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Headed out from Austin the morning after Thanksgiving. 18 miles down a bumpy dirt road and we found our camp site. Glassed the first night and didn't see anything but had approximately 30 Javelina all around camp when I got back. Day 2 was a learning experience but didn't spot any deer. On the night after day 2 it was overcast which I thought would be great for deer moving on day 3 which was cold, cloudy, and windy. After setting up at our glassing spot I began hearing some noise in the distance at around 8:45. A 9:00am i picked out 3 bucks in the arroyo. 2 were fighting and the one on the right pictured above was a stud for West Texas and looked to be a 5x5. I ranged the bucks at 738 yards. I made a plan to work a ridge with the wind in my face and pick the bucks back up around 350. I dropped down and when I came back up I could not locate the bucks. I worked the ridge slowly but never saw the bucks again. Major bummer but that's the nature of the country. Cuts cross ever canyon and I believe the deer simply moved off out of view.
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After seeing the bucks I worked my way to the mountains and took a break. My plan was to work up the mountains and spot bedded bucks. I was slowly working down a ridge, glassing the cuts, when two tall forky bucks exploded out of nowhere about 150 yards away. As mule deer are known for, one of the bucks stopped and gave me a 5 second stare and I ranged him at 205 yards. I didn't feel confident in the off hand shot and dropped down to get onto my bipod. By the time I picked the buck back up he was gone.
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Day 3 proved to be the most fruitful as the weather started working against me just like Day 2. Cold and moonlit at night and bright and warm during the day. I jumped 2 does on Day 5 and spotted a doe working a ridge the last morning but couldn't locate anymore bucks despite glassing 5-6 hours a day. I saw deer sign everywhere but with the country holding limited deer, and the bucks bedding down low in the arroyo's, it was almost impossible to pick any up without jumping some like the bucks on the afternoon of day 3.
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A little bit about the country: I booked the hunt through Mike McKinney at
West Texas Hunts | West Texas Hunt Organization. Mike was awesome to work with and one of his partners checked on my buddy (who took most of the awesome photos) and I twice. We learned that the ranches on both sides of us had also proved difficult and both groups had left early. I also learned that the guys who hunted behind me the second half of the season left after a day and a half. It was tough country and alot of guys can't handle the terrain and low deer numbers. I plan on going back next year for sure. I had a great time and its more reasonable than heading out west since I'm only 8 hours away and already have a TX hunting license. I had 7500 acres to myself and much more after the other groups left. 3-4000 acres would have been more than enough to keep me busy.
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Lastly, this is Cartel country. The word is that the town in view on the other side of the border was pushed out by the cartel. I talked to border patrol on the way out and they told me about recent groups who have been caught crossing in the country. I carried a pistol the whole time and was extra aware of my surroundings. We also ran into wild horses which are used on lead by smugglers to bring contraband through the mountain passes. I also spotted some size 7 footprints several miles in which I'm told likely belong to Central Americans coming across. All this adds to the allure for me as this is wild country. We were told that lions are active in the area but I didn't see any sign.
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What worked/gear? I ran Swaro SLC 10x42s on a Manfrotto Tripod which I thought was perfect for glassing the area. Having more power may have helped spot game past 1 mile but it took so long to move in the country I don't think seeing something 1.5 miles away would have been fruitful. We took alot of water and between my buddy and I went through about 6 gallons a day for food and hydration. I drank almost 200 ounces everyday while hunting and another 100 ounces before and after at camp. I wore Danner Acadias and they stood up to the constant climbing and thorny/rocky terrain. I ran a KUIU 3200 which I previously used on a Bear hunt. Its been used for 30lbs day loads for 10 days (10-15 miles each) and I have zero complaints. Time will tell when I finally get it loaded up with an animal.
As far as firearms I took a Tikka T3x 308 with Swaro 4-12x50. I swore I would pick up a long range setup capable of 600 yard shots when I got back but decide to switch to a 270 Tikka (for flatter trajectory) and focus on precise dope out to 500. Committing to a long range system is not something I have time or coin for at this time.
If you have any questions let me know. Thanks -Elijah
