2019/2020 Hunting Thread

[HOOKEM4 5036]

PSA: TPWD has an app you can use to prove to a warden you have a hunting license as well as look up regs and all things TPW. Obviously it wont help for tagged wildlife hunting but for everything else it is pretty cool.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/app/

[BabaYaga 15286]

The 'thin green line' deals with more crazy shit than almost any other LE group, for roughly 40% less pay.  Love our guy.  He's great.  

If you are not reading Game Warden Field Notes, you are missing out.  Amazing how much social media is making their jobs easier:

• Morris County game warden received a text informing him there was a video on SnapChat of an airboat with underage people on it possibly bow fishing and consuming alcohol.
• The warden contacted the caller and they stated there was a video on Instagram of a male subject shooting a turkey out of a truck window.
• a Titus County game warden completed a joint investigation on a local wholesale fish dealer for illegally importing and selling whole unprocessed alligator from Louisiana. This investigation was initiated when an unprocessed alligator was advertised for sell on Facebook in Henderson County by an unlicensed retail fish dealer. 

[deadshank 24652]

3 hours ago, Lat22 said:

Yeah, they don’t exactly advertise those on Facebook or anything.

You know of any ?

[Lat22 4010]

No. Been at least 20 years since I’ve been around one. 

[4th and 5 4914]

If anyone is interested in a good deal on a new in box Remington 1187 (semi-auto 12 ga.) synthetic, DM me

[Reagan1k 3024]

5 hours ago, HOOKEM4 said:

PSA: TPWD has an app you can use to prove to a warden you have a hunting license as well as look up regs and all things TPW. Obviously it wont help for tagged wildlife hunting but for everything else it is pretty cool.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/app/

That's handy - Thanks.

[NotActuallyALonghorn 4974]

2 hours ago, 4th and 5 said:

If anyone is interested in a good deal on a new in box Remington 1187 (semi-auto 12 ga.) synthetic, DM me

How long have you been trying to sell that thing for? I'll give you $3.50 (gotta make sure you are clear on what tree fiddy means these day). But, yeah, hope you sell it for a decent price.

[Both Tacos 1806]

Going out to my hunting land this weekend to get the deer fields planted and feeders set up. Replacing one of them with an ASF EZ Feeder that I picked up from Buc-ee's today.
Going out Sunday for the dove opener with some buddies down in Red Oak. Don't know a damn thing about the fields we are hunting other than they were to have harvested corn from them this past week. So it can be really good or crap. Either way, I'm ready for the season to be here.

[crimsonlonghorn 2306]

Went with my sons last night and got our licenses. Can't go hunt on Sunday but we are lined up for a dove hunt on Monday afternoon in Austin County. Very excited. 

[Both Tacos 1806]

Loaded up and about to head out.

[BabaYaga 15286]

Need a tractor....

[Brisketexan 105057]

Hitting Academy tonight to get my license, a couple of cases of shells, a few cases of clays, and some miscellaneous stuff to contribute at a friend's ranch where the boy and I are invited to hunt.  We'll head out tomorrow mid-day, to get there in time to help with some chores, then eat dinner and watch some football. 

Then we hunt Sunday, and the morning hunt on Monday.  Cuz we gotta get back in town by Monday afternoon.  Because see, there's this girl, and the boy asked her out.....and man, it got me to remembering some hunting trips with my dad at that age.  I'd either roll into the house at 1:00 am when we had a 4:00 am wakeup to head out, or I'd want us to hustle back because, even though I hadn't slept much and REALLY needed a shower, if we hurried I'd get to go out with a gal.  Gotta strike the right balance.

[Art Vandelay 1712]

Heading out to our lease in Concho County in a few hours. Can't wait.

[fattyflattie 4639]

First time (ever) I had to turn down an invite for a hunt. Had shit at the house I couldn’t get around.  That sucked.   Hope they fly good for y’all, and as many beers as possible are killed, as well. 

[williemackgarza 1826]

Ill be out in taylor.
Got shit to do in the morn, but will hit up the pm hunt.
Damn gonna be HOT!

[Brisketexan 105057]

In the field now in concho county, and getting a few. Friend of mine just knocked down three with one shot. Never seen that before.

[cknight 184]

Good luck today; I’ll be out this evening trying to get a few! A horns victory; a limit of birds and getting to watch my dog work! Doesn’t get much better

[Call 393]

Break out the bacon, jalapeño and cream cheese.  

My favorite time of year.

[Both Tacos 1806]

Had a great time out in the field this evening with 2 of my kids. Not a barn burner but enough birds and shots to keep it interesting.

[Judge Roybeanbag 11819]

Had a cast and blast this weekend in the valley.  Fishing Port Isabel wasn’t great, had boat trailer issues so that cut into fishing time. Sunday afternoon we went to my buddy’s family place at Palmito Hill with his 14 year old son and 74 year old dad on the Rio Grande and had the most fantastic dove hunting day I’ve experienced.  3 limits between 4 people, and could have easily had 4 but his dad wasn’t taking any home so we stopped at 3.  Didn’t want to chance it at the checkpoint on the way out of the ranch.  Hopefully will go back later this season.  

 

Edited September 4, 2019 by Judge Roybeanbag

[fattyflattie 4639]

My buddies hammered them. Sounds like they were pretty thick this weekend. 

[crimsonlonghorn 2306]

I’m jealous of you guys. Our lease in Sealy was pretty sparse.

My kids have yet to get into thick birds even one time in their lives and I’m starting to get worried that they are eventually going to lose interest in coming hunting with me. 

[BabaYaga 15286]

Man, I'm jealous for you guys that were able to get out.  Guys we lease to said the birds were intermittent.  Hoping we see more.  Between the Austin game and two soccer tournaments, I was tapped out on time.  

[fattyflattie 4639]

Crimson, I only get to dove hunt a few times a year at most, but I can easily count on a few hands* how many hunts I’ve had that were “lackluster”, if you will.   Are y’all over any tank or field, or just on a tree line etc?   I understand completely what you are saying, I’m transitioning my kids off of perch to more challenging fishing, and hoping I don’t lose them.   Lots of boring deer hunts and busted duck hunts, but I have a little luck on the dove fields. 

*rain outs excluded. 

[Spaulding Smails 1552]

No birds to speak of in Guadalupe County near Geronimo.  First time hunting this pasture (big milo field).  Killed one bird between morning and afternoon hunts Sunday.  Our group of eight killed six birds total.  Worst opening day hunt I've ever had by a wide margin.

[williemackgarza 1826]

Pretty good # of birds in taylor. Hunting harvested corn fields and over a tank.

[Longhorn 145]

Hondo was a war zone. 

[BabaYaga 15286]

15 hours ago, Spaulding Smails said:

No birds to speak of in Guadalupe County near Geronimo.  First time hunting this pasture (big milo field).  Killed one bird between morning and afternoon hunts Sunday.  Our group of eight killed six birds total.  Worst opening day hunt I've ever had by a wide margin.

Because they're all in Frisco.  Hundreds of them on the wires overlooking the sunflower fields I pass on the way to work....taunting me.  I could limit out with a quiet pellet rifle in minutes.

[cknight 184]

We limited Sunday evening outside of Lufkin and the pup did really well. Also, shot my first banded dove! I’ll try to figure out how to upload some pics

[pepper brooks 580]

heading out this weekend.  hope you all saved me some birds.  

[deadshank 24652]

15 hours ago, Longhorn said:

Hondo was a war zone. 

Paloma Pachonga?   Hunting over black oil sunflower?

[Cosimo de' Medici 121]

...

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[Longhorn 145]

1 hour ago, deadshank said:

Paloma Pachonga?   Hunting over black oil sunflower?

Not directly with Paloma, but in that area near Mummes. It sounded like ‘Nam.

[4th and 5 4914]

22 hours ago, Spaulding Smails said:

No birds to speak of in Guadalupe County near Geronimo.  First time hunting this pasture (big milo field).  Killed one bird between morning and afternoon hunts Sunday.  Our group of eight killed six birds total.  Worst opening day hunt I've ever had by a wide margin.

The dove hunting in the whole area has gone to shit. My lease outside of San Marcos has gone from passing on all MDs and shooting a limit of WWs in 10 minutes while sitting on the tailgate to hardly any birds at all over the last 4 years. Neighbors don't shoot either, it used to be like a war zone out there. The game warden don't even come out any more. I used to have clouds of them in my backyard, now I rarely even see them.

I can't figure out what happened.

 

[Spaulding Smails 1552]

8 minutes ago, 4th and 5 said:

The dove hunting in the whole area has gone to shit. My lease outside of San Marcos has gone from passing on all MDs and shooting a limit of WWs in 10 minutes while sitting on the tailgate to hardly any birds at all over the last 4 years. Neighbors don't shoot either, it used to be like a war zone out there. The game warden don't even come out any more. I used to have clouds of them in my backyard, now I rarely even see them.

I can't figure out what happened.

 

I was wondering the same thing.  I hunted on a few spots in that area (Yarrington Rd, Zorn, New Braunfels airport) for several years and we ALWAYS slayed them the first few weeks.  I haven't hunted in that area for the last 4-5 years.  It's bizarre.  I wonder if someone can shed some light on why there's been such a dramatic change.  Sounds like I won't be renewing the lease.  Oh well...

[deadshank 24652]

1 hour ago, Spaulding Smails said:

I was wondering the same thing.  I hunted on a few spots in that area (Yarrington Rd, Zorn, New Braunfels airport) for several years and we ALWAYS slayed them the first few weeks.  I haven't hunted in that area for the last 4-5 years.  It's bizarre.  I wonder if someone can shed some light on why there's been such a dramatic change.  Sounds like I won't be renewing the lease.  Oh well...

Why lease a place that can be passed up by the doves when you can get with a good outfitter that will scout the region and put you on birds for great day hunts. They go where the birds are 

[Spaulding Smails 1552]

4 minutes ago, deadshank said:

Why lease a place that can be passed up by the doves when you can get with a good outfitter that will scout the region and put you on birds for great day hunts. They go where the birds are 

And that's a fair argument.  My business partner and I wanted a place all to ourselves that was within an hour of home / work where we could take employees, guests, etc as we please without having to worry about schedule, logistics, etc.  The plus side is we can get a wild hair and head down there whenever we want with up to 20 people in tow.  The down side is we probably aren't going to shoot shit this year.  It was relatively cheap, so not a huge deal.  

[fattyflattie 4639]

I’d rather have the access and maybe not the birds, myself.  ALOT to be said for having your own place. 

[Spaulding Smails 1552]

2 hours ago, fattyflattie said:

I’d rather have the access and maybe not the birds, myself.  ALOT to be said for having your own place. 

That was our stance as well.  Nice to go out there with my kids and my dog and not worry about a pasture jam-packed with folks with zero regard for gun safety.  The clients we took Sunday were all folks we'd hunted with before.  It's so much more enjoyable when you're not worried about getting peppered.  

[fattyflattie 4639]

10 hours ago, Spaulding Smails said:

It's so much more enjoyable when you're not worried about getting peppered. 

The 7 1/2 shot that are stuck in my forehead, chin, neck, hand, and thighs agree with you.  

[Both Tacos 1806]

Why lease a place that can be passed up by the doves when you can get with a good outfitter that will scout the region and put you on birds for great day hunts. They go where the birds are 

Going with a good outfitter doesn't always mean quality hunting.

[deadshank 24652]

3 minutes ago, Both Tacos said:

15 hours ago, deadshank said:

Why lease a place that can be passed up by the doves when you can get with a good outfitter that will scout the region and put you on birds for great day hunts. They go where the birds are 

Going with a good outfitter doesn't always mean quality hunting.

Perhaps I should have said part of “good” is made up of “honest.”   The 2 outfitters I use in the Uvalde area will flat out tell you when there are and aren’t birds and tell you not to come if there are no birds and won’t take your money.  

[BabaYaga 15286]

15 hours ago, Spaulding Smails said:

The plus side is we can get a wild hair and head down there whenever we want with up to 20 people in tow. 

Let's roll boys....

[Both Tacos 1806]

Perhaps I should have said part of “good” is made up of “honest.”   The 2 outfitters I use in the Uvalde area will flat out tell you when there are and aren’t birds and tell you not to come if there are no birds and won’t take your money.  

Unfortunately most dove outfitters depend on the first few weekends for 80% of their revenue and don't call off hunts.

[3shot 139]

1 hour ago, Both Tacos said:

1 hour ago, deadshank said:

Perhaps I should have said part of “good” is made up of “honest.”   The 2 outfitters I use in the Uvalde area will flat out tell you when there are and aren’t birds and tell you not to come if there are no birds and won’t take your money.  

Unfortunately most dove outfitters depend on the first few weekends for 80% of their revenue and don't call off hunts.

Deadshank, do you mind sharing the names of the "good" outfitters you use?  I used to hunt with Steve Rambie and I felt like he always was straight with me...really liked him, but I stopped because it was a further drive than I wanted to make.  Maybe I should head back that way.  I think I've hunted with most of the outfitters in the uvalde/sabinal/hondo area and most of annoyed me or down right pissed me off at one point or another, with the exception of Steve Rambie and Steve Wilson.  I've also had great hunts with all of them at one point or another as well...    

I also agree 100% with Both Tacos that most outfitters won't call off a hunt at the beginning of the season, and I understand why.  They have a big lease payment (or payments) to pay, plus other expenses, but I would much rather an outfitter have a policy that there are no refunds, but you can come back and hunt another time, rather than waste my time in a dead field or dead part of a field.  At least give me the option of travelling knowing the hunting might not be great or rescheduling if I think I can get back out there another time; that would go a long way for me.  

And for the record, what the "new" owners of Nooners (the Paloma Pachonga guys, or "new" Paloma Pachonga after Rad Weaver's group sold it) have done to that property from a hunting perspective is a damn shame.  It's not even close to what it used to be; I'm irrationally angry about it.   

[HouTex 1866]

And sometimes the birds just don’t fly. Other times they are chased off the property by weather or hunting pressure with no warning. I’ve hunted the same property two days in a row and went from easy limits to barely any birds.

[deadshank 24652]

3 hours ago, 3shot said:

Deadshank, do you mind sharing the names of the "good" outfitters you use?  I used to hunt with Steve Rambie and I felt like he always was straight with me...really liked him, but I stopped because it was a further drive than I wanted to make.  Maybe I should head back that way.  I think I've hunted with most of the outfitters in the uvalde/sabinal/hondo area and most of annoyed me or down right pissed me off at one point or another, with the exception of Steve Rambie and Steve Wilson.  I've also had great hunts with all of them at one point or another as well...    

I also agree 100% with Both Tacos that most outfitters won't call off a hunt at the beginning of the season, and I understand why.  They have a big lease payment (or payments) to pay, plus other expenses, but I would much rather an outfitter have a policy that there are no refunds, but you can come back and hunt another time, rather than waste my time in a dead field or dead part of a field.  At least give me the option of travelling knowing the hunting might not be great or rescheduling if I think I can get back out there another time; that would go a long way for me.  

And for the record, what the "new" owners of Nooners (the Paloma Pachonga guys, or "new" Paloma Pachonga after Rad Weaver's group sold it) have done to that property from a hunting perspective is a damn shame.  It's not even close to what it used to be; I'm irrationally angry about it.   

No problem.

 

Mark Roberts out of Uvalde.  830-261-9467.  He spans from Uvalde down to Batesville.  Mostly over black oil sunflower and sometimes sesame. 

Layton Chambers out of Hondo.  211-414-1711 or 210-355-3409.  Sometimes his wife, Minnie, does the bookings.  Same thing, mostly black oil sunflower and sesame.  He spans from Hondo out 90 to Knippa and Uvalde and then down to LaPryor and Batesville.

With each of these two I have hunted  the same field only one time  but that was weeks apart.  They have multiple properties to access in the region.

Regarding "dove leases" and "big payments," I think these guys split day hunt revenue with the property owner and aren't tied to any one particular property that can get overhunted.  Rarely do they hunt any of the properties more than 2 days in a row and almost never Monday - Thursday.

I've never been disappointed with them.  

[Judge Roybeanbag 11819]

I think part of the issue this year has been weather.  The last two months have just been hot high pressure with no fronts and nothing to get the birds moving.  Hopefully that changes this month.

[Johnny Sack 8397]

9 minutes ago, Judge Roybeanbag said:

I think part of the issue this year has been weather.  The last two months have just been hot high pressure with no fronts and nothing to get the birds moving.  Hopefully that changes this month.

That’s probably right.  Because I have friends who have reported awesome dove hunts in the northern part of the state.  

[jofus 2266]

I’ve been out to Paloma Pachanga each of the past 6-7 years, and I would say this was one of the slower years.

Most of our group limited both days, but the birds were concentrated so some hunters didn’t do well (3-8 kills). Usually it doesn’t matter where you are and you can limit if you can aim a little.

My son and his buddy were great bird dogs:


Overall, still a ton of birds and an amazing time: