Powderhorn WMA

[Greenheadless]

Congrats!

Perhaps they are finally being shot out. Wonder how much longer TPWD will offer the exotic hunts on the WMA and SP.

Kind of like the axis hunts at Garner, where it’s not really worth applying anymore.

This seems to the be MO for these type of opportunities/TPWD properties. ‘World Class’ when TPWD takes over a property and offers it in the draw program, only to go down hill a couple years later.

[Greenheadless]

….

[Quackerbox]

Congrats!

Perhaps they are finally being shot out. Wonder how much longer TPWD will offer the exotic hunts on the WMA and SP.

Kind of like the axis hunts at Garner, where it’s not really worth applying anymore.

We drew Garner in 2006. Axis were EVERYWHERE. Ive been in the park at least 20 times since then to sight see and camp. Over the years we would load up with a couple beers and ride around watching Axis. The last 10 trips result in zero axis in the park. I stopped applying there because of it.

That said Ive got 20 some odd points in exotic hunts as well. But I aint giving up

[NWernig]

This seems to the be MO for these type of opportunities/TPWD properties. ‘World Class’ when TPWD takes over a property and offers it in the draw program, only to go down hill a couple years later.

The goal is to eradicate the Sambar from the property to take it back to native species. My son was drawn last year for the youth hunt and, while it was fun, it's not the same place it was a couple years ago. They will admit that they trapped and sold off some of the Sambar but they will not tell you how many. I understand what and why they are doing it but I just wish they would be more open about it. Not worth the points anymore in my mind

[brokeno]

I heard the same thing about returning powderhorn back to native species. The native species for that area is a 125 -130 inch whitetail. They have hammered the sambar and trapped not much telling how many. I ask them where the trapped sambar were being relocated and they said they didn’t know which was a strange answer I thought. Maybe they just couldn’t say but not knowing who got them is strange to me. They still have some sambar but they are no where near the numbers as before. TPWD will still get lots of applications to kill a sambar but don’t be disappointed when you get drawn and not see a sambar. When they are gone probably won’t be many spending their points on GDE for native species whitetail. If TPWD wants to return things back to the native way take down the high fence on all their WMA s especially the Chap. I wonder how many WMA s or TPWD park hunts are high fenced. Chap and Powderhorn are the only 2 that I know.

[Mule Skinner]

Different strategies come into play when it comes to exotics in state parks and WMA.

While exotics offer interesting hunting opportunities, they compete with natives. Hunts for both species are management tools. Natives are going to be prioritized, which IMHO is a good thing. Lots of opportunity on private land to hunt places that prioritize management for exotics.

Back to exotics on state property...

Kerr (high fenced) is mostly free of exotics. Used to not be this way.

Chap only has warthogs if we aren't counting feral hogs in the mix. The property serves as a valid research center. Don't know what the benefit would be in terms of wildlife management to remove and replace the high fence. Sure would be costly, though.

It's no secret that at some point, it's very likely that sambar numbers will be very low at Powderhorn. Again, it comes down to management and what the landscape can support with a priority placed on natives and the habitat that supports them.

Back to the comment above on axis at Garner. Sounds like management goals are being met if the axis are essentially gone. Sucks that the public hunting opportunity is currently not worth applying for.

Aoudad are the worst vermin in West Texas when it comes to competition with natives and destroying habitat. Hunters are doing God's work by taking them out on the WMA's along the Devil's River. But you're not allowed to pull the trigger on one on any state property west of there. You may misidentify one and shoot a bighorn instead. Not worth the risk in the eyes of the department.

Mason Mountain has a limited number of exotics which are hunted to a very limited degree. No plan to eradicate them--my guess is that numbers are manageable and they offer a unique public hunting experience.

Again, management strategies differ based on a lot of variables on different properties...

[WinslowBoy]

I'll be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect on our hunt at Powderhorn. Co-worker was on the Gun Deer Either Sex Hunt there last year and ended up shooting a small sambar stag and seeing quite a few that week. Had heard some people say that saw quite a few and others said they didn't see a single one. We had plenty of sambar tracks in our compartment, just never laid eyes on one. We hunted hard but just couldn't make it happen. I was disappointed to not even see one, but I understand that it's called hunting, not shooting.

Ultimately, I know that the WMAs are not set up to provide trophy exotic hunts. That's why I only paid $130 for the permit. They have burnt and herbicided most of the front half of the property to restore it to a more coastal marsh habitat. Saw LOTS of whitetails in the marsh areas driving in the first afternoon and the short trip out during one of the hunt days. They had all of the sambar hunters lumped into the back half where it is THICK. Those running live oak stands are crazy thick. The biologist stated that the sambar prefer the marshy areas with the thick stuff around it for protection, that's why they had us all in those areas. Staff was very friendly and even offered suggestions about our compartment when we weren't seeing anything.

I believe the only WMA that will keep their exotic numbers stable on purpose is Mason Mountain. Their website specifically states they are a research property and are studying the effects of exotics on native populations of wildlife. I've took one of my kids on a youth antlerless hunt there some years ago and the exotics (Gemsbok, Oryx, Blackbuck) are impressive to say the least. On our hunt, we couldn't keep the **** oryx out of our corn.

It will be interesting to see what the next couple of years statistics look like for Powderhorn. There are definitely still sambar there and it is an opportunity to shoot an exotic you don't hear much about in Texas. I'm starting back at Zero Points so don't expect to get drawn in this category again for awhile so probably not something I have to worry about. Good luck to anyone drawn there in the future.

[Austin]

I am glad I drew and got to experience when I did. My exotic points will be used elsewhere

[Mr. Public]

Congrats!

Perhaps they are finally being shot out. Wonder how much longer TPWD will offer the exotic hunts on the WMA and SP.

Kind of like the axis hunts at Garner, where it’s not really worth applying anymore.

This is what I'm thinking too.

[esoct25]

Kill off all exotics burn off most of the brush
return to grasslands for sea birds.
This is the future plan for Powderhorn

[sbk5280]

When we were there back on the youth hunt in 2022 we seen 4-5 sambar with only 1 being a stag. The weekend we hunted was brutal though and it was ice cold with a flood. Conditions were not good first and last day. Miserable weather but we made the best of it. Still took a nice buck. We wanted to shoot the stag but just wasn't in the books. It was right at legal, over cast cloudy and could barely see him at 50 yards. She couldn't make out the crosshairs in those conditions on a dark body. We didn't attempt to shoot the females or fawns. We just enjoyed watching them. Didn't see any axis and only a handful of deer. Still enjoyed the hunt and will keep applying you just have know what to expect going in. Very unique property.