2020-2021 Chaparral WMA

[Budman68]

Going to start an official thread for tips, maps, and rules for the 2020-2021 season.

Question most of us with have:
Stand type:
Are the box stands usable for archery:
Best compartments:
Are compartments shared:

[Budman68]

Hotel rooms are cheap right now (sub $100). I would book earlier if you have that option available.

[Tbow1425]

We’ll be there 12/8-12/11. Plan on camping out


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[Slick8]

So much to talk about and I'm not even drawn....but I do still have that chance much like Lloyd did.

I opt for the hotel route as they're cheap and I get better sleep which means better hunting. Not a nessitity but a niciety. I pack a lunch and stay out all day. I may come to the HQ for a break but no need for a town trip.

Scout hard and run cameras while there even if it means not hunting your first afternoon and possibly the morning other than stands already in place. Run about 50-100 yards the first evening with the camera then reduce it by half then just what the camera can detect.

Take some tips from the guys who do the live hunts at the Lincoln ranch. Pit blinds off the sendero are often the best way to fool a narly old buck. They rarely come out on the senderos and its nearly impossible to completely hide a tent blind on most of the place. Short or adjustable tri-pods are a great option. I have one that will go from 6 to 12 feet.

Don't fool yourself, these deer are hunted hard and are smart for it. You have to hunt them like a bow only day lease unless the rut is in action.

When scouting try to find where 2 or 3 active trails merge to form a highway.

Don't corn to heavily, it's tempting but the deer will be out all night eating plus you run the chance of stink pigs homesteading. If rifle hunting and corning long senderos a road chummer is a great asset here. I also set up where a sendero crosses or forms a T so that I can corn as far as I can shoot if rifle hunting.

Still holding out for management and trophy rifle but lets be real.

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[Budman68]

Originally Posted by SorryImTexan

We’ll be there 12/8-12/11. Plan on camping out


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I'll be out there the same week. I'm usually something that says LSU on it.

[Budman68]

Originally Posted by Slick8

So much to talk about and I'm not even drawn....but I do still have that chance much like Lloyd did.

I opt for the hotel route as they're cheap and I get better sleep which means better hunting. Not a nessitity but a niciety. I pack a lunch and stay out all day. I may come to the HQ for a break but no need for a town trip.

Scout hard and run cameras while there even if it means not hunting your first afternoon and possibly the morning other than stands already in place. Run about 50-100 yards the first evening with the camera then reduce it by half then just what the camera can detect.

Take some tips from the guys who do the live hunts at the Lincoln ranch. Pit blinds off the sendero are often the best way to fool a narly old buck. They rarely come out on the senderos and its nearly impossible to completely hide a tent blind on most of the place. Short or adjustable tri-pods are a great option. I have one that will go from 6 to 12 feet.

Don't fool yourself, these deer are hunted hard and are smart for it. You have to hunt them like a bow only day lease unless the rut is in action.

When scouting try to find where 2 or 3 active trails merge to form a highway.

Don't corn to heavily, it's tempting but the deer will be out all night eating plus you run the chance of stink pigs homesteading. If rifle hunting and corning long senderos a road chummer is a great asset here. I also set up where a sendero crosses or forms a T so that I can corn as far as I can shoot if rifle hunting.

Still holding out for management and trophy rifle but lets be real.

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I will probably set up two areas. One with a tripod or supplied blind and the other brushed in. Hunt one for two days and the other for two days. I've found that staying in one area can be counter productive for more than two days.

I'm also an all day hunter and might take a hour break. I've found that most the big deer are lazy and move around 9-noon and then at dark. If rut is on, I will probably look for a high concentration of does.

[M16]

I’ve hunted South Texas for 40 or so years. When I get to a new place. The first thing I look for is the spot where I can see the longest distance. Hopefully where two senderos cross. And hopefully one at least a mile long. I corn each direction as far as I can see. Then set up at the center and pull out my spotting scope.

I’ll stay there until I find a shooter buck. Then I’ll either move in and try to shoot him or set up a tripod in the area he was spotted. Finding a buck is the most important thing to do when time is limited. It beats stumbling around hoping for blind luck.

[Larry B]

Thanks for the advice. I’ll be there 12/8

[bvfd25]

We will also be out 12/8. Looks like a few 3/4 TBH’s so far. 9 points for us.


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[zhall]

My son and I will be there 11/21 for his meat hunt. I'm pretty excited for him. It sounds like we arrived Friday and check in around 11. So we only get to hunt that evening and Saturday. Hoping I can find him a doe or spike.

[basschump]

Originally Posted by zhall

My son and I will be there 11/21 for his meat hunt. I'm pretty excited for him. It sounds like we arrived Friday and check in around 11. So we only get to hunt that evening and Saturday. Hoping I can find him a doe or spike.

I did this hunt three times with my son. Twice by stand-by and once by draw. The most important thing to have is a truck load of patience on these hunts. Standby is very popular now and the TPWD staff will do everything possible to accommodate as many hunters as possible. I never saw them turn a kid away. Drawn hunters didn't get any kind of privilege over standby's. The paperwork and compartment assignments take some serious time.

The first year was awesome. We saw deer and javi every sit. He took a doe on that hunt before a very dense fog bank engulfed us.

Year two was a total bust. We drew Ano Nuevo and nothing ate our corn for three days. NOTHING. Do deer, no javi. It was cold, wet and miserable. We hunted super hard and it was simply a tough weekend. There was a cold, steady rain on the second night and we were tent camped in the RV section. We set the tent under a shelter and added a tarp blocking most of the blowing rain. I woke up in the middle of the night to find a river of water flowing into our tent. My bag was soaked. I slid him to higher ground inside the tent.

Third year we were placed in a small section that didn;t have much activity. We saw deer once and no javi.

It's always great to be at the Chap.

[zhall]

Originally Posted by basschump

I did this hunt three times with my son. Twice by stand-by and once by draw. The most important thing to have is a truck load of patience on these hunts. Standby is very popular now and the TPWD staff will do everything possible to accommodate as many hunters as possible. I never saw them turn a kid away. Drawn hunters didn't get any kind of privilege over standby's. The paperwork and compartment assignments take some serious time.

The first year was awesome. We saw deer and javi every sit. He took a doe on that hunt before a very dense fog bank engulfed us.

Year two was a total bust. We drew Ano Nuevo and nothing ate our corn for three days. NOTHING. Do deer, no javi. It was cold, wet and miserable. We hunted super hard and it was simply a tough weekend. There was a cold, steady rain on the second night and we were tent camped in the RV section. We set the tent under a shelter and added a tarp blocking most of the blowing rain. I woke up in the middle of the night to find a river of water flowing into our tent. My bag was soaked. I slid him to higher ground inside the tent.

Third year we were placed in a small section that didn;t have much activity. We saw deer once and no javi.

It's always great to be at the Chap.

Thank you for the info. Were gonna make the best of it. I'm excited to just spend the hunt with my son. Really excited. Hopefully it will work out. But if not. I know we will make memories that will last.

[Yakinthebox]

My daughter drew A/S for 11/7-8.

I went last year on the Archery hunt. Will use my little experience from last year to hopefully help her hunt go a little smoother...

[bullets13]

We went 5 or 6 years ago and were able to rent what amounted to a small mobile home that had 2 bedrooms with two beds in each in Cotulla. It was like $100 a night, so the 4 of us had a really comfortable stay for a really good price. I can’t remember the name of the place, but they had a whole compound of them for rent for all of the oilfield workers. Might be worth a google

[Budman68]

Ordering some camo netting for a ground blind. Does Dry Grass camo sound about right for December. It is a mix of tans, brown, and a little green.

[bdubb]

Drew for December 14-18 this year. Will be my second time out to Chap, but first for the GDE hunt.

First time to the WMA was for a management hunt a few years back. I had a doe walk up to about 30 yards the first morning and let her pass then saw nothing else the rest of the trip. Went to San Saba county the next weekend on a low fenced ranch of a friend and had shooters choice on just about anything. Hoping this year the Chaparral turns out better.

[brokeno]

I will be there for sb. Maroon f250.

[GBludau]

Originally Posted by brokeno

I will be there for sb. Maroon f250.

Hopefully the same. Dad is battling stage 4 lung and bone cancer. I hope to return to Chap with him.

[Yakinthebox]

Originally Posted by GBludau

Hopefully the same. Dad is battling stage 4 lung and bone cancer. I hope to return to Chap with him.

Hate hearing this! I will pray for your dad man!

[Budman68]

Anyone see the helicopter survey pics posted to their Facebook page. OMG.....

[Phorizt]

Originally Posted by Budman68

Anyone see the helicopter survey pics posted to their Facebook page. OMG.....

that big 6 with a 12" drop tine looks pretty cool

[Budman68]

Originally Posted by Phorizt

that big 6 with a 12" drop tine looks pretty cool

Need to scroll back thru them. Didn't see that one.

[Budman68]

[futureagg]

My dad and I will be there for 12/1 hunt. We will be in a silver f250 with a camper shell. We will also be camping in camp ground to save some drive time.


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[esoct25]

Jus some old info back in 2002 we hunted the North Jay pasture. We took a 150 an 2 130s. Hunt of a lifetime!

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[SoggyBottomAg]

I have a buddy who got drawn for the 12/14-12/18 hunt. Do y’all know if non-permitted hunters (me) are allowed to tag along with a permitted hunter?

I would just be there for support and the experience. He is the one that will have the tag


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[Eastwood]

You might be able to stay at the camp area, but they won't allow non-permitted hunters in the field unless they are supervising a youth hunter.

[Yakinthebox]

Originally Posted by Eastwood

You might be able to stay at the camp area, but they won't allow non-permitted hunters in the field unless they are supervising a youth hunter.

You can call and ask but I can tell you now it's going to be a no.

[sqiggy]

Originally Posted by Yakinthebox

You can call and ask but I can tell you now it's going to be a no.

Years ago at another WMA, my son drew a youth hunt. My wife wanted to tag along. I called and ask. Big no!!!

[JeffK]

Originally Posted by SoggyBottomAg

I have a buddy who got drawn for the 12/14-12/18 hunt. Do y’all know if non-permitted hunters (me) are allowed to tag along with a permitted hunter?

I would just be there for support and the experience. He is the one that will have the tag


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Sounds like your best bet is to hope to get drawn as a standby.

[Budman68]

Did everyone get the email with compartment draw selection options. I'm not sure what option fits me best. I've always liked picking may section.

[Huntindad]

yep, got the email. I think it is a sign of the times. Wonder why Long and Mustang pastures are closed.

Budman, how many in your group?

[Budman68]

Originally Posted by Huntindad

yep, got the email. I think it is a sign of the times. Wonder why Long and Mustang pastures are closed.

Budman, how many in your group?

Just me. I like flying solo, less decision making. LOL

[Budman68]

Each section looks pretty small and would seem to get overcrowded quick judging by the map. I've never been out there, so my perception is probably way off.

[Tbow1425]

We’ll be there with a group of 4, totally blind on what pasture would be best for a large group


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[futureagg]

Originally Posted by Budman68

Each section looks pretty small and would seem to get overcrowded quick judging by the map. I've never been out there, so my perception is probably way off.

The compartments are pretty big. My dad and I did a javelina hunt a few years ago and I believe our compartment was 3-500 acre range


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[Huntindad]

N/M... Futureagg said it best.

[Czechoholic]

Originally Posted by Huntindad

yep, got the email. I think it is a sign of the times. Wonder why Long and Mustang pastures are closed.

They did that some years ago for a hunt because they were grazing steers in those pastures. Trying to utilize the grass and imitate normal practices of how area ranches operate.

They closed the pastures because they didn't want to listen to hunters complain how the steers messed up their hunts. We told them the steers didn't bother us and asked for the pastures anyway.

[sqiggy]

Last year there were a couple pastures closed and they told us that the quoted of deer taken from them had been met.

[Huntindad]

Originally Posted by sqiggy

Last year there were a couple pastures closed and they told us that the quoted of deer taken from them had been met.

yeah, I heard that to. but they are not open for the archery hunt 12/1. I believe they are doing some research on those. what kind of research...who knows.

Baldy and Mare are closed but they are separate high fenced pastures. they been closed for a while now.

[brokeno]

They are keeping a buck for the big game hunt winner

[futureagg]

Originally Posted by brokeno

They are keeping a buck for the big game hunt winner

Seriously?


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[TX1120]

I think I'm leaning towards letting them pick the compartments for us ahead of time. Sounds like it will allow for more scouting time that first afternoon. Plus, without knowing the drawing order, it'd be hard to come up with a ranking of of your top choices, and it takes away the disappointment of not getting the area that you think you want. I've seen it posted many times that there's not a bad compartment on the place anyway.

[bdubb]

What dates are you guys on that got the e-mail for compartments?

[Huntindad]

I am 12/1-12/4

[TX1120]

12/8 through 12/11

[Rounder]

For those that have hunted down there in the past and didn’t camp out what are the best lodging options? Hotel in Cotulla or is there a better option? We stayed in some cabins last week near James Daughtrey and i liked it a lot more than if we had booked a hotel so was curious if there were any options like that near Chap.

[Huntindad]

Don't know of any cabins in Cotulla. I have stayed at Whitten Inn several times and like it. It has outside & inside room entrances. they have a breakfast buffet that is real early. Early enough to eat there before your hunt. Also, have a happy hour in the evenings.

Pizza and a keg. They have ALOT of oilfield clients. They will charge more for hunters than if you there for work. If you work for the state I believe will give a discount.

[Budman68]

I booked Microtel Inn and Suites. Review were good and its only $62 a night.

[sqiggy]

I would stay at the campground. Save a lot of time driving back and forth. Plus there are 2 shower stalls at the campground.