In 20 years of applying for the Texas public hunts, I have managed to hit the lottery twice. Once was a Choke Canyon muzzleloader hunt I was unable to attend due to a death in the family, and this year a Chaparral WMA hunt in January with my hunting partner.

Flew in from Idaho to San Antonio and rented a car, got down and sighted in rifles over the weekend, learned the areas once they allowed us on to scout, and attended the orientation Monday morning. I had actually drawn tag number 001, so had first choice of any compartment for a small hunting group (1-2). Dave Synatzske is the manager and does a great job. Wanted to provide more opportunity and drew a few standby hunters also.

Finally it was the moment of truth and I think we shocked everyone in the room when we picked the smallest compartment, and relativly close to all the traffic areas and headquarters. All the right signs were there, tho, and we found good stands and plenty of visibility.

The weather cooperated, it was cold and South Texas drizzle, and the rut picked back up. I saw 40 bucks in 5 days from two stands.

Out of the 20 bucks taken, we managed four of them - 2 trophies and 2 management bucks (5.5 and 157#, 6.5 at 151#, 6.5 at 131#, and 7.5+ years old who was a worn down 125#).



Paul's 14 point buck was the largest taken this year at 172" gross. I actually saw him earlier, and wrote down his characteristics but had no shot. Couldn't have been happier for him, tho, went it came down his sendero.



I passed up bigger and older deer with great frames but busted tines, and video'd them all, knowing they were mine for the taking. Looked for the monster I knew was hiding there, but it was not to be. I was happy to take this nice 10 point the last evening.



Classic Texas deer hunting at its finest, and met a wonderful bunch of people. Now if it will only happen again in less than 20 years, I'll be a happy camper!

That's awesome! Congratulations!

Congrats are definitely in order! Some very nice bucks have been taken there over the years, and -- thanks to being patient and not shooting the first buck that appeared -- you guys were able to tag some bruisers.

Nicely done!

Congrats on a great hunt and great bucks! Knowing what you are doing helps!!!

Well done!!

Bob

Those are some fine Bucks indeed, congratulations on-the-draw, and to both you and your Hunting buddy.

Congrats on a great hunt!

Perry

Nice bucks!

I've put in for the Chaparral WMA for years!!! I am glad to see someone get drawn and show the big, free-range deer that can be taken in Texas on State-owned land. Thanks for the post... gives me hope I might actually be drawn one day. Very nice deer btw.

Thanks to everyone for the comments and congrats. It really is a fun hunt. The entire staff went out of their way to make it enjoyable. Several of the drawn permitees took advantage of the dove/quail hunt prior to the deer hunt to really scout it out properly.

During the orientation, they showed us some slides of monster deer seen from the helicopter during surveys. None of these deer were harvested during any of the hunts this year, so there are still some monsters out there. Here's one someone lost on a hunt and is mounted in the office.



Talked with some of the hopeful standby hunters, and learned some interesting facts. One guy had never drawn a permit, but had been drawn 3 times on the standby chance. Another had hunted it twice before on standby.

Had a little excitement one afternoon when a couple guys got pulled over by DPS. They drove thru the WMA fence, led a wild chase around and back to the hole and found USBP there by then. Abandoned the vehicle and jackrabbited off on foot. They put a helo and a light fixed-wing aircraft on them the rest of the afternoon, but they escaped. That crap is thick down there - the deer can definately escape when they want to by ducking for cover.

Neat trip, excellent trophies.

Congrats on a great hunt. I currently have 14 points and have been trying to get drawn there.

Sounds like you had a great time and got to experience some Texas' finest managed property.

That deer in the last photo looks like a coloscopy gone bad.

Great to see your report as I recall your earlier post when you drew the tags, I think it was ya'll. Congrats on some great free range S.Texas whitetails (no high fence here boyz!). Drive within ten miles of the Chap on my way South to my deer lease and we are yet to tag out. Still have hope but seeing many broken up bucks - we have way too many doe on our MLD program land.

Fantastic deer! You and Paul did good, is he gonna have room for more taxidermy?


.

Muy congratiosos. Y'all did extremely well. And how nice it is for guys from the great northwest to have an appreciation for the south Texas brush country. May you come back often and have great success.

JTEX: Looking like the only way to get a bigger trophy room is for Paul to attach it to a new house! That would sure slow down his hunting, knowing his wife's taste in furnishing! Did the trophies from Zim ever arrive? We are ready for another trip. My friends from Namibia will be here for the weekend, before Reno, and might have to give them a deposit also.

CH: Thanks. We love the South Texas deer country and look forward to a trip every year. Took out 6 pigs, some quail, and a turkey while I was at Uvalde, after our Chap WMA hunt. Trying to line up a new lease with some exotics on it now.

IDE: Sorry, just read your post. That weird looking mount was exactly as the deer was looking when shot. The lower jaw was deformed, with severe undershot. The hunter had a replica done for TPWD, and the taxidermist said he could make it normal. No way says he; mount it like he lived!

Great bucks. Congrats.

I'd say you guys did very well, congrats!

I could be wrong but the Chap is high fenced. Congratulations on a great hunt.

Does anyone know if Texas limits non-resident hunters drawing for public hunts like most if not all the western states?

M16,you are correct,the chaparral is all high fenced,in fact the eastmost pasture(640 acres)is high fenced from the rest of the pastures.