Made it to Black Gap WMA

[flywise]

Yes you can show up. Staff told me that same guy has come on standby and hunted the last several years. He was at the prior hunt. Out of the 4 drawn two never paid and two paid but I was the only to show. Definitely a place to call next year and see what they will have for standby, They would have put up to 7 hunters on this hunt so that is 6 empty spots. They said not the case on the gun hunts though. Will post today's report in a few minutes.

Thats great info. Thank you.

[Mjjust]

Well didn't get anything today. I did see one decent buck mid afternoon. I think 4 on one side but never got a great look. Was climbing a steep incline to the top of a hill and right as I made the crest I stepped on some dead dry cactus and the buck was bedded down under a bush 25 yards away and took off. Didn't know that hill had a large flat plateau. I was so winded from that steep climb I don't know if I could have drawn anyway. I did see him a little later on another hill. Got one pic. But was a long way away.

Made my way over to that area to watch for him. Saw 6 doe on my way there but never saw buck again. Here is a few scenery pics. It is a beautiful place.




I did pull cards from the 2 guzzlers to see if anything coming to water. Nothing came in yesterday or today except a javelina last night. I do wonder how much the super moon is effecting the hunt. I was really bright last night. I woke up at 1am to pee and it looked bright enough to hunt. To bad I'm not in east Texas. [emoji16]

Tomorrow going to sit on a vantage point that I think I can see that plateau and the area I saw the doe. Lot of trails and droppings there so hopefully I can make it happen.

[Navasot]

Forget water if there was rain lately they are getting it from the right forage.. Try to find their bed and try to catch them goin to it in the morning and leaving in the afternoon.. Or find what they are eating

[Puncher51]

Beautiful photos! Keep after them!

[KevinG]

I shot my Mulie in Jeff Davis County a couple of weeks ago. Spot and stalk in the mountains got it done. I saw him a 2:30 and killed him while he was still sleeping in this bed. There are a lot deer in the higher elevations if you can spot them..

Good Luck and keep us posted!

[Kdog]

Good luck, hope you kill one. Great pics!

[DoubleGProstaff]

Looks beautiful out there


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[tgil]

following

[DesertDug]

Man good luck. Your story has me excited as I will be there a week from today on the other side of the big bend looking for those mullies.

[DesertDug]

Oh and if you need someone to have an adult drink at night with go out to the highway and drive to the fenced off bridge and hang right to Fred's. He welcomes all visitors, part of living out there.

[Mjjust]

Well guys. No luck. Went all day without seeing anything but blue quail. Was at a good vantage point before light and sat for several hours watching for anything. Went walking the mountains to glass some different areas that I thought I may have push that buck to yesterday. After a bunch of miles up and down and lots of glassing still couldn't find them. I may have pushed the only buck in my compartment to another area. Who knows. Today was very hot. In the 90's and almost no wind till about 1:00. The heat and the super bright moon had all movement at night. One of the staff's girlfriend said she saw a dozen bucks coming back late last night. Have to be cleared out by noon Thursday so after talking to staff didn't feel like much chance of seeing anything and I strained my quad a little climbing today so thought best to come home. Not in shape for miles and miles of up and down mountains. I did come away with no blisters so that was good. I had a blast regardless and can't wait to do it again. I did see twice as many muleys as cars between there and Fort Stockton. Soon as moon rose they came out.

I want to thank all for the well wishes and all the info and the guys that sent PMs. I learned a lot being my first hunt in that kind of terrain. A few things I learned that I'll share.
First. Get a tripod or stick for binos or better yet a spotting scope. Scanning freehand at several hundred yards away will give you a headache.
Second, when you get to a vantage point do your best to make mental notes of all the other mountains and draws before hiking to them. Once you get low it doesn't look the same. If I would have paid closer attention to that plateau the deer was on I could have been more careful. A good scope and I may have seen the buck bedded.
Third, have good boots. The terrain is mostly loose lava rock/boulders on the mountains. Mine did pretty good but could have been better. Ankles a little tender.
Fourth, look hard for bedded deer. I didn't have my eyes trained to be looking for that but was rather scanning for movement. After bumping that buck and then several doe while following the buck I learned the hard way and glassed every cactus and shrub. When looking for bedded deer try to be at a point where you can see the shaded side of the bush.
Fifth, this may sound crazy but I wrapped my truck with the carpet protector clear sticky film down each side to protect from the brush scratches. Bought a small roll at Home Depot and it actually worked well. Would be easier with two people to put it on.


May look funny but it did a great job of protecting the paint and came off pretty easy. (This is the disclaimer that not responsible for any damage to paint especially if older paint. But worked fine with mine.)

Thanks guys for following along and hope to see one of you at standby next year as long as don't all try it. [emoji3] Call ahead. Final few scenery pics from today or rather yesterday.

[crittergetter76]

Looks like a cool place, and tough hunting. Would like to try a spot and stalk type hunt one day. Thanks for sharing the pics and info.

[solocam_aggie]

Dang. We put in for that hunt. Hate that people were drawn and didnt show, when we would have been the first ones there if we were drawn. Some things come up, so I wont judge too harshly lol.

Looks like a great experience. Hope I am able to make a hunt there next year!