Texas Mule Deer

[Shane13]

Anybody else gonna be hunting muleys in Texas this fall? I grew up hunting in the canyons of the Panhandle, but I haven't hunted mule deer for several years now. I fell into an opportunity to hunt about 10,000 acres in the Canadian River breaks this year, so I am pumped. We hunted archery season and saw does and a young buck or two. My son had a big aoudad within 50 yards, but he was in brush and got downwind before offering a shot opportunity. We didn't see any whitetail, but they are there as well (and antelope). Antelope permits were sold to other hunters.

Saturday is opening day of general season for mule deer. Lots of cold and snow the last couple of days. I'm hoping that will get the deer moving. Maybe getting into pre-rut soon.

Got my boots laid out and my pack is ready. Got lots of hiking and climbing to do, starting Saturday....

 

[Shane13]

 

[Shane13]

 

[packmule]

Good luck, Shane and I know you'll take plenty of pics. Noticed on my trip to Colorado that everything looked dead and then hit the Canadian River and it looked like an lush oasis. Animals should have had the nutrition this year to be something special.

 

[Shane13]

Yep, they've had a lot of rain through there this year. All the groceries have made it hard to pattern the deer, but they are plenty healthy.

 

[MountainHigh]

Good luck and be sure to post pics if you get one!

 

[Timberstalker]

Looks like a nice piece of county. Good luck!

 

[CrossCreeks]

Good Luck! Hope to see some pictures !

 

[tdcour]

Best of luck! I grew up in Plainview so we went to the canyons quite often for a change of scenery... or to just get some scenery.

 

[Shane13]

I grew up in Tulia. We ran cattle on a ranch on the caprock between Silverton and Quitaque. Loved hunting mule deer and aoudad there. We used to ride motorcycles at the Canadian River north of Amarillo. The ranch I'm hunting this year is close to where we rode back in the 70s and 80s. Folks still ride there now, but it's mostly 4wheelers and ATVs these days.

Still, those canyons in Briscoe County are some of my favorite spots on earth. Love that country.

 

[Eberle]

Good luck Shane! I applied for Black Gap but didn't draw. My nephew drew the youth javelina at the "Chap" so we are headed down there in Feb. My son Pake turned 8 this year so I put him in for all the youth hunts with his cousin. They didn't draw anything, next year I think I'll put them in separate. See ya, keep us posted!

 

[Shane13]

I haven't drawn anything this year at all. Got a couple left that haven't drawn yet, so there's still a chance. I put in for hard to draw hunts this year though. I didn't want to draw a hunt during mule deer season, because I want to spend all the time I can at my lease. I wish we'd get the option to just buy preference points. That's what I'm hoping for in most categories this year. But the hunts remaining that haven't drawn yet are the bighorn, gemsbok and oryx. Well, and feral hog too. It won't hurt my feelings if I draw the bighorn again.

 

[packmule]

Hey now, I have big plans of drawing that bighorn tag.

 

[Shane13]

Me too!

 

[Shane13]

I need to balance out the other side of my office.

 

[packmule]

I agree, another WT mount on that opposite wall would look great.

 

[Shane13]

Or a mule deer pedastal....

 

[packmule]

That'll work too!

 

[Eberle]

Keep it up & you'll have to get a bigger office!

 

[Eberle]

I also applied for the bighorn, gemsbok and oryx. I'd love to hit any of the 3!