Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR - Teniente Bow Hunt

[RGV Hunter]

Originally Posted by nickstone

Thanks a bunch everybody for posting updates, I'm really starting to look forward to my hunt. I have a question for you guys. I also sent the same question to the refuge, I have seen guys wearing orange and also not wearing orange. Is it a personal decision?

I was reading the special regulations sent out from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, it appears to be a general rule sheet for all hunts since it includes reference to rifle, shotgun, and muzzleloader hunts. The rule sheet states that

"all participants are required to wear hunter orange according to Texas State Regulations"

The Texas State law states "All persons on public hunting lands (state, national forests, and grasslands) during daylight hours when hunting with firearms is permitted must wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange material with orange headgear, and at least 144 square inches appearing on both chest and back"

Since my hunt is an archery hunt, and not a firearms hunt does that mean that I am not required to wear orange?

You have to wear orange. At least when you are moving to and from you blind/ tripod. Last year I was walking back to my truck without my orange cap but I had the orange vest and the park law enforcemnet officer gave me a warming for not wearing my cap.

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[nickstone]

The regs also say this. Are there going to be any firearms hunts going on during 1/11-14?

"Notice: to archery hunters and recreational users: You must wear hunter orange during daylight hours at any time when firearm hunting for any species is authorized on the unit. Many units allow firearm hunting year-round for rabbits, and firearm hunts for squirrel and dove often are conducted concurrently with archery deer hunts."

[TXOUTLAW]

Some people take it off for their harvest pics

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[TXOUTLAW]

Some people take it off for their harvest pics

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[mhunter6]

Anyone on here going on this weekend's hunt?

[lagunaduck]

I'll be there Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Not able to take off of work for Thursday. First time hunting there. Are we allowed to park along the roads or do we need to park in the designated parking areas?

[Jmsck12]

Originally Posted by lagunaduck

I'll be there Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Not able to take off of work for Thursday. First time hunting there. Are we allowed to park along the roads or do we need to park in the designated parking areas?

You can park off the roads as long as you do not disturb the flow of traffic.

You should see tons of game, it was my first time there also and I saw upwards of 20 Deer and like 7 or 8 nilgai while I was there.


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[lagunaduck]

Thanks Jmsck12. Looks like rain on Friday, so I plan on using an old ground blind. Everyplace else I have hunted, I have used a tripod...so this might be interesting. I don't have experience in a ground blind, but would think the animals would spot it easily and be too scared by it. Will try it, though. How are the roads if it rains?

[Jmsck12]

Originally Posted by lagunaduck

Thanks Jmsck12. Looks like rain on Friday, so I plan on using an old ground blind. Everyplace else I have hunted, I have used a tripod...so this might be interesting. I don't have experience in a ground blind, but would think the animals would spot it easily and be too scared by it. Will try it, though. How are the roads if it rains?

Roads are not bad when it rains, unless you have a car you’ll be fine. I sat on a folding chair in the rain and wind tucked into the brush and saw lots of animals.


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[TXFireFighter]

Originally Posted by Jmsck12

Roads are not bad when it rains, unless you have a car you’ll be fine. I sat on a folding chair in the rain and wind tucked into the brush and saw lots of animals.


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This. Have met different people that hunt popups in the 4 hunts I've been to Teniente over the years. None that I know of have harvested Nilgai. We see the most animals sitting well hidden under thick trees or behind cactus. Find you a thick area with trails. They know when it's hunting season and tend to stay away from open areas. Goodluck

[nickstone]

Anybody hunting it this week?

[Jmsck12]

Originally Posted by lagunaduck

Thanks Jmsck12. Looks like rain on Friday, so I plan on using an old ground blind. Everyplace else I have hunted, I have used a tripod...so this might be interesting. I don't have experience in a ground blind, but would think the animals would spot it easily and be too scared by it. Will try it, though. How are the roads if it rains?

How did your hunt go?


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[Jared]

My wife and I got drawn for January 11-14. Any help or tips are appreciated. How tall of a tripod is needed this year? I've read through some older posts and this one.

[RGV Hunter]

Originally Posted by Jared

My wife and I got drawn for January 11-14. Any help or tips are appreciated. How tall of a tripod is needed this year? I've read through some older posts and this one.

Depends where you set up but you would be good with a 6 or 7 foot tripod.

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[nickstone]

Originally Posted by Jared

My wife and I got drawn for January 11-14. Any help or tips are appreciated. How tall of a tripod is needed this year? I've read through some older posts and this one.

Me and a buddy are driving down from California to hunt those days. Hit me up if you get something big down and need a hand packing it out, I'll pm you my contact info.

[Jared]

Sounds good. Thank you. Pm returned.

[yanta61]

We are hunting the Jan 4-7. Anyone else hunting that weekend?

Anyone know of any Rv spots close to the hunt area??

[merlin]

Gateway rv park in raymondville

[mhunter6]

Originally Posted by yanta61

We are hunting the Jan 4-7. Anyone else hunting that weekend?

Anyone know of any Rv spots close to the hunt area??

I’ll be down there then as well. Looking forward to it!


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[jakefromtx]

Originally Posted by mhunter6

I’ll be down there then as well. Looking forward to it!


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I'll be there too. I'm headed down the 2nd to scout for a few days.

[nickstone]

Anybody have recommendations for processors in the area?

[merlin]

D.i.y.

[nickstone]

Originally Posted by merlin

D.i.y.

Do you suggest that because of bad experiences with local processors?

I normally processes everything myself, but I'm driving 2,000+ miles to do this hunt and would like to spend as much time as possible hunting.

I plan on having to skin, quarter and debone anything I get down in the field.

I was hoping there was a local processor I could pay to keep meat in a cold storage, or pay extra $$$ for expedited processing and have it frozen, instead of just having boned out quarters it in ice chests in the back of my truck for a week.

[RGV Hunter]

Originally Posted by nickstone

Do you suggest that because of bad experiences with local processors?

I normally processes everything myself, but I'm driving 2,000+ miles to do this hunt and would like to spend as much time as possible hunting.

I plan on having to skin, quarter and debone anything I get down in the field.

I was hoping there was a local processor I could pay to keep meat in a cold storage, or pay extra $$$ for expedited processing and have it frozen, instead of just having boned out quarters it in ice chests in the back of my truck for a week.

There is one in San Manuel off hwy 281. It's not too far.

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[JackRyan]

I used Rudy's processing right there in Raymondville and had a good experience but it did take a while. Rudy seems like a nice guy, met me at his place on a Sunday morning after my son shot his Nilgai. Got a discount for paying with cash too when I picked up the meat. The jalapeno cheese sausage was really good.

[nickstone]

thanks a bunch, I really appreciate the info!

[gemini2759]

X2 on rudys. I do my own now, but have used him in past.

[BigRed323]

Go with Rudy's in raymondville. . He's been our processor for the past few years and never have any issues at all.

[TXFireFighter]

If anyone drops a bull down there and wants a top of the line taxi service, check out R&N taxidermy in Raymondville. They are the ones right down the road from Teniente when your headed into town. They are mounting a second bull for my group as we speak. First one came out awesome. Price is very fair! Robert is a stand up guy and does incredible work!

https://www.facebook.com/RN-Taxidermy-879108982185810/

[yanta61]

Originally Posted by jakefromtx

I'll be there too. I'm headed down the 2nd to scout for a few days.

Find me a good spot too...lol. We can’t make it down until Thursday.

[mhunter6]

I will be headed down there this evening! Anyone already down there scouting? I wont be able to get out there until tomorrow morning so ill be going in somewhat blind. I do have two questions though. What does Nilgai scat/dung look like and is there still Whitetail rut activity going on that far south this time of year?

[TXOUTLAW]

Yes on WT rut as of last week. Piles are normally much larger as they use the same spot often

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[mhunter6]

Originally Posted by TXOUTLAW

Yes on WT rut as of last week. Piles are normally much larger as they use the same spot often

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Thanks!


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[nickstone]

Good luck this weekend fellas

[mhunter6]

I got a way late start this morning but was able to find quite a bit of sign. Just trying to figure out which spot to sit this afternoon. The east end and middle sections were pretty full of hunters so I’m at the far northwest corner. I haven’t seen any nilgai yet but did see some does.


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[mhunter6]

. Hopefully they’ll be back!


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[nickstone]

That looks promising, good luck!

[yanta61]

I popped a doe this evening. Lots of good sign hope to come across some nilgia.

[mhunter6]

Congrats!


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[gemini2759]

Congrats on the slick head.

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[insanitycpx]

Had a doe walk right by me about 3 yards away then a big spike came by at 8 yards infront of me. I passed up on both in hopes of a bigger one, then I had a nice 8pt come with in 70 yards behind some trees walking away from me , I got my grunt call grunted at him a couple of times, got him to turn back and come closer about 54 yards but he never gave me a shot and started to circle me to get down wind from me then I never saw him again. Oh and I had like 30 turkey walk infront of me lol

[TXOUTLAW]

Good job

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[Perez0164]

All the info here was great helped a lot for my first time hunting here so thanks first all. This is my second time bow hunting or hunting period but it's been fun so far even without harvesting anything.

I was not able to come out yesterday but came in today so far it's been quite where I'm located only saw to coyote. Like around 11 I got off to go grab a bite in my car and sure enough 3 doe like 100 yard passed righr in front of me. I set up an extra pop blind I had close to where they passed as trail there looked frequently used so we'll see if that pays of tomorrow. This afternoon has been super slow and quite as well. Once I got back to where tripod is I went to walk and stalk for a bit to know the are more and found some good trail and then some that seemed old but maybe try does next year see if I get drawn again. Good luck to all out here is you need anything I'm around to help if I can. .... also first post here since I joined a while back lol

[Hank Hill]

Originally Posted by TXFireFighter

Winter Wonderland!

I can't get over how crazy this is. We were down there the same time of year last year and it was hot as blazes.

[TXFireFighter]

Originally Posted by Hank Hill

I can't get over how crazy this is. We were down there the same time of year last year and it was hot as blazes.

Yes sir! It was gone just as quickly as it came! Woke up to light snow, bottom fell out, then it melted all before the sun went down. Craziest thing I've seen!

[yanta61]

Originally Posted by Perez0164

All the info here was great helped a lot for my first time hunting here so thanks first all. This is my second time bow hunting or hunting period but it's been fun so far even without harvesting anything.

I was not able to come out yesterday but came in today so far it's been quite where I'm located only saw to coyote. Like around 11 I got off to go grab a bite in my car and sure enough 3 doe like 100 yard passed righr in front of me. I set up an extra pop blind I had close to where they passed as trail there looked frequently used so we'll see if that pays of tomorrow. This afternoon has been super slow and quite as well. Once I got back to where tripod is I went to walk and stalk for a bit to know the are more and found some good trail and then some that seemed old but maybe try does next year see if I get drawn again. Good luck to all out here is you need anything I'm around to help if I can. .... also first post here since I joined a while back lol

Sending you a message

[mhunter6]

Anyone do any good today?I had a slow day and got busted reaching for my bow by a big boy (whitetail).


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[Jmsck12]

Originally Posted by mhunter6

Anyone do any good today?I had a slow day and got busted reaching for my bow by a big boy (whitetail).


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How big is this big boy? I didn’t see any bucks while I was there


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[mhunter6]

Originally Posted by Jmsck12

How big is this big boy? I didn’t see any bucks while I was there


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Well he’s bigger than I was told to expect there. He was super heavy , other than that it was a blur! He’s definitely a different caliber than I expected. I saw a few 8 points yesterday and today but they were nothing to this guy. Granted I would of shot any of them given the chance!


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[Jmsck12]

Originally Posted by mhunter6

Well he’s bigger than I was told to expect there. He was super heavy , other than that it was a blur! He’s definitely a different caliber than I expected. I saw a few 8 points yesterday and today but they were nothing to this guy. Granted I would of shot any of them given the chance!


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I guess when I was there they were not around, I saw lots of doe’s but no bucks. With the rut in food swing right now down here I wouldn’t be surprised if you saw more even bigger bucks.


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