophies. Bucks are just one component of a deer herd, but hunters should always know how to age deer. How old are the bucks that you’re seeing? If they are young bucks, then they need to grow to maturity before they should be harvested. I don’t mean to insult anyone, but in my experience there are a lot of hunters that have no clue on how to age a deer.

If you do nothing else, shooting only mature bucks is the best way to get the age structure and antler development most hunters want. It takes time and patience to get there, but it can happen. Of course, the only way to shoot a mature buck is to recognize one when you see it. In order to get those bucks old and experience better deer hunting you must also know a young buck when you see it or a lot of mistakes will be made, and time wasted. Continue reading Deer Hunting for Sucessful Deer Management

Freaky Whitetail Buck from Mills County

My family, friends and I have done a lot of deer hunting in our lives and rarely have any of us had the opportunity to harvest a truly non-typical buck. We’ve all harvested bucks with some trash such as stickers and extra kickers and such, but nothing with a droptine or extra main beams or stuff like that. I guess that’s why this Mills County buck is just so darn interesting to me. Here is the story:

“I have been watching this buck since I put up my camera in August and have numerous picture of him almost on a daily basis. I was not sure of the deer’s age, but I knew he was old enough. He was shot at on youth weekend by a 13 year old boy who had extreme buck fever and could not close the deal. Continue reading Freaky Whitetail Buck from Mills County

Deer Hunting at Matador WMA

It can be quite difficult to find a deer hunting lease in Texas because there is high demand for high quality property. Even finding mediocre hunting property is not much easier. However, there is another option for hunters willing to head out on public land and bust a little brush. Texas has 2 options for public hunters: the Annual Public Hunting Permit (APH) or the draw system. One of the draw areas that offers great white-tailed deer hunting is the Matador Wildlife Management Area (WMA).

The Matador WMA is located about 8 or so miles north of Paducah, Texas in the lower-eastern portion of the panhandle. This property varies from slightly rolling to downright hilly with steep hillsides. Not only do white-tailed deer call the Matador home, but so does a good population of mule deer. Of course, feral hogs make use of the creeks and drainages that are scattered across this place. Continue reading Deer Hunting at Matador WMA

Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Hunting

The Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area (WMA) provides 10,958 acres of public hunting for white-tailed deer and other game species. The area is operated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and can be accessed through regular permit hunts or special permit hunts. The Engeling WMA serves as a wildlife research and demonstration station for landowners found in the post oak savannah ecoregion of Texas.

APH Permit holders can access the Engeling WMA during regular permit hunt dates without any additional fee. Those without the APH Permit can pay a daily use fee each day. Special permit (draw) hunts are held for white-tailed deer during the archery and general season for selected hunters. During some years, the management area will also hold hunts for feral hogs.

The landscape found on the Engeling WMA varies from nearly flat to gently rolling post oak woodlands consisting of dense stands of oak and hickory overstory with understory plant species of yaupon, greenbriar, elm, and huckleberry. Although most of the area is upland habitat with sandy loam soil, there is a good amount of bottomland habitat. These areas are great for duck hunting and hold a number of feral hogs.

The Engeling WMA is located about 38 miles southeast of Corsicana and 22 miles northwest of Palestine on US Highway 287. Hunters selected for special permit hunts must attend a mandatory orientation on the first day of the hunt at the Wildlife Conservation Center, which is located 1/2 mile north of the main gate on the main WMA road. Standby applicants must report to the Conservation Center at 10:30 am on the first day of the hunt.

Trucks and four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended because portions of the area may be difficult to access during wet weather. Portable deer blinds that do not damage trees are encouraged when on the are. However, portable blinds are not available at the Engeling WMA, so bring your own. An improved campground with camper pads and restroom facilities is available for use by hunters and anglers. For more information on public hunting at the Engeling WMA call the headquarters at 903-928-2251.