Matador WMA antlerless hunt

[TCR²]

Wanted to start my own thread about this and not clog up another member's thread.

My son and I were drawn for the Dec. 16-20 antlerless hunt at Matador. I've been reading as many threads on here and other forums about Matador. Looks like it's going to be a very interesting hunt.

What I have seen is the compartments on the east side are probably the best for whitetail doe. I believe my son was picked first and I was picked second which means we will have first pick at the compartments. I'm leaning toward the O.X. compartment.

Has anyone hunted that particular one?

[Deerguy]

If it's just does only, I like the far northwest pasture. Big pasture and doesn't have good internal road access though. But, many deer and hogs and pretty country to hunt (sit in the right spot and you can see a lot of country). Haven't hunted OX, but there are deer over the entire place, you shouldn't have trouble. For bucks though, you are correct that the east side is the place to be.

[Army of Dad]

Originally Posted by TCR²

Wanted to start my own thread about this and not clog up another member's thread.

My son and I were drawn for the Dec. 16-20 antlerless hunt at Matador. I've been reading as many threads on here and other forums about Matador. Looks like it's going to be a very interesting hunt.

What I have seen is the compartments on the east side are probably the best for whitetail doe. I believe my son was picked first and I was picked second which means we will have first pick at the compartments. I'm leaning toward the O.X. compartment.

Has anyone hunted that particular one?

How can you tell where you are in the draw order?


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[Take em]

Hunted a few times and deer can be found all over. Best to spot and stalk till you locate them. Did this hunt last year and my Brother and I left with in 24 hours. Weather was a PIA as it was like 12 degrees that day.


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[krausejmk]

Good luck, I am going on the Archery hunt October 16-20 so I will report back with whatever I find out. Feel free to send me a Pm and we can share info. I have never been there before just an FYI

[TCR²]

Originally Posted by Army of Dad

How can you tell where you are in the draw order?


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I read a post that said the last two digits of your permit is the place you were drawn. My sons is 01 and mine is 02.

[Army of Dad]

Originally Posted by TCR²

I read a post that said the last two digits of your permit is the place you were drawn. My sons is 01 and mine is 02.

Hmm, my daughter has been fortunate enough to draw two hunts this year and her permits end in 82 and 77 so that theory might not work?


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[TCR²]

Originally Posted by Army of Dad

Hmm, my daughter has been fortunate enough to draw two hunts this year and her permits end in 82 and 77 so that theory might not work?


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You may be correct. I can't recall where I read that at. Congrats to your daughter!

[TCR²]

Originally Posted by krausejmk

Good luck, I am going on the Archery hunt October 16-20 so I will report back with whatever I find out. Feel free to send me a Pm and we can share info. I have never been there before just an FYI

Cool deal.....good luck on your hunt! I'll touch base with you after you have completed the hunt.

[TCR²]

Originally Posted by Take em

Hunted a few times and deer can be found all over. Best to spot and stalk till you locate them. Did this hunt last year and my Brother and I left with in 24 hours. Weather was a PIA as it was like 12 degrees that day.


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As much as I would like to take advantage of the entire length of the "season", if the temps are that cold I hope to be done within 24 hours as well LOL!

[BrianL]

Originally Posted by TCR²

Wanted to start my own thread about this and not clog up another member's thread.

My son and I were drawn for the Dec. 16-20 antlerless hunt at Matador. I've been reading as many threads on here and other forums about Matador. Looks like it's going to be a very interesting hunt.

What I have seen is the compartments on the east side are probably the best for whitetail doe. I believe my son was picked first and I was picked second which means we will have first pick at the compartments. I'm leaning toward the O.X. compartment.

Has anyone hunted that particular one?

Last time I hunted MAtador it was in the OX pasture. WE could have tagged out if we wanted to. Hunting buddy shot a 125" ish buck. I saw several in the same size but was looking for larger. Saw lots of deer. I hunted the mound where the road turns back west at the back of the pasture. My buddy hunted about 500+ yards west of me. WE both saw a good many deer. Wheat fields where NE of that pasture and deer where following creek and ridge to and from them.

[BrianL]

Correction. We where in the Shorty pasture......

[TCR²]

Originally Posted by BrianL

Correction. We where in the Shorty pasture......

Were you assigned that compartment or did you get to pick?

[BrianL]

I think we where assigned because we only had 2 hunters in our group


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[BrianL]

I know we saw way more than any other group.

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[Top Of Texas]

Originally Posted by Deerguy

If it's just does only, I like the far northwest pasture. Big pasture and doesn't have good internal road access though. But, many deer and hogs and pretty country to hunt (sit in the right spot and you can see a lot of country). Haven't hunted OX, but there are deer over the entire place, you shouldn't have trouble. For bucks though, you are correct that the east side is the place to be.

While there are whitetails all over the property, the northwest will have a higher proportion of mule deer. Pretty sure M.D. not included in antlerless hunt. Besides, it'd be a challenging pack out.

Everything east of, and including, Mouth of River and Shorty will be whitetail rich, as well as any pasture down on the river.

[TCR²]

We are heading to Matador Friday morning. Some work obligations have postponed our departure until 9am which will put us at Matador about the time the sun is setting. Shouldn't be an issue getting camp set up.

[NDN98]

Originally Posted by TCR²

We are heading to Matador Friday morning. Some work obligations have postponed our departure until 9am which will put us at Matador about the time the sun is setting. Shouldn't be an issue getting camp set up.

Work is delaying my departure as well. The plan right now is to try heading out of the metroplex around 5 (horrible timing with traffic) and hopefully getting to the motel in Childress around 9:00. Hoping to get a quick bite to eat and a good nights rest prior the the hunt starting on Saturday.

[TCR²]

My son comes home yesterday and informs me that he has exams to do Friday in three of his classes. Said the school just told them about it. He is going to ask if he can take all three back to back so we can leave as early as possible. As of now it looks like we may not leave Jasper until at least 2pm which would but us in Childress at about 10:30p-11p Friday night. Looks like we'll be in a hotel that night....not going to try to set up camp that late.

[megger89]

TCR^2 Any update on your hunt?

[NDN98]

Originally Posted by megger89

TCR^2 Any update on your hunt?

I can't speak for TCR^2, but I was on the same hunt as him and this was my experience.

Neither my brother or myself were successful on this hunt, but it wasn't for lack of trying. We were in the North Middle Pasture and put many a mile on my boots and many hours glassing, but the deer just weren't moving much due to unseasonably hot weather. Talked to a guy that got drawn standby and he said he tagged out within 24 hours last year when he was drawn and he wasn't seeing much this year either. A few guys got a whitetail doe and a few got hogs, but not much was coming into the headquarters.

That being said, it was still the most fun I have ever had on a draw hunt and I will definitely be applying again. The staff was amazing and very helpful and the WMA was a beautiful place to hunt. Hard to describe just how big the place is, but it took a good 20 minute drive from headquarters to just get to the North Middle pasture, which of course is in the middle of the WMA. Saw tons of mule deer in our pasture, but only 2 whitetail bucks and one doe, which was too far to put on a stalk as light was fading.

[bmac]

Yes, matador is a great hunt. Makes you get back to the basics.


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[TCR²]

Originally Posted by megger89

TCR^2 Any update on your hunt?

I dropped the ball on this thread big time! Sorry for not seeing this sooner.

Unfortunately my son and I had to head home two days into the hunt due to some things that came up. We didn’t fill any tags and didn’t see any deer. We hunted the OX pasture which from what I read before the hunt is one of the better ones to hunt. Plenty of sign everywhere we walked but as mentioned in a couple posts up the warm weather and wind put a damper on things. I’ll be putting in for hunts on this WMA again next year. Didn’t put in this year because I’m going to Colorado in November so funds are tight.

It is a beautiful place for sure.


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