Anyone from TX ever hunt Black Gap WMA

trooper3385 · August 18, 2019, 12:39 AM

I got drawn for an archery mule deer tag at the Black Gap WMA this year. It will be a tough hunt, especially with a bow. It’s tough to research the area because it’s 116k acres and they assign you to a unit when you arrive. Anyone have any experience hunting here?

Art Eatman · August 18, 2019, 11:33 AM

Yeah, in 1966.

Sparse deer population. Just guessing: Set up near a guzzler, after looking for game trails to and from the watering pan.

Pray for very cold weather. Body fat = insulation, so Bucky is basically wearing a down jacket, and doesn't move around very much.

They tend to bed just below the military crest of a ridge, on the downwind side. Near any ravine which crosses the ridge.

ms6852 · August 18, 2019, 02:09 PM

I grew up in that area and it is a tough hunt with a rifle much less with a bow. In my opinion it is overly hunted and you will be lucky to see a deer. My friends have a ranch on the opposite of Black Gap Mountain and that is were I do most of my hunting or in the Terlingua area where my brothers own land bordering Big Bend National Park. Good Luck.

PS Lots of cacti so make sure you were canvas leggings, you will appreciated.

trooper3385 · August 18, 2019, 03:42 PM

I’m guessing unless a front comes in, October will still be pretty warm. Key will be hunting the water or trails to the water. There’s not a lot of deer but they do have some big bucks. The population has increased a little. They have added about 100 head of deer a year for the last 4 yrs. I think the water will be the key to get in archery range. Tough to stalk into archery range in that terrain.

Art Eatman · August 18, 2019, 09:47 PM

I've been gone from Terlingua since mid-2013. Unless the regs have changed, mule deer season runs from Thanksgiving day through the next three weekends.

jmr40 · August 19, 2019, 05:59 PM

Google earth would be a valuable tool for pre-scouting going into an area like that.

ms6852 · August 22, 2019, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art Eatman

I've been gone from Terlingua since mid-2013. Unless the regs have changed, mule deer season runs from Thanksgiving day through the next three weekends.

The archery season only for white tail and mule dear begin on 28-29 September and ends in 1 or 3 November 2019 in certain counties.

Art Eatman · August 23, 2019, 02:43 PM

Near water and toward sundown, I guess. Good luck.

One positive about walk/stalk: It's not uncommon for a bedded buck to lie still until you darned near step on him. I will say that his eruption from his bedroom is definitely startling.

August 18, 2019, 12:39 AM	#1
trooper3385 Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2005 Location: South Texas Posts: 814	Anyone from TX ever hunt Black Gap WMA I got drawn for an archery mule deer tag at the Black Gap WMA this year. It will be a tough hunt, especially with a bow. It’s tough to research the area because it’s 116k acres and they assign you to a unit when you arrive. Anyone have any experience hunting here?

August 18, 2019, 02:09 PM	#3
ms6852 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,394	I grew up in that area and it is a tough hunt with a rifle much less with a bow. In my opinion it is overly hunted and you will be lucky to see a deer. My friends have a ranch on the opposite of Black Gap Mountain and that is were I do most of my hunting or in the Terlingua area where my brothers own land bordering Big Bend National Park. Good Luck. PS Lots of cacti so make sure you were canvas leggings, you will appreciated. __________________ ONLY TWO DEFINING FORCES HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR LIVES FOR YOU. ONE IS JESUS CHRIST FOR YOUR SOUL AND THE OTHER IS THE AMERICAN SOLDIER FOR YOUR FREEDOM.

August 19, 2019, 05:59 PM	#6
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,808	Google earth would be a valuable tool for pre-scouting going into an area like that. __________________ "If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong" Winston Churchill

August 18, 2019, 11:33 AM	#2
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Yeah, in 1966. Sparse deer population. Just guessing: Set up near a guzzler, after looking for game trails to and from the watering pan. Pray for very cold weather. Body fat = insulation, so Bucky is basically wearing a down jacket, and doesn't move around very much. They tend to bed just below the military crest of a ridge, on the downwind side. Near any ravine which crosses the ridge.

August 18, 2019, 03:42 PM	#4
trooper3385 Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2005 Location: South Texas Posts: 814	I’m guessing unless a front comes in, October will still be pretty warm. Key will be hunting the water or trails to the water. There’s not a lot of deer but they do have some big bucks. The population has increased a little. They have added about 100 head of deer a year for the last 4 yrs. I think the water will be the key to get in archery range. Tough to stalk into archery range in that terrain.

August 18, 2019, 09:47 PM	#5
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	I've been gone from Terlingua since mid-2013. Unless the regs have changed, mule deer season runs from Thanksgiving day through the next three weekends.

August 23, 2019, 02:43 PM	#8
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Near water and toward sundown, I guess. Good luck. One positive about walk/stalk: It's not uncommon for a bedded buck to lie still until you darned near step on him. I will say that his eruption from his bedroom is definitely startling.