Drawn for the chap!!!

[Yakinthebox]

If you couldn't tell, I'm pumped! This is only my 3rd year doing the drawn hunts and somehow I was blessed to draw the freaking Chaparral WMA for the first bow hunt this year! I've never been down there or hunted anywhere remotely close to there.

Any tips or advice are wholeheartedly appreciated!

-I will be solo on this hunt.
-I will be using a crossbow.
-I have a pop up ground blind (but I understand they have some box blinds there?)
-Looking at deer harvest pics from last year and older have got my adrenaline flowing already.
-I see the success rate for last year was only 13%, is that normal?

Thank y'all for any info you care to share.

Ps, y'all can hate on me if you'd like. Lol

[sqiggy]

I got drawn as well and the first hunt too. This was my second time to ever apply there. The odds just aren't in my favor, but since they made it where you can apply to more than one place, I figured what the heck. And I applied to just one other place, so I'm out a whooping 6 bucks plus the permit fee!!!

[Yakinthebox]

Congrats! Hopefully the deer cooperate with us!

[SCREAMINREELS]

I'll be there.ive hunted it once.
I'm 12/10-12/13 and going solo as well. My family doesn't bow hunt so I apply solo for it.

They have a nice camp area. I camped out in a tent last time. No electric at individual camp sites but theres a bathroom/shower area. Park hosts are good folks. Great country. I passed a few young bucks last time, passed does, shot a Javi I couldn't run off. I did see a few really nice bucks when driving back to camp but none in now range in my area but they are there

The success rate is low because everyone's waiting on a big buck. They do t want you shooting young bucks at all. If you shoot the first doe/javelina etc you prob won't have a problem brining meat back but most folks are waiting for one of those old ghosts to step out.

[Yakinthebox]

Good to know, thank you...

Do the deer actually respond to corn out there? Seems lime they'd barely have enough time to locate the corn before you're hunt is winding down.

[Blank]

Have drawn and hunted the Chap 3 times in the last 10 years, Gun, Archery, and Youth. Killed some very nice buck deer, a few does, and a Javi. The comments above are pretty much right on. People want to hold out for a big one, and don't tend to shoot hogs, coyotes, or does early in the hunt to keep from messing up the area. Finding a good spot on a sendero will allow you to shoot does or javis pretty quickly, but the mature bucks know every inch of the place and don't spend much time in the open. Get back in the thick stuff and find a well used trail or low travel corridor in a creek bottom, set up off the side for a 15-20 yard shot. They don't want you cutting brush, but there is plenty of dead stuff to brush in your blind. They do come to the water sources, but really spooky on them in the open.

Make sure your pop up or tripod is brushed in and really hidden well. Even hunting with a crossbow, you have some movement to worry about for deer. The javis won't care and you can even shoot them out of the elevated Youth box blinds. Those little vacuums will eat every kernel of corn you put out on a road.

We found the Record Rack Golden Deer Nuggets or Purina Antler Max pellets to work better for the deer. Broadcast it lightly in the heavier grass and weeds, and it will make them hunt harder for it and spend more time in front of you.

[Yakinthebox]

Good stuff Blank. Thank you!

I thought the only allowable bait was corn? No?

[Yakinthebox]

Is there any truth to the pasture selection being based on the order you were drawn? If so, I was 4th...

So, what are the prime pastures?

[Blank]

Corn was not allowed for many years, then once they started certifying the aflatoxin levels were below a particular setpoint, they allowed it. The processed pellets were actually preferred. Both managers David Synatsky and Steven Lange allowed the processed pellets when we hunted it before. They will cover it during the orientation, and it is available in both Cotulla and Catarina.

Every compartment is good, and you are just as likely to see a big one by the headquarters as you will on the back. They will go by order of draw, plus size of the group. Big groups can hunt the larger pastures better but they all have good deer in them. I'd be looking for water myself. The two fenced ones (Baldy and Mare) have good ones also. The west side is right up against Jack Brittinghams Rancho Encantado fence and you will probably see sable and huge 200" deer over there.

[Huntindad]

last couple 3 years the Mare pasture has been closed due to low deer density.

[hilltop101]

Thanks for all the info! I’ll be there for the 12/10 to 12/13 hunt.

[KactusKiller]

Last yr they did not regulate the size of pasture by size of group like the previous managers did. Anyone could pick any pasture they wanted.

[Slick8]

I haven't been I a couple of years but the above is good info. When I was there you were allowed to pick by order drawn and encouraged but not forced to take a single pasture due to party size.

Search here heavily, lots of good info.

The early hunt will will be food and water centered. There's really no bad pasture other than 1 or 2 which was closed due to low numbers. They were out of control hogs if memory serves.

I heard a theory which I'd be inclined to try. It would work better if rifle hunting but could work with a bow. That is to locate one of the tall blinds which are usually set up on a sendero crossing. This is something to discuss as you pick your pasture. Then the first evening corn all senderos as far as you can see. Then go do a little scouting else where returning to the blind for the last couple of hours of light. Repeat this process the next morning hoping you see a shooter or good group of deer. You can then set up on the spot where those deer were feeding.

If using a ground blind treat it like a day lease brushing in beyond recognition having one window open and one small shooting lane. Lastly, consider a short or adjustable tripod. There's not many fall trees for a 12 foot plus tripod.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

[sqiggy]

Do they have a camp area that you can stay on site?
And if so, what's the earliest you can arrive to set up camp?
About how many pastures are there?
Think rattling would work during this time frame, Dec 3-6?

[Blank]

Here's a map from this year, showing all the roads, senderos, and blind types and locations. There is lots of info out there, if you just look for it.

https://www.facebook.com/ChaparralWMA/photos/a.320403351428494/1469752493160235/?type=3&theater