Texas Elk Hunting

[careybirdwell]

I have a customer that her husband is a ranch foreman on a 45,000 acre ranch close to Marfa. He has invited me there later this year for a elk hunt. He basically just told me to let him know when I want to come. That being said, I'm planning on a rifle hunt, but I would like to hunt during the rut so I can hear a lot of bugling. What would be a good week to head out there and hunt? Thanks

[mikeyb_23]

Don't have a clue. But that's awesome, congrats and good luck.

[CWKATTNER]

First or second week of October.

[Drycreek3189]

Don’t know in Texas, but good luck !

[SmTx]

Live thread needed!!

[txtrophy85]

They are bugling in September, same as everywhere else.

West Texas has some big elk….they don’t get near the attention as they do in other states and it’s one of the best kept secrets. I know guys who have killed 390” bulls around Alpine

[Spiderpig1776]

Last week of September it’s usually starting

[Paycheck]

Good luck.

[Gclyde28]

I'd be bringing some over the top gifts with me as a thank you to try to get keep this arrangement rolling if I were in your shoes. That's a heck of a deal.

[wtx223]

Mid September into October. Good luck!

[RutnBuk]

Sept 15-25

[easeup]

need a buddy to hunt with?

[careybirdwell]

Originally Posted by Gclyde28

I'd be bringing some over the top gifts with me as a thank you to try to get keep this arrangement rolling if I were in your shoes. That's a heck of a deal.

The year before last during the big freeze, I drove down and repaired her furnace so she could keep warm.

But I will definitely plan on showing my sincere appreciation

[Gumbo Man]

You won the lottery. Good luck sir and look forward to the future hunting thread.

[Gclyde12]

Hi, my name is Grant and you are in luck because i am looking for a friend. Want to be friends?

[Drop Tine]

Originally Posted by txtrophy85

They are bugling in September, same as everywhere else.

West Texas has some big elk….they don’t get near the attention as they do in other states and it’s one of the best kept secrets. I know guys who have killed 390” bulls around Alpine

They have some bigger than that. Ask me how I know. 429”


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[Tom]

I have shot 3 nice ones in Wtx over the years. Avatar is one. I will tell you that on the big ranches with low pressure if you can bugle you will get a half dozen bulls talking pretty quick all through October. It is fun...good luck

[OldRiverRat]

Originally Posted by txtrophy85

They are bugling in September, same as everywhere else.

West Texas has some big elk….they don’t get near the attention as they do in other states and it’s one of the best kept secrets. I know guys who have killed 390” bulls around Alpine

Partly because it’s very expensive $$ to hunt them in west texas if you can find a place to do it
I looked into taking a customer a couple years ago, my budget wasn’t even close.
It’s on my bucket list though


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[txtrophy85]

Originally Posted by OldRiverRat

Partly because it’s very expensive $$ to hunt them in west texas if you can find a place to do it
I looked into taking a customer a couple years ago, my budget wasn’t even close.
It’s on my bucket list though


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It can be more expensive but when you factor in the cost of a September rut rifle hunt in New Mexico you are getting about the same deal for probably a bigger bull.

Another reason for lack of pressure is that B&C does not recognize Texas elk

[da_pepper]

Originally Posted by Gclyde12

Hi, my name is Grant and you are in luck because i am looking for a friend. Want to be friends?

People acting like this is tinder! LOL

[wytex]

Doesn't B&C recognize Texas elk that are not high fence? I believe they do score them if not a high fence take.

[twosixteens]

Originally Posted by wytex

Doesn't B&C recognize Texas elk that are not high fence? I believe they do score them if not a high fence take.

Unless it changed just recently they do not recognize Texas elk.

[Tex21]

My buddy was out there the 3rd week of september last year and killed one that went 379. The other guy with him killed one that was close to that. He said there were bugling then

[freerhunter16]

I am going to West Texas to hunt elk first week of October. That is the week the guy that owns the ranch recommended.

[M16]

Originally Posted by wytex

Doesn't B&C recognize Texas elk that are not high fence? I believe they do score them if not a high fence take.

No they don't. Elk or not a game animal in Texas therefore no B&C.

[gander]

I was given the opportunity to go hunt a friend's place last year outside of Alpine the last week of September. By far the most incredible archery hunt I've ever been on. My friend had shot a 360"s bull the week before and his brother had killed a 370" a couple days before that, all with archery gear coming in bugling. According to my friend they had slowed down by the time I made it there but we called in a 320" bull to 6 steps the first morning but was on the other side of a cedar tree.

The bull I ended up killing we called into 12 yards and it was bugling it's head off. I was drawn for almost two minutes and when I went to make a move it spooked but cow called and stopped it at 22 yards and I put an arrow thru the boiler room and he only made it about 30-40 yards. He was busted up but still scored 339" and change. Would've been a 350"+ bull intact. Had one of his eyes gouged from fighting and scars all over his face and neck.

All this to say that in that area, just outside of Alpine, they always seemed to do the best mid September to the first of October. They had killed 3 bulls over 400" and 7-8 that were 350"+ in 5-6 years.

It definitely got me hooked and I'm jealous of that opportunity.

[ladrones]

Originally Posted by wytex

Doesn't B&C recognize Texas elk that are not high fence? I believe they do score them if not a high fence take.

When those big boys come north across the state line they qualify. Some monsters down there.

[wytex]

Humm, they recognize Wyoming bison and they are wildlife or livestock in Wyoming, not game animals.

Anyway, that is a shame if true.

[Outback]

I made some calls to book a Texas elk hunt and the going rate was >$15K. Colorado was much cheaper. Now, if I had a friend who owned a 45K acre ranch, that would be cool!

[sp-bow]

Congrats on the opportunity. Good luck this fall.

[droebuck]

No help on dates Carey but good luck hope you kill a monster.

[AntlerCollector]

I would guess October.


I would ask the guy who invited you.

[careybirdwell]

Originally Posted by AntlerCollector

I would guess October.


I would ask the guy who invited you.

It is a cattle ranch, and they don't hunt it.

[Buffalo1]

Very fortunate to receive the offer to hunt. Best of luck to you !

[RifleBowPistol]

I would call the ranch foreman back and ask him. They may not rut the same time that elk farther north rut. I would bet that they will rut at the same time, that the elk do, where ever those were brought in from originally. Not knowing where the elk came from, that started that heard, it's hard to say, when they would rut.

I think your best bet, is just to ask someone who lives or works out there, who pay attention to the elk out there.

Should be fun, good luck.

[AntlerCollector]

Originally Posted by careybirdwell

It is a cattle ranch, and they don't hunt it.

I figured they would a least know when they hear bugles. Good luck to ya. Sounds like a dream hunt.

[Colton]

Free range Texas elk is one of my dreams, good luck

[parkchief100]

I would assume around the same time as Colorado. We always did best around mid September. Good Luck and have fun!

[Matt_C]

Congrats Carey, couldn't happen to a nicer fella....

[J Loves Huntin]

Pretty cool opportunity here! Good luck

[RJH1]

I know where I am at they bugle a lot in late September early October. Good luck

[Texans42]

Originally Posted by OldRiverRat

Partly because it’s very expensive $$ to hunt them in west texas if you can find a place to do it
I looked into taking a customer a couple years ago, my budget wasn’t even close.
It’s on my bucket list though


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They are actually cheap compared to like size in the upper end bulls across the west.

Now the average type bulls they are a little high.

[wytex]

Mid to late Sept into Oct depending on the moon and temps with cloud cover.
Hot and sunny up here they rut a little later; cloudy , cool fall and they bugle early Sept.

I think the rut is about the same but activity- bugling is what varies with temps and whether or not is is cool and cloudy. Shorter days lead into the rut, cloudy days help that.

Good luck sir, hope you get a big bull !

And yep, B&C responded they do not recognize Texas elk. Funny because in Wyoming bison are not game but are regulated take wildlife.

[txtrophy85]

Originally Posted by wytex

And yep, B&C responded they do not recognize Texas elk. Funny because in Wyoming bison are not game but are regulated take wildlife.

Bison were originally native to Wyoming in large numbers where Elk were not native to the vast majority of Texas...you had a few migratory herds that would cross the panhandle and a few ( probably Merriams Elk) that were native to a few of the sky island habitats like the Chisos and Davis Mountain range. This is per RMEF.

When I was a kid Elk were listed as a Game animal with a season but somewhere in the late 90's IIRC they de-listed them.


From what I have been able to find, B&C will only recognize Bison taken from certain areas such as the Henry Mountains or Yellowstone area... Anything else and they are not eligible for entry even if taken under free range conditions and DNA certified as 100% pure. The Elk are kind of the same thing......they will not accept free range elk introduced in Texas but will accept introduced Elk from other areas that they didn't originally exist like the White Mountains in Arizona.

[Texans42]

Originally Posted by txtrophy85

Bison were originally native to Wyoming in large numbers where Elk were not native to the vast majority of Texas...you had a few migratory herds that would cross the panhandle and a few ( probably Merriams Elk) that were native to a few of the sky island habitats like the Chisos and Davis Mountain range. This is per RMEF.

When I was a kid Elk were listed as a Game animal with a season but somewhere in the late 90's IIRC they de-listed them.


From what I have been able to find, B&C will only recognize Bison taken from certain areas such as the Henry Mountains or Yellowstone area... Anything else and they are not eligible for entry even if taken under free range conditions and DNA certified as 100% pure. The Elk are kind of the same thing......they will not accept free range elk introduced in Texas but will accept introduced Elk from other areas that they didn't originally exist like the White Mountains in Arizona.

Texas their number one disqualification is no formal season. The historic home range argument is one random biologist agruing against the Merriam's elk as a separate sub-species.

They have to be real careful on dna or there are alot of sheep slams that will end up with Two Dalls instead of Dall and fannin as the stone

[txtrophy85]

Originally Posted by Texans42

Texas their number one disqualification is no formal season. The historic home range argument is one random biologist agruing against the Merriam's elk as a separate sub-species.

They have to be real careful on dna or there are alot of sheep slams that will end up with Two Dalls instead of Dall and fannin as the stone

Even when they had a season they were still ineligible for entry.


IMO it doesent make a whole lot of sense to forbide an Elk from Texas against entry in B&C.



its just as wild an elk as elk taken in other areas of the country.

[Texans42]

Originally Posted by txtrophy85

Even when they had a season they were still ineligible for entry.


IMO it doesent make a whole lot of sense to forbide an Elk from Texas against entry in B&C.



its just as wild an elk as elk taken in other areas of the country.

We are also talking about a foundation that post pictures of hunters with animals for a fee, why chastising pay to play, and land owner rights all while claiming to be fair chase and about conservation. It’s either about the animal or the hunter not both. If you are going to create a scoring system to highlight conversion success in regards to age, genetics and nutrition then stick to it and just put the animal in the books. That’s my thoughts atleast. Just another corporation trying to dictate how we should hunt

[Shane]

Yep. I guess I'm not anti-B&C, but I certainly don't care at all what they think about anything. I don't agree with their thoughts on much of anything. The whole net score deal is nuts too. Just measure the total inches and give the critter credit for growing all of them.

I don't know that B&C is doing any harm. They just aren't doing it right.

[Hogmauler]

One day I’ll spring for a high fence hunt and pop one. I think they are averaging about $7,000.00 for 300”. I thought about taking my son to the High Adventure Ranch in Missouri but it’s a little too far for me.

[LAW]

We were there last year last week of September and first week of October