West Texas Hunting

[fireside44]

Planning on doing some hunting out in west Texas sometime in the near future. I've never hunted that kind of open terrain before, so I have a few questions maybe someone can help me with.

1. What kind of yardage should I expect to be competent in shooting?

I've hunted MN and FL and am used to hunting inside of 100 yards for the most part. A lot of heavy brush and thickets, rather than open terrain. I don't really own any calibers at the moment that hit hard enough or are usable past about 300 yards, is that going to present a problem?

2. Is the carrying of a sidearm (handgun) while hunting legal in Texas? Concealed or open carry?

All responses are appreciated.

 

[dbb1776]

Some of west TX is open, some is full of mesquite. Depends on the area. At any rate any caliber effective to 300 yards is certainly adequate. Bring the one you shoot the best. Also, be prepared for a pig or two, the little ones taste great.

 

[CoRoMo]

What are you hunting?

IIRC, open carry might not yet be legal in Texas, then again, if you're hunting, what's the difference between open carry and hunting with a handgun?

 

[MCgunner]

Yeah, it's wide open out there, but the deer tend to stick to the heavy cover in the dry washes. Remember that when you go, look for sign in the bottoms of dry washes. Only time I ever spotted deer in the open was when they were ruttin'. If you hit the rut, you might get a longer shot. My longest on the ranch I leased was about 150 yards. I scouted it, found the draws, found the sign, and just set up on the edge of a draw/wash on a flat rock (plenty of those out there) and used my shooting sticks. If I didn't see anything for a while, I might get up and walk, do some still hunting, or find a high ridge to spot/stalk from.

It's fun hunting out there. You'll like it.




YES, you can carry a sidearm when you're hunting or as the book says something like "engaging in outdoor activities". You'll surely be on private land, anyway, and you can carry any way you want on private land. I used to tote a .38 so I could pop camp meat, rabbits. It's amazing how much game is in the desert. One could survive quite well out there if lost, but for the fact that WATER is important. The game ain't scarce, put it that way.

 

[MCgunner]

BTW, what I wrote above applies to whitetail. Mulies like open spaces more. If you're after mulies, you might get a 300 yard shot, conceivably. I never went out there during mulie season as we had a few mulies, but not near as many as whitetail on that lease.

 

[~z]

West TX is a broad area, specifics on what part of W TX will help with what to expect.

Its a lot like 'how far is it to Up-North?"
~z

 

[fireside44]

What are you hunting?

Anything that moves. j/k

Hopefully mule deer, javelina, and I have heard that there is a ram like creature that was introduced there called that Aoudad or something like that. Supposedly they have become quite plentiful in west Texas, but I only have the internet to go by. I'll have to learn some more about them I reckon.

I suppose I might take some small game stuff as well, but my main questions were related to larger game found there.

Yeah, it's wide open out there, but the deer tend to stick to the heavy cover in the dry washes. Remember that when you go, look for sign in the bottoms of dry washes.

The property has a very large wash on it, so perhaps I'll get some good luck. Thanks for the tips. Never hunted mule deer before and am really stoked about bagging my first.

West TX is a broad area, specifics on what part of W TX will help with what to expect.

It's the terlingua (sp?) area about fifteen miles from the Mexican border.

 

[MCgunner]

Ah, trans pecos. Our ranch was east of you. You should hit up Art while out there. That's his neck of the woods.

I've seen Aoudad, but never taken one. Be fun to go after someday, maybe. Wonder how they cook up? I don't much care for mutton.

 

[LEVRLOVR]

1. You can expect to encounter game as far as you can see with a good set of binos.

2. Yes, it is legal to open carry a sidearm while hunting.

The type of terrain can vary from completely flat to mountainous, from catclaw scrub to alpine juniper.

As far as game, man they got it all out there.
predators(including mt. lion), hogs, antelope, mulie, whitetail, javaleena, quail, sheep, you name it, they probably have it.

I really enjoy the times I have been able to hunt out that way.

Oh, I forgot to add that you should get yourself the best glass you can afford in binoculars, really a big help when glassing all day.

 

[fireside44]

BTW, what I wrote above applies to whitetail. Mulies like open spaces more. If you're after mulies, you might get a 300 yard shot, conceivably. I never went out there during mulie season as we had a few mulies, but not near as many as whitetail on that lease.

I wasn't aware that whitetail thrived in that terrain.

I've seen Aoudad, but never taken one. Be fun to go after someday, maybe. Wonder how they cook up? I don't much care for mutton.

I love mutton more than just about any other meat, so maybe that's my bag.

Oh, I forgot to add that you should get yourself the best glass you can afford in binoculars, really a big help when glassing all day.

Yeah, I figured I'd need a good spotting scope or binoculars of some sort.

LevrLovr, those are some great pics. Thanks for making all the more anxious to get out there.

Thanks for the advice, I'll take all I can get. I was hoping someone was gonna tell me I needed more rifle so I have an excuse to build this M1917 action I've had laying around for a couple years.

 

[LeonCarr]

I have done the vast majority of my deer hunting in West Texas, and my longest shot ever on a deer was 230 yards. It is not completely flat contrary to popular belief, and you can get closer. If you want a 400-500 yard shot, you can have one, but make sure you are capable of making that shot before taking it.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[2ndAmFan]

Never hunted West TX but been out there quite a few times. Surprising how much game lives in that country. Aoudad are from North Africa and people imported them to exotic game ranches in Texas some years ago. I did get a chance to eat some bar-b-qued aoudad one time and it was pretty tasty. Best to marinate it for at least 6-8 hours I was told.
I had an aoudad female running around my place with a couple of kids a few years ago, and that was one mean mama. Of course I'd expect her to protect her young, and she sure did that. Chased my dog all the way to the porch more than once, and he doesn't scare easy. A woman I know whose husband works on a couple of the exotic game ranches in the area told me he doesn't like even seeing an aoudad because they hate people and are about as likely to charge you as leave you alone. I can't say for sure on that because the only one I was ever around was that female with kids so I don't know how males or females w/out kids might act. They're usually light tan colored so I bet they blend in pretty well with the terrain out around trans-pecos though.

 

[pwillie]

Hunted on a ranch in Brackettville,tough hunting . Also hunted for ten years in San Angelo,most deer I harvested were taken over two hundred yards.Best bucks didn't come to feeders,but you need a good set of field glass's to catch them in between the mesquite and small oaks.

 

[MCgunner]

Those pix look like some foot hills. There are mountains out there, Davis, out around Alpine, and smaller dry desert mountains. The terrain there is much more rough than what our lease was. But, on that lease, we did have draws, cliffs to spot from, etc. Glass was important for that sort of hunting. I THINK, where you're going to be hunting is going to be the rough desert terrain that I'm used to on the leases I've hunted out there. I've never had the pleasure to hunt up in the Davis.

 

[22-rimfire]

I suspect Art Eatman could clue you into what is involved since he lives in the Terlingua area (Big Bend NP).

 

[burrhead]

Aoudad are not true sheep but a distinct species. They are excellent table fare and in Texas are considered an exotic, which means open season. They can be taken any time by any means. If your going to hunt Terlingua Ranch be sure you’re not trespassing. It’s easy to do and many people believe they can hunt anywhere on the ranch they please. Not so. I’m the local JP and I’m very serious about trespassers. If found guilty of trespassing the fine is $500. Be safe and know where you are.