Amistad?

[hef187]

Originally Posted by Sideler

I shot a buck in 3 Tuesday morning and couldn't find him. Great blood to start and a pool of blood where he bedded down, it then slowly diminished over the next 1/3 of a mile. We lost it when he entered a thick draw. It appeared he was headed for water. I checked the closest water the next morning and didn't find anything. I walked up on two hunters down by the lake, again I apologize for that, I just had to check the water before I left.

Should've called in Caleb Hill for tracking

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[Sideler]

I don't think you can use a dog at Amistad.

[RGV Hunter]

Originally Posted by Sideler

I don't think you can use a dog at Amistad.

Correct, you are not allowed to use dogs even for tracking

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[hef187]

Originally Posted by Sideler

I don't think you can use a dog at Amistad.

I shot a ram that Friday after thanksgiving on private property, and he crossed into a park hunt area. Caleb made a call into the game warden, and park guy. They both gave us the green light to take the dog in to try and recover. Hope this helps you in the future.

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[Sideler]

Well, I wish I would have known that, I had a dog available to me. I just figured it was one of those federal rules they wouldn't budge off of.

[hef187]

Originally Posted by RGV Hunter

Correct, you are not allowed to use dogs even for tracking

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Might wanna check with the GW, and Park Ranger. I was told it wasn't something they wanted to advertise, but it's kinda crazy to not extend every tool in recovering a wounded animal.

[mudmauler]

I am interested in hunting Amistad with a partner that is familiar with the area. I’m not completely new to Amistad and have seen a lot of the hunt areas from the water. Anybody going to make a trip out there in the near future?


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[hef187]

Originally Posted by mudmauler

I am interested in hunting Amistad with a partner that is familiar with the area. I’m not completely new to Amistad and have seen a lot of the hunt areas from the water. Anybody going to make a trip out there in the near future?


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I might be out there at the end of January, or middle of Feb. I would say hunt area 4 or 5, but go in by boat.

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[mudmauler]

Let me know if you would like some company. I have some time off from 16-22 in Jan and after the 5th of Feb.


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[justletmein]

Originally Posted by Sideler

I don't think you can use a dog at Amistad.

You can for duck hunting.

[Pedernal]

Originally Posted by justletmein

You can for duck hunting.

Did you make it back out? Any luck out there? Seems like there is still good deer movement in some areas of the county.

[justletmein]

Originally Posted by Pedernal

Did you make it back out? Any luck out there? Seems like there is still good deer movement in some areas of the county.

I'm embarrassed to report we had plenty of deer movement but no connections. Every buck I have ever shot at out there has completely ducked my arrow so I finally decided I'd overcome my mental block and start aiming low just underneath them. So nice clean 30 yard shot I aim low, and the deer just stands there looking at me so my slick trick slams into the rocks under/behind him and he runs off. Fast forward a couple days and I get another opportunity, this time I'm sitting there staring at the clouds and hear a rock kick over, look over and a small buck is standing in my shooting lane 30 yards away kinda casually looking at me. I freeze, he stares for a minute then bounces over and down the hill right in front of a bush I'd ranged at 42 yards. No problemo! Put my 40 yard pin on him and let it fly... uhhh forgot to account for the steep downhill angle and it went over his back. I knew immediately after I released I messed up. 20 minutes later my wife gets a shot at a spike that she misjudged the yardage for, she had all the bushes marked for distance and mistook the 30 yard bush he was standing by for the 20 yard bush. That evening I hunted a different spot for a fresh start, heard chewing behind me and turn to my right to find a decent tall 8 point walking out from behind me... only problem he was about 3 yards away and if I were holding an arrow could have literally touched him with it if I leaned over just a tad. He stood there next to me for a full legitimate 2 minutes as I was afraid to breathe and scared to death. He was looking out over this flat I was hunting before he walked out into it, drool string hanging down from the corner of his lip and I could see the muscles flexing in his jaw though he wasn't chewing he was kind of grinding his teeth or something. For a moment I thought wow he might actually walk past me far enough that if I get a plane to fly over or a train goes by I could draw back and get a shot. Right about then he casually starts looking around, looks to his right looks down and casually looks over at me... then he does the "chicken head" and I swear he jumped like a kangaroo doing a backflip probably 10 yards out in a single dead leap and he was gone gone gone flames coming from the bottom of his hooves as he bolted away lol. Our other buddy got busted several times in a row over in his spot and I guess he got tired of it so walked around a bit without any opportunities presenting themselves.

edit: Oh, about the jumping the string/ducking thing. Neither of the deer I shot at moved at all when I let them fly this time. After my last trip I switched my arrows out from FOB's to NAP Hellfire fletching. It's looking like the FOB's air noise may have been the culprit for all the ducks I've experienced in the past. I wish I would have tried changing them out sooner as 3 years ago I let one fly at a real nice buck that did the "Bambi on ice" belly to the floor before my arrow flew over him.

[Pedernal]

^^^^ Nothing to be embarrassed about. Sounds like there was a lot of action out there. Sadly, my back continues to keep me from going out there so it's been a forgettable season for me.

[gemini2759]

Any mouflon showing back up? Heading there tomorrow.

[hef187]

Originally Posted by gemini2759

Any mouflon showing back up? Heading there tomorrow.

Last time I talked to the family, they said they were sticking to the creek bottoms

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[gemini2759]

Originally Posted by Pedernal

^^^^ Nothing to be embarrassed about. Sounds like there was a lot of action out there. Sadly, my back continues to keep me from going out there so it's been a forgettable season for me.

Pm sent.

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[gemini2759]

We allowed to shoot axis? Saw some does today. Brown with white spots.

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[150class]

Originally Posted by gemini2759

We allowed to shoot axis? Saw some does today. Brown with white spots.

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Didn’t know there were axis that far out there?

And as a exotic I would imagine so

[hef187]

Originally Posted by 150class

Didn’t know there were axis that far out there?

And as a exotic I would imagine so

^^

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[RGV Hunter]

Originally Posted by 150class

Didn’t know there were axis that far out there?

And as a exotic I would imagine so

I had never seen Axis deer at Amistad. They are not on the list but I don't see why not, they are exotics.

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[gemini2759]

Originally Posted by RGV Hunter

I had never seen Axis deer at Amistad. They are not on the list but I don't see why not, they are exotics.

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I was very surprised to see them. There were about five. I had the wind right and put a stalk on them, but....dang rocks r noisy.

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[gemini2759]

I checked at the office about the axis. If they're not on the list, you cannot shoot. I asked them to put them on the list.

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[Pedernal]

That sucks but it's what I had been told in the past. What did they tell you about placing axis on the list of exotics allowed to be taken??

[Hooverfb]

Man i really want to go hunting there next year. Was beautiful driving past it from big bend. All i could think of was stalking sheep through the desert haha

[gemini2759]

Originally Posted by Pedernal

That sucks but it's what I had been told in the past. What did they tell you about placing axis on the list of exotics allowed to be taken??

She said she would pass the info along. Maybe some emails from all of us outdoor help.

[gemini2759]

I'm back at it. Found another promising spot. Rubs and a scrape.

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[Pedernal]

Originally Posted by Pedernal

That sucks but it's what I had been told in the past. What did they tell you about placing axis on the list of exotics allowed to be taken??

Originally Posted by gemini2759

She said she would pass the info along. Maybe some emails from all of us outdoor help.

PM sent to you on the axis you spotted on area one

[gemini2759]

Originally Posted by Pedernal

PM sent to you on the axis you spotted on area one

Pm returned.

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[Bowhuntamistad]

Went out this morning for a hike....wow is what comes to mind!

[diamond10x]

Originally Posted by Bowhuntamistad

Went out this morning for a hike....wow is what comes to mind!

Which areas did you go to? Has the lake come up any with the rain last week?

[Bowhuntamistad]

Originally Posted by diamond10x

Which areas did you go to? Has the lake come up any with the rain last week?

5....no noticable rise in level.

[texaswoods5]

Originally Posted by Bowhuntamistad

Went out this morning for a hike....wow is what comes to mind!

So what was "WOW"? Did you see some good animals?

[gregfrancescon]

I've read this entire thread. Deepest thanks for all the good info. I doubt I'll get a chance to go before January of 19 but I'm considerably encouraged by all of the hunters posting. Best of luck this season.

[justletmein]

Lake should be coming up considerably with the recent rains I'd imagine. Hopefully not too much because I'd like to be able to launch at Spur 454.

[VictorG830]

Lake hasn’t really gone up even with all the rain we’ve been getting, went out fishing on Saturday no noticeable difference in level still real low.! My brother went out and put the boat in at 454 no problem.! Supposed to get more rain again this weekend 90% on Saturday and 100% on Sunday.!


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[Pedernal]

Originally Posted by justletmein

Lake should be coming up considerably with the recent rains I'd imagine. Hopefully not too much because I'd like to be able to launch at Spur 454.

Lake is up almost 3 feet... It was close to 1081 elevation and it's now at 1083.8... That is still a bit lower than what would close down the 454 ramp... We will see as there is still water coming down the rivers and supposedly we have more rain coming...

[hammyhamilton]

Finally got my license in the mail. I'm only able to make it out there maybe twice a year due to living 6 hours away. Just wondering if anyone has seen any movement of Axis, Auodad, or Mouflon sheep? TIA

[bowhunt3]

Good luck guys, we had to cancel our opening weekend trip.

[VictorG830]

Went out Sunday walked in WAY before sunrise and got set up we had no movement , waited till around almost 9 and decided to make a move to try and see if we could get a stalk on the mouflon only saw one and it was walking off the area we combed almost the whole area and never saw the mouflon saw about 5 hunters on our way out. passed one hunter about 30yds he never looked up from his phone never knew we were there we went around him once we spotted him .! Good luck guys .!!!


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[RGV Hunter]

Originally Posted by VictorG830

Went out Sunday walked in WAY before sunrise and got set up we had no movement , waited till around almost 9 and decided to make a move to try and see if we could get a stalk on the mouflon only saw one and it was walking off the area we combed almost the whole area and never saw the mouflon saw about 5 hunters on our way out. passed one hunter about 30yds he never looked up from his phone never knew we were there we went around him once we spotted him .! Good luck guys .!!!


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Glad I didn't make the 6 hour trip then.

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[OPSTexas]

going out there this weekend and staying till the following weekend. Hoping with this rain thats supposed to be there that it will make the animals move. Just like everyone else, not trying to get anyones spot but any advice would surely help. Thanks in advance. Oh, will have boat.

[VictorG830]

Originally Posted by OPSTexas

going out there this weekend and staying till the following weekend. Hoping with this rain thats supposed to be there that it will make the animals move. Just like everyone else, not trying to get anyones spot but any advice would surely help. Thanks in advance. Oh, will have boat.

Stay on 4 on the weekends for sure to avoid the crowds on all the other areas during those days for sure .!


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[justletmein]

Originally Posted by VictorG830

Stay on 4 on the weekends for sure to avoid the crowds on all the other areas during those days for sure .!


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Found that because every Tom **** and Harry has a boat nowdays and ALL of them think 4 is the only place to go it gets ridiculously crowded. I've had so many ruined hunts actually change my pattern after Friday morning I'll take the boat to the back side of Area 5 or 1. Get setup and let the walk-in hunters push the deer right to me.

[VictorG830]

Originally Posted by justletmein

Found that because every Tom **** and Harry has a boat nowdays and ALL of them think 4 is the only place to go it gets ridiculously crowded. I've had so many ruined hunts actually change my pattern after Friday morning I'll take the boat to the back side of Area 5 or 1. Get setup and let the walk-in hunters push the deer right to me.

Yeah your telling me I’m local have a boat and never been to 4 , tried one day , figured I’d fish the day and hunt the evening but the bite was on and I caught a bad case of the “one more cast syndrome” and never made it to hunt ..!!!!!


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[Capp35]

Originally Posted by gemini2759

I checked at the office about the axis. If they're not on the list, you cannot shoot. I asked them to put them on the list.

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That is strange since they are a non regulatory animal. You should be able to shoot them on public land, anytime of the year. Just like hogs.

[VictorG830]

Originally Posted by Capp35

That is strange since they are a non regulatory animal. You should be able to shoot them on public land, anytime of the year. Just like hogs.

They were added to the list for the 2018/2019 season after they were spotted in the designated hunting land last year .!


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[gemini2759]

Originally Posted by VictorG830

They were added to the list for the 2018/2019 season after they were spotted in the designated hunting land last year .!


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Your welcome gentle men. I hope to get up there when the weather cools, but it's a 7 hr drive that's worth it. Love that place.

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[VictorG830]

Any one lost “Their” deer and n 5 .? Because I found it (pics below) this was one of 3 carcass we came up on ! Went out again this morning set up by 6:15 then made a move bit passed 9 and walked over 18,000 steps rain started to come down good no complaints thou I had an awesome time .!


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[hef187]

No, I have a big ram over there somewhere tho

Last November... no way he lived with all the blood he pumped out.

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[justletmein]

Looks like it was maybe skinned and quartered? 3 carcasses, peeps been busy! Then again I talked to a guy last year at the boat ramp, said he and his buddy shot and drew blood from 6 bucks that week and recovered zero. Told me all about shooting one running, a 65 yard shot, shot through brush, blah blah blah. Thought he was full of poo til I went back and walked through where he told me he was hunting while on the way to my normal area and sure enough blood trails and orange tape everywhere. I didn't see a single deer in that whole unit for the 3 days I could tolerate until moving to a different unit.