Drew TX Desert Mulie Gun Hunt

[eamyrick]

I’ve hunted quail out there and chased Mule Deer on the border and pan handle. Elephant Mountain has water guzzlers for quail but it’s amazing how little dependence desert mule deer have on fixed water sources. Hunting the border you may see a buck hit a water source every 5-6 days.

I would love to have that tag. Best bet would be to scout if possible and see where there is a good amount of sign and does. At the very end of season the bucks should start looking after does. I would find a good glassing location and stay there for 4-5 days before moving. I’ve killed a few Texas Mule Deer and would only see them every 4-5 days which can have you questioning your spot.

Also saw you said they don’t allow scouting-I’d be out there scouting with a shotgun and some binos during quail season.

 

[Slick8]

Congrats on a great tag and awesome adventure ahead. You were lucky to draw with 9 points as most in the game have 15-16 which makes me question the TPWD point system. As most of us do.

It's been mentioned above, GLASS GLASS GLASS. If you don't already have it, get some good glass and a tripod then practice sitting / standing behind it to find what's comfortable. Comfort goes a long ways to staying behind the glass for long periods of time.

I've never hunted West Texas but have hunted Mulies in south central NM. They can appear from no where and be gone in an instant.

It's really warm right now, I have a cow elk hunt in two weeks and the long range is showing highs in the mid 60's. That can turn in a day and be high's in the 30's. It's December in west Texas, be prepared for freezing to 70 deg. This is another area that will have you walking more to stay warm if not prepared which will pull from glassing time.

Best of luck to ya.

 

[Bhunty19]

Congrats, keep us posted!

 

[SURVEYOR]

My father in law ran Elephant Mountain as the biologist and when my wife was growing up they lived on the WMA for awhile. I’ve been out there a few times looking at desert bighorns and for work. It’s a cool place

 

[TxLite]

Congrats on a great tag and awesome adventure ahead. You were lucky to draw with 9 points as most in the game have 15-16 which makes me question the TPWD point system. As most of us do.

Currently at 7 and really hoping I draw soon. Hell, I’ve got 5 for whitetail. I used to draw every year. Not sure why it’s gotten so bad but man it sucks

 

[BigTX]

Took 9 points. Been putting in for Matador and Black Gap for the same.


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I have 20 MD Pref Points and still can't draw a tag. Congratulations!

 

[Luis]

I was born and raised in that part of the Big Bend, when it was still a private ranch. Once I found out it was open to the public, I wanted to go see what was "behind the fence", that had been off limits during my younger years.

I returned to the area in 2023 and I went quail hunting and saw two different coveys on the north side of the property, and a few does on the NE side of the property. Every place else seemed empty of big game. The campground on the northwest side of the property only had covered areas with tables.

 

[flathead#2]

I've hunted Aoudad in the Presidio and Alpine areas.
Really cool country.

 

[Huggybear]

No help from me but I did draw the MD tag for Big Bend State Park. Not much information on the web I can find. Good luck

 

[JHubbard2010]

Congrats on the tag! I've been applying for West TX Muley tags for 10 years and still nothin. Good luck on the hunt.

 

[Huggybear]

Congrats on the tag! I've been applying for West TX Muley tags for 10 years and still nothin. Good luck on the hunt.

I think I had 9-10 points.

 

[LIWolverine]

Just got home a few min ago. I got it done day 2 on this old buck. Ranch aged him at 7 or 8. Perfect buck for me.

Spotted him the night before right at dark over 1,000yd away. Too late to make a move.

Found him again later the next morning at 887 yd around 8:30am. Made my move and made it about 150 from where they were by 9:00 or so.

Finally found a doe he was with then took almost an hour to find him in his bed in the brush.

Waited another 2 hours for him to get up and put the shot on him at 160yd. He ran maybe 50 yards and piled up.

6.5prc 143gr ELDX through the front right shoulder. Looks like the core punched through the third or fourth rib (didn’t count) on the left side then through the left shoulder with a small piece of jacket found under the skin.

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[weakender]

Nice work! Thought about driving up there myself as stand by but couldn’t get the wife to agree.


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[Huggybear]

Congrats bud! I killed a pretty good one over on Big Bend State Park!

 

[eamyrick]

Awesome Texas bucks.