Lake Amistad 22-23 Hunting Season

[4xBuilder]

Originally Posted by osochuck

Waiting in the fog



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What model Bear is this?

[justletmein]

Originally Posted by osochuck

That’s it i am cheating next, bringing sons xbow. Just lost a nice eater buck. Couldn’t get drawn back in time and he was like 5 yards away…[IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20221205/93fab0746b24088e7e2be02479eb9d3c.jpg[IMG]

Them things change the game no doubt. With vertical bow I always setup where I can just draw horizontally low under cover by my legs, then raise it up into position slowly. Kinda dangerous and form is obviously whack but that significantly reduced the chances of getting busted drawing.

[osochuck]

Jr’s ****** he can’t shoot the domestic sheep, he had a bunch super close


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[justletmein]

Park needs to get rid of them sheep and goats, man the goats stink to high heavens.

[osochuck]

Originally Posted by 4xBuilder

What model Bear is this?

Legit, it said something about special edition. So far its only killed a foam target….lol


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[RifleBowPistol]

Originally Posted by osochuck

Jr’s ****** he can’t shoot the domestic sheep, he had a bunch super close


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So those goats are still running around out there. They first moved in the year before I quit hunting out there 17 to 18 years ago. Multiple of us talked about cleaning them out. The second year they were out there, there was a lot less vegetation out there.

[RifleBowPistol]

Originally Posted by justletmein

Them things change the game no doubt. With vertical bow I always setup where I can just draw horizontally low under cover by my legs, then raise it up into position slowly. Kinda dangerous and form is obviously whack but that significantly reduced the chances of getting busted drawing.

We talked about that years ago, a crossbow, would greatly improve your chances out there. Most of the years I was hunting out there, I had an Oneida Arrow Force. It was the worst bow you could hunt that place with. Those hinged limbed almost every shot found something to hit. Usually the ground, which would send the arrow into the ground about 15 to 20 ft. out from where I took the shot from. Then once a small limb caught the upper limb and sent an arrow into orbit, I am sure that arrow came down somewhere out in the lake.

I bought a brand new very short Darton bow, that I took out there twice, then never went back. I had my accident shortly after the last time I went out there.

From the number of deer you are saying have been taken this year alone, it sounds like crossbows are putting a serious dent in the deer population out there.

[osochuck]

Official reply on domestic animals.

Makes sense…but we sure did want some lamb chops…lol

“Amistad National Recreation Area borders many private ranches, some which do contain domestic goats and sheep. It is a possibility that a ranch-owner's livestock can wander into the recreation area, and by extension a hunt area. It is also a possibility that there are feral domestic goats and sheep in and around the recreation area. To avoid any possible damage to a neighboring rancher's livestock, the taking of domesticated livestock is not permitted, as noted by regulation #17 in the 2022-2023 Amistad NRA Hunting Regulations.

Thank you for your interest in Amistad National Recreation Area.”

After archery mammal season is over will be switching to fishing & bow fishing….excited!!!


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[justletmein]

Man those things live there 24/7 decimating habitat and driving away native species.

[piercebronkite]

Originally Posted by osochuck

Official reply on domestic animals.

Makes sense…but we sure did want some lamb chops…lol

“Amistad National Recreation Area borders many private ranches, some which do contain domestic goats and sheep. It is a possibility that a ranch-owner's livestock can wander into the recreation area, and by extension a hunt area. It is also a possibility that there are feral domestic goats and sheep in and around the recreation area. To avoid any possible damage to a neighboring rancher's livestock, the taking of domesticated livestock is not permitted, as noted by regulation #17 in the 2022-2023 Amistad NRA Hunting Regulations.

Thank you for your interest in Amistad National Recreation Area.”

After archery mammal season is over will be switching to fishing & bow fishing….excited!!!


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Interesting. I was there a couple of years ago and as we were walking out we saw two game wardens on the side of the road. We specifically asked them if we could shoot those goats and they both said yes. We never shot any for the record, seemed like shooting someones farm animal as they just stood there.

[justletmein]

Looking like we'll be doing our last hunt of the year down there this coming weekend, wife wants to buck hunt while they're rutting so I'm not gonna say no. A buddy of mine went down with a couple friends last weekend, they got a 9 point and a doe in a brand new area none of us have hunted before. He said our normal areas were really crowded and they basically go ran off because there were hunters everywhere they went. I guess it worked out pretty well though. Gotta be flexible down there, once you get married to a certain spot because you put up a stand or built a blind or just out of familiarity or something then it's game over usually.

[osochuck]

Originally Posted by justletmein

Looking like we'll be doing our last hunt of the year down there this coming weekend, wife wants to buck hunt while they're rutting so I'm not gonna say no. A buddy of mine went down with a couple friends last weekend, they got a 9 point and a doe in a brand new area none of us have hunted before. He said our normal areas were really crowded and they basically go ran off because there were hunters everywhere they went. I guess it worked out pretty well though. Gotta be flexible down there, once you get married to a certain spot because you put up a stand or built a blind or just out of familiarity or something then it's game over usually.

Good luck.

I won’t be back for a few weeks, but i will get to hunt weekdays. Will see how it goes. Gonna be practicing my shots from stool and every position i can remember from out there.

And bring that cheater xbow…lol

But i really want them off my compound.


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[justletmein]

We killed every year fine with compounds, it can be done. My oldest son's two deer this year were both with my old Bowtech Allegiance I passed down to him. Definitely shoot from a stool/seated position, the less movement the better. I got into the habit of setting up so I could draw with my bow across my lap to full draw while under cover, then slowly raise it up into shooting position. Not exactly following the fundamentals of archery but covering all that motion helps a lot and you're immediately ready to shoot when you raise the bow up.

[dannorocks]

Originally Posted by justletmein

We killed every year fine with compounds, it can be done. My oldest son's two deer this year were both with my old Bowtech Allegiance I passed down to him. Definitely shoot from a stool/seated position, the less movement the better. I got into the habit of setting up so I could draw with my bow across my lap to full draw while under cover, then slowly raise it up into shooting position. Not exactly following the fundamentals of archery but covering all that motion helps a lot and you're immediately ready to shoot when you raise the bow up.

I try to keep my bow up vertical and use it as cover as I draw back, keeping it horizontal on my lap is a bit too much motion.


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[justletmein]

I get tired holding it up in vertical position. lol

[RifleBowPistol]

Originally Posted by piercebronkite

Interesting. I was there a couple of years ago and as we were walking out we saw two game wardens on the side of the road. We specifically asked them if we could shoot those goats and they both said yes. We never shot any for the record, seemed like shooting someones farm animal as they just stood there.

That’s the difference of feds and state logic. We tried chasing them under the bridge to the other side of the rear road, by the next day they were back.

The park Ranger of federal game warden, whatever he was that we talked to years ago, said they were going to try and find the owners of the goats and would let us know about the idea of shooting them after they spent some time looking into the situation. I never heard an answer on the subject. Sounds like they have an answer now.

I am sure years ago someone was using the federal land as free grazing land. Don’t know the current situation. It sounds like the feds have been fed stories of not being able to keep their livestock contained.

I don’t like the idea of shooting live stock, my thoughts were, if I was correct and someone deliberately turn their goats loose on the federal land for free grazing, that would probably stop, if a decent percentage of their goats disappeared. Then their free grazing would not be worth attempting to do so. I was hoping the feds would find the land owner and demand he remove his goats and keep them off of those pieces of land. That obviously is not going to happen.

[RifleBowPistol]

Originally Posted by justletmein

We killed every year fine with compounds, it can be done. My oldest son's two deer this year were both with my old Bowtech Allegiance I passed down to him. Definitely shoot from a stool/seated position, the less movement the better. I got into the habit of setting up so I could draw with my bow across my lap to full draw while under cover, then slowly raise it up into shooting position. Not exactly following the fundamentals of archery but covering all that motion helps a lot and you're immediately ready to shoot when you raise the bow up.

Yes, I has done that multiple times myself. Of drawing with the bow horizontal, then sitting up and turning the bow vertical. As long as I was not using the Oneida that worked. Killing deer out there with a bow, is very doable. Multiple times I wished I had a recurve, so I could shoot with the bow leaning over at an angle. But then the limb movement would probably bite me in the rear, like what I used to have happen with the Oneida.

[dannorocks]

Originally Posted by justletmein

I get tired holding it up in vertical position. lol

Hunt smarter not harder


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[justletmein]

It's probably gonna be more movement pulling it off that holder to the side than lifting it up from horizontal position. I've got two T100's just like that a similar bow holder mounted. Easier, for me anyway, to lay the bow across my lap and lift and draw in one motion. I've always got the release clipped on also which is hard to do in a holder. I'd probably drop my bow trying to get it out of the holder with a deer walking in. Lol

[justletmein]

Well we showed up late tonight, snag after snag getting out of town. There's a Blackstone griddle somewhere on 1604. Figured we'd go way off to the back of one of the areas figuring we wouldn't bother anybody coming in late. Didn't see squat, kiddo saw one doe and heard a grunt or something. Looks like the wife setup on top of someone and didn't know it, saw him quietly walk by right at end of legal time. Then while leaving there's another boat picking guys up just down from where we were too. I'm stuck with my dog again so I'm sidelined, just dropping off wife and two kids to hunt this weekend. But we're here and got the fire going so that's the important part! Cheers!

[RiverRat00]

Originally Posted by justletmein

Well we showed up late tonight, snag after snag getting out of town. There's a Blackstone griddle somewhere on 1604. Figured we'd go way off to the back of one of the areas figuring we wouldn't bother anybody coming in late. Didn't see squat, kiddo saw one doe and heard a grunt or something. Looks like the wife setup on top of someone and didn't know it, saw him quietly walk by right at end of legal time. Then while leaving there's another boat picking guys up just down from where we were too. I'm stuck with my dog again so I'm sidelined, just dropping off wife and two kids to hunt this weekend. But we're here and got the fire going so that's the important part! Cheers!

Always good to be out at camp with a fire and drinking some adult beverages.

Hope the wife and kiddos get some action tomorrow morning.

Stay warm and stay thirsty..cheers

Sucks you lost that Blackstone burner, maybe you can snag a Christmas sale on one of those

[justletmein]

Originally Posted by RiverRat00

Always good to be out at camp with a fire and drinking some adult beverages.

Hope the wife and kiddos get some action tomorrow morning.

Stay warm and stay thirsty..cheers

Sucks you lost that Blackstone burner, maybe you can snag a Christmas sale on one of those

I actually picked up a 22" on the Walmart deal alert a few weeks ago, the one we lost was the 17" and more portable but we'll survive. Big kid was inbound late so swung by my house and picked up our new 22" so we don't starve lol.
No morning hunts here, we like to stay up late and sleep in. Two new areas I'm planning to drop them off tomorrow that should be fewer people. Me and the dog will be putting out some catfish noodles tomorrow, hopefully will have a cooler pic full of catfish on Sunday.

[RiverRat00]

Originally Posted by justletmein

I actually picked up a 22" on the Walmart deal alert a few weeks ago, the one we lost was the 17" and more portable but we'll survive. Big kid was inbound late so swung by my house and picked up our new 22" so we don't starve lol.
No morning hunts here, we like to stay up late and sleep in. Two new areas I'm planning to drop them off tomorrow that should be fewer people. Me and the dog will be putting out some catfish noodles tomorrow, hopefully will have a cooler pic full of catfish on Sunday.

Sounds like a plan man, hope to see you catch a cooler full of fish and hope your family will harvest some venison.

Great time to be out by the lake hunting/ fishing. Enjoy it Sir.

[Josha6783]

Do y'all ever spring turkey hunt there? I am not going to make it for this deer season and hoped to get out there and look around, get my bearings possibly while attempting to spring turkey hunt.

[justletmein]

I've never seen or heard a turkey out here, but I've never been here in April either. I can't say I've ever heard anyone mention seeing a turkey.

[osochuck]

Wow what a crazy trip, enjoy the quality time with the family , treasured memories for sure.

I will take camping, good food, fire and a cold coke any day with this crazy world.
Some fried catfish would killer after hunting all day.


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[fish4food]

Originally Posted by justletmein

I actually picked up a 22" on the Walmart deal alert a few weeks ago, the one we lost was the 17" and more portable but we'll survive. Big kid was inbound late so swung by my house and picked up our new 22" so we don't starve lol.
No morning hunts here, we like to stay up late and sleep in. Two new areas I'm planning to drop them off tomorrow that should be fewer people. Me and the dog will be putting out some catfish noodles tomorrow, hopefully will have a cooler pic full of catfish on Sunday.

Living the dream Amigo! Sucks y’all lost the griddle, but glad you had a backup. Good luck Momma and kiddos. Big kiddos. Haha.

[Mule Skinner]

For sale:
17" Blackstone Griddle
Used and slight road rash but works
No trades, will ship on your dime
Make me an offer

[justletmein]

Lol no lowballs I know what I got!

[mgperez]

Originally Posted by justletmein

Well we showed up late tonight, snag after snag getting out of town. There's a Blackstone griddle somewhere on 1604. Figured we'd go way off to the back of one of the areas figuring we wouldn't bother anybody coming in late. Didn't see squat, kiddo saw one doe and heard a grunt or something. Looks like the wife setup on top of someone and didn't know it, saw him quietly walk by right at end of legal time. Then while leaving there's another boat picking guys up just down from where we were too. I'm stuck with my dog again so I'm sidelined, just dropping off wife and two kids to hunt this weekend. But we're here and got the fire going so that's the important part! Cheers!

Get’em!


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[justletmein]

Everybody saw deer, nothing hit the ground. Big saw what he says is a pretty nice buck. I hooked a couple small bass but they seem to always go airborne and spit the hook. I didn't end up putting out my noodles because we hunted an area I don't think we're going back to and didn't want to be tied to going back there tomorrow.

[Hacxor]

yall said there are no aoudad out there but what about mouflon sheep?

Its about a 4 hour drive from me, but i would really love to get a sheep.

[Jmsck12]

Originally Posted by Hacxor

yall said there are no aoudad out there but what about mouflon sheep?

Its about a 4 hour drive from me, but i would really love to get a sheep.

I’ve seen 1 in my few trips I’ve done this year. It was in a unit where I’ve never heard of people seeing sheep so I’m not sure why it was there.


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[justletmein]

Wife got another doe tonight.

Originally Posted by Hacxor

yall said there are no aoudad out there but what about mouflon sheep?

Its about a 4 hour drive from me, but i would really love to get a sheep.

There's Aoudad in 4 sometimes, not a lot lately. The Mouflon are in 5 and I hear the numbers are down but they're in there and still being seen. Area 1 has tons of domestic stink goats and sheep too. Starting to see some sign of goats in 2 as well but so far not seen any.

[Hacxor]

Originally Posted by justletmein

Wife got another doe tonight.



There's Aoudad in 4 sometimes, not a lot lately. The Mouflon are in 5 and I hear the numbers are down but they're in there and still being seen. Area 1 has tons of domestic stink goats and sheep too. Starting to see some sign of goats in 2 as well but so far not seen any.

Thank y’all so much! I do have a boat and I will be bringing it down. I do y’all have any preference on which campsites are best?

[osochuck]

Originally Posted by justletmein

Wife got another doe tonight.



There's Aoudad in 4 sometimes, not a lot lately. The Mouflon are in 5 and I hear the numbers are down but they're in there and still being seen. Area 1 has tons of domestic stink goats and sheep too. Starting to see some sign of goats in 2 as well but so far not seen any.

Congrats on the Doe! And ya lots of Stink goats…just follow the stench…lol


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[justletmein]

Originally Posted by Hacxor

Thank y’all so much! I do have a boat and I will be bringing it down. I do y’all have any preference on which campsites are best?

Depends where you're going. Spur 454 ramp should be open soon so San Pedro is a great place to camp if you're launching there. 277N is really close to area 5 for Mouflon but I'm not sure how close you can get the boat to the camp site. Governor's you're right by the highway and road noise is constant and the campsites are tiny.

[justletmein]

Originally Posted by osochuck

Congrats on the Doe! And ya lots of Stink goats…just follow the stench…lol


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Thanks! She did good, big old doe. Man those goats freakinf stink lol

[justletmein]

Boudin and beer, though I didn't plan accordingly and ran out of mine so having to dip into the wife's beer.

[fish4food]

Congrats Mamma!

Sure you ran out of beer.

[justletmein]

Originally Posted by fish4food

Congrats Mamma!

Sure you ran out of beer.

I gotta make sure I'm covered in case somebody recognizes the can.

[justletmein]

I got 9 noodles out yesterday before wife text that she shot her doe and I went to help. Got stuck working a little later than I'd like so wasn't planning to check them until coming back in but this one was hauling butt across the lake so we grabbed it real quick.

Dog went home with Big last night so I get to hunt today!!! Pic of a scrape I'm sitting on.

[Jmsck12]

I know you haven’t updated the thread because your quartering up a deer lol. How did the evening turn out?


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[osochuck]

Originally Posted by Jmsck12

I know you haven’t updated the thread because your quartering up a deer lol. How did the evening turn out?


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He is now working on his second deer and then the Aoudad post to come later


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[justletmein]

Lol no such luck. I passed a young forkie and had four monster doe come flying into the canyon down below me but they holed up down there somewhere and never came out. Little saw a doe but he's buck hunting, not sure if he had an opportunity on that one or not. Momma didn't see anything but heard people talking about 5pm, she sent me a text asking if I was on the phone or something.

We grabbed the rest of the noodles otw in, two small catfish were legal but Momma pardoned them due to size, two hooks still had bait and the rest were empty. We baited them all and tossed back in.

I think we're headed back to our more normal spots tomorrow evening, hopefully the hunter traffic from the weekend has settled down.

[osochuck]

12/31/22
Wow most of the vegetation looks frost bit or dead. Not much sign where i was. Had some does come up down wind from me, snorting and stomping, behind my back and no chance of a shot. Nice evening though.



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[justletmein]

Those deer always seem to come up from behind us out there. I can literally sit in the same spot and face different directions and they'll still always come out behind me each time.

[Jmsck12]

Anyone going to be hunting the late weekend for doe? I’ll be trying to get one that Saturday.


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[osochuck]

Gonna try a quickie Sunday Funday


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[justletmein]

Not us, think we're done for the year. 3 Amigos down at Laguna right now. We're about to grill up some Amistad venison fajitas.