Silas_Norris
FNG
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2023
- Messages
- 42
It has been a while since I have posted anything and it has also been about 4 months since this hunt took place, however, I figured this may be helpful to some people looking for some information on hunting elk in west texas.
I have been looking into various outfitters for a very long time. I am blessed in that I do not mind paying a little extra for a quality experience with a chance at quality animals. While I am earning points in several states, it can take many years to get into a great area with reasonable access and quality bulls etc.
I have several friends that go elk hunting every year in Colorado and I have never been attracted to the crowds of other hunters they run into and the chances at even seeing a decent bull after the first day of season is slim.
So, after researching several options I really started to become more and more interested in West Texas for several reasons.
1. The land is private and many of the ranches are BIG!
2. Elk are considered a non native species (which is odd considering they have had free range elk in west texas since the 1920s) so this means you only need a basic 5 day non resident hunting license and you are good to go. There is no tagging or check in process after the kill. No antler restrictions. You can also hunt them year round with any weapon you choose (rifle or bow etc). Heck, you can even hunt them with thermals at night if you were so inclined (not my style but it is legal).
3. The terrain is easier and hunting out of a hotel or quality camp is possible. No need to horseback in 15 miles to a spike camp. I do enjoy hard hunts with hiking and spike camps but it is not necessary on this type of hunt usually.
4. Weather is pretty ideal during the months of September-March and it is not really likely to rain for several days etc. So, the weather is usually nice. Heavy winds may be the only thing you have to deal with but it certainly could be worse and often is in many other elk hunting areas.
5. Packing out a animal is usually easier. No need in most cases to hike miles with meat and antlers on your back. Usually, you can get a vehicle or 4x4 within a few hundred yards of your downed animal.
If there is a drawback to hunting elk in West Texas it is certainly the cost. It's a pay to play game in West Texas. Elk hunts range form 9k to 16k based on my reasearch for free range elk. I paid something in between that range.
My hunt was a 5 day hunt and took place about 45 minutes from Fort Stockton. We had some heavy winds to deal with and we were hunting late season elk so they were not rutting. This proved to make things a bit more challenging in locating elk. It seemed most of the elk we could see from out vantage points were miles away and on neighboring properties so we were not able to make a play on them. We did see elk every day but not the numbers we expected or hoped to see.
This was a 4 day hunt and on the morning of day 3 were were fortunate to spot two bulls about 1 mile away. I was saddened to learn that the two bulls were about .5 miles across the property line. My heart sank when the guide told me that and I thought our chance was gone. The elk were both headed the opposite direction from where we needed them to come. Luckily the winds started to pick up over the next half hour and the elk decided to do a 180 turn and come back out direction in order to seek protection from the wind.
The two bulls ended up working back onto our ranch and ended up walking up into a drainage to bed. We were able to sneak to within 500 yards and watch the bulls bed. While we could not see them bedded we were confident of where they were bedded at.
I thought the best idea would be to get to a high knob about 300 yards out and wait for them to hopefully feed out that evening. I was a little surprised when the guide said he thought we should try to sneak in there and find the bull bedded. I really thought we would likely spook the bedded bulls on our approach as we did not know exactly where they were bedded (just the general area). I was also worried that it would be too thick in the cedars and we would likely accidentally get too close. Either way, the guide seemed certain that with the high winds in our face we could work slowly and eventually find them bedded. I reluctantly agreed to make the stalk. We worked super slow and glassed every 10 yards or so looking for the white antler tips.
As we got within about 100-150 yards from where we thought the bulls would be bedded the guide leaned over and told me he saw some antler tips! I was shocked as it was thick and hard to see very far. A minute or so later he stated that he could see both of the bulls antlers. After a little more glassing we were able to determine which bull was the larger of the two. He was a big 5x5. There are certainly bigger bulls out there to be had but this had been a hard hunt and after 3 days this was the first stalk we even had the chance to make on a bull. I was more than happy to shoot a bull of this caliber. This was also my first elk and I really wanted to bring some meat home! Needless to say, i was more than happy to shoot this bull!
Back to the story, once the bulls were spotted, we really did not have a angle to shoot and it was too thick. From where we were located if the bull stood up it would have been facing me or quartering hard to me. It was vital that I shoot the bull right as he stands up as the cover was very thick and he had several escape routes away from us through thick cover. So, if I was not able to get a shot off as soon as he stood up, that bull would quickly disappear in the thick cover.
We kept working to our left in order to give me a broadside shot. The guide would walk over about 20 yards to the left and then signal me over. We worked closer and more to the left. We had to do this about 3 or 4 times until we were finally in the best position we could be in to make a good shot.
As soon as we moved into the last position I set up the tripod and right when I did that we spooked a mule deer and it started blowing at us. I never even considered while we were making the stalk that we had seen several mule deer in that area earlier that morning. In hindsight we were very lucky to not have spooked more mule deer and blowing the elk out while making the stalk.
Anyways, the mule deer spooked and it was absolutely perfect. The elk started to look back and forth. I could see his antlers moving and could tell he was looking around for whatever had spooked the mule deer. Only a few seconds later (seemed like a hour) the elk finally stood up. I dont think he stood up for more than a couple quick seconds and I immediately shot and he dropped right back into his bed. Needless to say I was excited. Shot was less than 100 yards away!
I would be happy to answer any questions regarding hunting elk in west texas. I have hunted all over the world and really think that west texas is a specal place. I have hunted there several times now but this was my first time for Elk.
I would recommend going during the rut (September or October). I think the elk will move much during daylight and provide more opportunities. We did not see many elk on this hunt (guide was super surprised). We hunted in February.
I will be headed back in October for a rut hunt and will make a post on the results of that hunt!
I have been looking into various outfitters for a very long time. I am blessed in that I do not mind paying a little extra for a quality experience with a chance at quality animals. While I am earning points in several states, it can take many years to get into a great area with reasonable access and quality bulls etc.
I have several friends that go elk hunting every year in Colorado and I have never been attracted to the crowds of other hunters they run into and the chances at even seeing a decent bull after the first day of season is slim.
So, after researching several options I really started to become more and more interested in West Texas for several reasons.
1. The land is private and many of the ranches are BIG!
2. Elk are considered a non native species (which is odd considering they have had free range elk in west texas since the 1920s) so this means you only need a basic 5 day non resident hunting license and you are good to go. There is no tagging or check in process after the kill. No antler restrictions. You can also hunt them year round with any weapon you choose (rifle or bow etc). Heck, you can even hunt them with thermals at night if you were so inclined (not my style but it is legal).
3. The terrain is easier and hunting out of a hotel or quality camp is possible. No need to horseback in 15 miles to a spike camp. I do enjoy hard hunts with hiking and spike camps but it is not necessary on this type of hunt usually.
4. Weather is pretty ideal during the months of September-March and it is not really likely to rain for several days etc. So, the weather is usually nice. Heavy winds may be the only thing you have to deal with but it certainly could be worse and often is in many other elk hunting areas.
5. Packing out a animal is usually easier. No need in most cases to hike miles with meat and antlers on your back. Usually, you can get a vehicle or 4x4 within a few hundred yards of your downed animal.
If there is a drawback to hunting elk in West Texas it is certainly the cost. It's a pay to play game in West Texas. Elk hunts range form 9k to 16k based on my reasearch for free range elk. I paid something in between that range.
My hunt was a 5 day hunt and took place about 45 minutes from Fort Stockton. We had some heavy winds to deal with and we were hunting late season elk so they were not rutting. This proved to make things a bit more challenging in locating elk. It seemed most of the elk we could see from out vantage points were miles away and on neighboring properties so we were not able to make a play on them. We did see elk every day but not the numbers we expected or hoped to see.
This was a 4 day hunt and on the morning of day 3 were were fortunate to spot two bulls about 1 mile away. I was saddened to learn that the two bulls were about .5 miles across the property line. My heart sank when the guide told me that and I thought our chance was gone. The elk were both headed the opposite direction from where we needed them to come. Luckily the winds started to pick up over the next half hour and the elk decided to do a 180 turn and come back out direction in order to seek protection from the wind.
The two bulls ended up working back onto our ranch and ended up walking up into a drainage to bed. We were able to sneak to within 500 yards and watch the bulls bed. While we could not see them bedded we were confident of where they were bedded at.
I thought the best idea would be to get to a high knob about 300 yards out and wait for them to hopefully feed out that evening. I was a little surprised when the guide said he thought we should try to sneak in there and find the bull bedded. I really thought we would likely spook the bedded bulls on our approach as we did not know exactly where they were bedded (just the general area). I was also worried that it would be too thick in the cedars and we would likely accidentally get too close. Either way, the guide seemed certain that with the high winds in our face we could work slowly and eventually find them bedded. I reluctantly agreed to make the stalk. We worked super slow and glassed every 10 yards or so looking for the white antler tips.
As we got within about 100-150 yards from where we thought the bulls would be bedded the guide leaned over and told me he saw some antler tips! I was shocked as it was thick and hard to see very far. A minute or so later he stated that he could see both of the bulls antlers. After a little more glassing we were able to determine which bull was the larger of the two. He was a big 5x5. There are certainly bigger bulls out there to be had but this had been a hard hunt and after 3 days this was the first stalk we even had the chance to make on a bull. I was more than happy to shoot a bull of this caliber. This was also my first elk and I really wanted to bring some meat home! Needless to say, i was more than happy to shoot this bull!
Back to the story, once the bulls were spotted, we really did not have a angle to shoot and it was too thick. From where we were located if the bull stood up it would have been facing me or quartering hard to me. It was vital that I shoot the bull right as he stands up as the cover was very thick and he had several escape routes away from us through thick cover. So, if I was not able to get a shot off as soon as he stood up, that bull would quickly disappear in the thick cover.
We kept working to our left in order to give me a broadside shot. The guide would walk over about 20 yards to the left and then signal me over. We worked closer and more to the left. We had to do this about 3 or 4 times until we were finally in the best position we could be in to make a good shot.
As soon as we moved into the last position I set up the tripod and right when I did that we spooked a mule deer and it started blowing at us. I never even considered while we were making the stalk that we had seen several mule deer in that area earlier that morning. In hindsight we were very lucky to not have spooked more mule deer and blowing the elk out while making the stalk.
Anyways, the mule deer spooked and it was absolutely perfect. The elk started to look back and forth. I could see his antlers moving and could tell he was looking around for whatever had spooked the mule deer. Only a few seconds later (seemed like a hour) the elk finally stood up. I dont think he stood up for more than a couple quick seconds and I immediately shot and he dropped right back into his bed. Needless to say I was excited. Shot was less than 100 yards away!
I would be happy to answer any questions regarding hunting elk in west texas. I have hunted all over the world and really think that west texas is a specal place. I have hunted there several times now but this was my first time for Elk.
I would recommend going during the rut (September or October). I think the elk will move much during daylight and provide more opportunities. We did not see many elk on this hunt (guide was super surprised). We hunted in February.
I will be headed back in October for a rut hunt and will make a post on the results of that hunt!
