Amistad?

[Hawkpuppy 1]

Not asking for spots or setups, just wondering if it's worth going out there. I have a boat if that helps. According to the website, I get the rules and such, but is there that many animals out there or are they way few and far between? Any pics of success out there?

[SouthTX1911]

Plenty of deer and mouflon. You just have to be smart. Also lots of hunters. If I was to go this year, I would sneak to the very back of 5 on the boundary WAY before daylight and see what comes sneaking over the boundary onto private land. The next thing I would do is get your boat out on the lake and glass the lake side rocks and make a move from there. Other than that find a well used trail and sit as long as you can stand it. Good luck!


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[Briar Friar]

Mouflon are like roaches. Pressure them and they squirt out...keep your arrow knocked and at the ready...there is a good chance the sheep will be between you and the truck. Boat need will vary depending on hunt unit. Get your boots strapped on good. It is all canyon land. Most everything vegetative will stab you. The wind blows most all the time. Stalk slowly to the leeward side of the canyon...the mouflon will be there.

[Fashinghunts]

I haven't been out there since 2003. I hear that there are lots of hunters. I would go all the way back into section 1 where the old cattle pens are and set up near the water. We always killed decent bucks back there.

[Pedernal]

Originally Posted by Hawkpuppy 1

Not asking for spots or setups, just wondering if it's worth going out there. I have a boat if that helps. According to the website, I get the rules and such, but is there that many animals out there or are they way few and far between? Any pics of success out there?

There are plenty of opportunities without a boat but a boat gains you a shot at aoudads in area 4 which is boat accesable only. There seem to be more and more hunters every year. Best advise I can give is show up during the week and there will be less hunters out there. It's been really green this year so I suspect there will be some nice bucks out there as well.

[SouthTX1911]

Originally Posted by Pedernal

There are plenty of opportunities without a boat but a boat gains you a shot at aoudads in area 4 which is boat accesable only. There seem to be more and more hunters every year. Best advise I can give is show up during the week and there will be less hunters out there. It's been really green this year so I suspect there will be some nice bucks out there as well.

By far better to go during the week if possible.


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[justletmein]

Definitely go during the week, had several hunts ruined last year due to hunters roaming around aimlessly in area 4. Some guys in Doe season were trying to drive Aoudad like moufloun, ran all the deer to the next county.

I like to bring the boat and hit the back sides of 5 and sneak in, then let the hunters run everything to me as they walk in.

It's gonna be hard this year with all the rain, deer will be less predictable and more scattered. 2 years ago was easy pickings.

To answer your question OP, there are plenty of deer but they are not easy to get shots on.

I'll have a couple of weeks in November and early December I'll be doing middle of the week trips alone with the boat if anyone wants to come along.

[Txfire409]

Originally Posted by justletmein

I'll have a couple of weeks in November and early December I'll be doing middle of the week trips alone with the boat if anyone wants to come along.

Im interested.

[Sideler]

I might be interested also.

[justletmein]

Looking at Nov 8-11 and crap I just realized the other week is Thanksgiving week, trust me you do not want to be down there during Thanksgiving week. I typically camp at San Pedro campgrounds.

[VictorG830]

Lots of walking LOTS OF WALKING to get to a good spot and have a few opportunities way befor sunrise before anybody shows up.! I've had success the hard part is getting out with your harvested animal bow and pack..!!! Let me know I'm always down for a challange.!!

[Hawkpuppy 1]

Thanks for the info guys. May have to head out that way and take a look....

[Tmill]

Originally Posted by VictorG830

Lots of walking LOTS OF WALKING to get to a good spot and have a few opportunities way befor sunrise before anybody shows up.! I've had success the hard part is getting out with your harvested animal bow and pack..!!! Let me know I'm always down for a challange.!!

This is true I logged 7 miles of walking last time I was out there. Two shuttle runs to get the mouflon out and my bow out. Not to mention hiking in and around to find them.


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[VictorG830]

We went out for a quick opening day Dove hunt to check it out, it is so over grown with vegetation even the well walked trails were over grown didn't see any deer or anything in the areas we went too and we went to the backs of both .! ! Also don't forget your water packs you will need it...!! sit still let them come to u don't wander around looking for them cause chances are they will find/spot u first and be gone with the wind...!!!!

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[hammyhamilton]

Been hunting area 4 and 5 and no signs of mouflon and aoudad... Hunted area 5 before, and it was full of mouflon, don't know where they all went... Area 4 had no sign of aoudad either...

[justletmein]

Originally Posted by hammyhamilton

Been hunting area 4 and 5 and no signs of mouflon and aoudad... Hunted area 5 before, and it was full of mouflon, don't know where they all went... Area 4 had no sign of aoudad either...

Deer staying up top on the bluffs I assume?

Still too hot for me. Last time I went in October I hiked to my hunting spot and sat with no shirt on for 2 hours until the sun started getting low. I'm hairy, but not that great for camo lol.

[Pedernal]

Originally Posted by hammyhamilton

Been hunting area 4 and 5 and no signs of mouflon and aoudad... Hunted area 5 before, and it was full of mouflon, don't know where they all went... Area 4 had no sign of aoudad either...

Lots of browse in the San Pedro flats area so the mouflon are probably getting fat over there...

[Deers & Beers]

There really are hardly any aoudad out there at all. I've heard of 2 being taken in the past 7-8 years.

Mouflon are usually AWOL after opening week then slowly return as the crowds thin..

[Pedernal]

Originally Posted by justletmein

Deer staying up top on the bluffs I assume?

Still too hot for me. Last time I went in October I hiked to my hunting spot and sat with no shirt on for 2 hours until the sun started getting low. I'm hairy, but not that great for camo lol.

Have not gone in to scout but scoped from the highway; lots of does on the south fence line area 5... Bugs are killer with all the grass out there. Not to mention ticks crawling around every where...

Did you find the tin you were looking for? I know your asking on a different thread but I would be interested in trading some hard labor for a fishing trip. Let me know.

[justletmein]

Originally Posted by Deers & Beers

There really are hardly any aoudad out there at all. I've heard of 2 being taken in the past 7-8 years.

Mouflon are usually AWOL after opening week then slowly return as the crowds thin..

I've killed 2 in the last 4 years, and that should be 4 if I wasn't an idiot.

Originally Posted by Pedernal

Have not gone in to scout but scoped from the highway; lots of does on the south fence line area 5... Bugs are killer with all the grass out there. Not to mention ticks crawling around every where...

Did you find the tin you were looking for? I know your asking on a different thread but I would be interested in trading some hard labor for a fishing trip. Let me know.

Gross, man I'm seriously not a fan of ticks AT ALL. That's another reason why I wait til later in the season. Bugs and snakes lol.

No I haven't found any tin sources so I may just have to buy new. There's one up North that I might be able to scavenge on a trip to Dallas but that won't be for a few weeks. You're welcome to come down any time, we just might do more fishing and hunting than working LOL. It's dove season down there and the island is literally covered in sunflowers, saw a few birds last trip but not a lot flying because anywhere they drop they're in sunflowers and there are no hunters kicking them up. Duck season starts in November. I'm ordering some lights to setup at night on the jetty but probably don't need them. Last trip the Reds and Black Drum were swarming on the surf side of the POC big jetty so we just walked a little out and caught them on paddle tails, have to weed through huge skipjack on every cast to get them but they were under the school of skippies.

Oh yeah and these guys:

[Efren]

I'm interested in venturing out to Amistad. Anyone wanna join?

[Pedernal]

When are you going out??

Lots of hunters out today. Hope I did not screw anyone's hunt. I waited till 10 before I went in to for one last look.

[Efren]

I just made a new post, check it out. Going to go out nov 6-9

[justletmein]

Originally Posted by Pedernal

When are you going out??

Lots of hunters out today. Hope I did not screw anyone's hunt. I waited till 10 before I went in to for one last look.

Any luck with that or at least evidence of where she might havie gone?

Originally Posted by Efren

I just made a new post, check it out. Going to go out nov 6-9

I'll be there for a 4-5 day stretch between the 7th and 13th.

[justletmein]

Got back last night, nothing hit the ground but found some interesting new areas I want to explore. Had a run in with some "hunters" who walked right by my boat and within 100 yards of me yelling back and forth across the canyons to eachother trying to "stalk" some Aoudad. I'm heading back down end of this week and then the week after Thanksgiving if anybody wants to come by camp and shoot the breeze.

[yanta61]

I want to go but probably wont have time this year. Might try for a trip right before buck season ends. I wouldn't mind going during the exotic only but my buddy doesn't want to go..

[Hondo Bob]

I shot a a decent aoudad in 4 last year. Shot over him cause I walked right up on him and he pinned me down in the sage. No rangefinder in my hand, got a holster for it now. The hunting is better for me when there's lots of people pushing the animals around. I hunt spots and tend to stay put so it works for me. Some of the best hunts I've had there are with a group of 6-8 hard core guys. Something always gets put down. Drives work too but you have to be respectful of other guys. It definitely helps to have a sense of humor cause the majority of people I've seen out there never even knew I was there and it can get you mad if you let it. I think the best time to go is when you can!

[Efren]

I'm still interested if anyone wants to go. Hit me up

[Efren]

Let me know when you're going. I'm interested as well

[Pedernal]

Originally Posted by justletmein

Got back last night, nothing hit the ground but found some interesting new areas I want to explore. Had a run in with some "hunters" who walked right by my boat and within 100 yards of me yelling back and forth across the canyons to eachother trying to "stalk" some Aoudad. I'm heading back down end of this week and then the week after Thanksgiving if anybody wants to come by camp and shoot the breeze.

how much deer movement did you see?? Any luck out there besides deer driving "hunters"??

There are some young bucks that almost seem to want to start chasing does around. Have seen lots of scrape activity. Going to try some mock scrapes and see what happens. I spotted a nice 8 two days ago that appeared to be "cruising" mid day.

[justletmein]

Originally Posted by Efren

Let me know when you're going. I'm interested as well

PM sent

Originally Posted by Pedernal

how much deer movement did you see?? Any luck out there besides deer driving "hunters"??

There are some young bucks that almost seem to want to start chasing does around. Have seen lots of scrape activity. Going to try some mock scrapes and see what happens. I spotted a nice 8 two days ago that appeared to be "cruising" mid day.

Saw zero deer, and two Aoudad. I had my 12 year old son with me so we did not hunt the mornings and I think with that super moon they just were not moving in the evenings. My boy wanted to fish way too much so we weren't walking in to hunt until around 3pm. I think if we hunted the mornings and mid-day we would have done much better. We did run off a buck on Saturday afternoon getting to our spot, and again on Sunday afternoon which was within 20 yards of us. Also had something walk up on us Saturday evening but vegetation is so dense we couldn't see squat. I'm trying to learn Area 2 so when I go down by myself this weekend I'll be spending a lot of time in there.

[Pedernal]

Originally Posted by justletmein

PM sent



Saw zero deer, and two Aoudad. I had my 12 year old son with me so we did not hunt the mornings and I think with that super moon they just were not moving in the evenings. My boy wanted to fish way too much so we weren't walking in to hunt until around 3pm. I think if we hunted the mornings and mid-day we would have done much better. We did run off a buck on Saturday afternoon getting to our spot, and again on Sunday afternoon which was within 20 yards of us. Also had something walk up on us Saturday evening but vegetation is so dense we couldn't see squat. I'm trying to learn Area 2 so when I go down by myself this weekend I'll be spending a lot of time in there.

Cool... Did you guys get into any strippers?? I hear they are schooling near the 277 bridges in the evenings. Might yak out there and try to get into them if the wind is slack later today or tomorrow.

[dc1986]

Originally Posted by Pedernal

Cool... Did you guys get into any strippers?? I hear they are schooling near the 277 bridges in the evenings. Might yak out there and try to get into them if the wind is slack later today or tomorrow.

If there are a bunch of strippers hanging out there then I might be interested as well.

[Pedernal]

Originally Posted by dc1986

If there are a bunch of strippers hanging out there then I might be interested as well.

I meant striped bass but you can see where my mind was last night

[justletmein]

Originally Posted by Pedernal

Cool... Did you guys get into any strippers?? I hear they are schooling near the 277 bridges in the evenings. Might yak out there and try to get into them if the wind is slack later today or tomorrow.

No we were mostly out over by the 90 bridge area then back in the coves near Spur 406 camp and outside Area 2. Caught a lot of small bass. I'd *love* to learn to find the Stripers out there though. I'm heading down tomorrow and I'll have the boat, if you wanna go chase them let me know. I'll probably be rolling in kinda late so most likely setup camp and out to hunt but I'll be alone til Friday so after the morning hunt and midday I may go run over there either way. People looking for birds in the Fall or pitching or trolling crankbaits or what?

Originally Posted by dc1986

If there are a bunch of strippers hanging out there then I might be interested as well.

They hitting on the greenbacks? I better stock up on those just in case I find a good school running around.

[Pedernal]

^^^^
Most of the time when the wind is slack (not often on Amistad) you can find them under birds. Usually any flats with vegetation close to deep water seem to be the best spots. Right now from what I understand they are schooling by the 277 bridges(highway bridge and the old flooded out bridge). Not really sure for the reason but it maybe there is a lot of bait in those areas due to all of the recently flooded vegetation. I will be working evening shift Friday or I would join you.

As for baits, rattle traps and spoons should be good. My go to bait for schooling fish are the Rapala X-rap. I like the glass ghost color in the four inch model but matching your lure to the bait the fish are hitting is obviously best. Only down fall to the xrap is that it will only go so deep. There are some similar model of lures that dive deeper but I have no experience with them. Additionally, it's been my experience that smaller fish will take the bait shallower so you will have more bites but smaller fish. Any similar type slash bait should work well.

I might be out hunting area 1 Thursday afternoon. Where are you going to set up camp??

[justletmein]

Thanks for the heads up I'll put that info to good use.

I usually camp over at Spur 406 but I had a little issue with some late night footsteps around my tent last time, no mistaking footsteps of a two-legged critter. That and it's pretty far from where I launch so I'm thinking I'll just hit San Pedro this time. Look for the blue Ram and the Boatright attached. I'm planning to launch and hit the back of Area 2 on Thursday if you'd rather do that you're welcome aboard.

[Pedernal]

Originally Posted by justletmein

Thanks for the heads up I'll put that info to good use.

I usually camp over at Spur 406 but I had a little issue with some late night footsteps around my tent last time, no mistaking footsteps of a two-legged critter. That and it's pretty far from where I launch so I'm thinking I'll just hit San Pedro this time. Look for the blue Ram and the Boatright attached. I'm planning to launch and hit the back of Area 2 on Thursday if you'd rather do that you're welcome aboard.

I appreciate the offer but I am going in early to work on a ground blind and to make a mock scrape. I will swing by San Pedro afterwards. I got a lure you and your son can try on the stripers. Good luck on the afternoon hunt.

[justletmein]

Originally Posted by Pedernal

I appreciate the offer but I am going in early to work on a ground blind and to make a mock scrape. I will swing by San Pedro afterwards. I got a lure you and your son can try on the stripers. Good luck on the afternoon hunt.

Tried to send you a PM but your box is full.
Gonna be camping at Spur 406 with a few friends Tuesday through probably Sat/Sun or so. Figured I'd drop you a line and see how things have been. We'll most likely be hitting Area 2 a lot I think.

[bowhuntertex]

I have been wanting to hunt out here for many years. I plan on setting up one or two weekday hunts for next year. Ya'll have some good info. Tagged to continue to follow.

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[justletmein]

Anybody going December 20-23?

[rola0414]

@ justletmein: I'm really interesting in going! I'm from Eagle Pass and have been wanting to go for a while. I know the rut is on this part of Texas..

[justletmein]

Originally Posted by rola0414

@ justletmein: I'm really interesting in going! I'm from Eagle Pass and have been wanting to go for a while. I know the rut is on this part of Texas..

PM sent

[Bowhuntamistad]

Originally Posted by justletmein

Anybody going December 20-23?

I will be.

[VictorG830]

I will be.......... stuck at work .! Yall Should do a live hunt .!!!!!

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[boweye]

Found corn on the ground in area 5. I don't know why it ****** me off so much!

[justletmein]

Originally Posted by boweye

Found corn on the ground in area 5. I don't know why it ****** me off so much!

Report it, if someone is corning it they're probably coming back and should be an easy catch.

[boweye]

I reported it.

[justletmein]

Originally Posted by boweye

I reported it.

Good, anything anyone kills over corn at Amistad is worthless and negates any achievement they might have had. I don't care if it's a big 10 someone kills out there, you kill it over corn it may as well be a button buck and you're no hunter. You wanna go stare at a feeder then get a lease, Amistad is for hunters who want the challenge and reward of a true natural hunt.

[boweye]

Amen, I'm with you brother!