Have you ever used that mule tag on your Texas hunting license? Texas has 69 counties with mule deer hunting. Surprised? I sure was. The Panhandle has 39 counties, the Southwestern Panhandle has 11 and Trans Pecos (west Texas) has 19. My mule deer hunting has been done in Texas, Wyoming, Montana and Colorado.
I hunted in the Terlingua area just west of Big Bend Park several years ago. I saw several doe but no legal bucks. This is vast open mountains and water is limited. If you find water with fresh tracks, sit down and wait. Scan every inch of the country with strong field glasses. They will lay up under the smallest little tree or bush. When you first look at the land, you will think nothing could hide in this but they are there.
The Big Bend state park has a hunt each year by permit. The Black Gap wildlife management area has a hunt by drawing a permit, as well as the Caprock Canyon state park. The Wildlife Management Areas and state park hunting total 116,155 acres. In mid July 2014 the special draw hunts for mule deer will be online under tpwd.texas.gov/drawn hunts. Hunter success rate in the 2013 season was 75% for Elephant Mountain and Sierra Diablo on these special permit hunts. If you get drawn, this will be a very economical mule deer hunt.
The best trophy mule deer hunts are on private ranches in Texas. These are huge deer; some weigh over 300 pounds on the hoof, with antlers over 30 inches wide. These ranches manage for trophy bucks and limit hunters on the short 2 week season. Prices with food and lodging run from $3000 to $5000. You can cut some of the cost by staying in a motel and eating in a local café then meeting the guide each morning. Most of the hunting is done from 4 wheel drive vehicles and using spotting scopes. Once you spot a trophy buck, you make a stalk to get in range. Use at least a 30-06 or better yet one of the magnum rifles. Shots are usually long and these are big animals, unlike the central Texas whitetails.
A good way to learn about mule deer hunting opportunities is to join the Mule Deer Foundation and go to a MDF banquet. They auction off mule deer hunts and have outfitters set up to book hunts. You will have a chance to talk to other mule deer hunters and get leads on areas to hunt. Brown County’s Mule Deer Banquet will be August 2, 2014. If you have an interest or want to help call Russ Porter 325 643 2700 or [email protected]. Maybe you can use that mule deer tag this year.