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Camping/Hunting Gear
Hunting Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer
& Turkeys in South
& West
Texas
Whitetail deer live in all
regions of Texas although they are scarcer
in the more arid parts of West Texas, because mule deer
habitat is predominant (i.e. the lower elevations of the Chihuahuan
Desert).
Although whitetails are numerous in the counties comprising the
Edward's Plateau including Crockett Co., parts of Terrell County, and
eastern Pecos County, they become less numerous to the
south and west. I learned something researching this article. Whitetail
deer and mule deer sometimes interbreed where their ranges overlap. My
research so far indicates that in areas of territorial overlap the rate
of hybridization is around 5-7%. In the
mountains of west Texas, meaning in the Guadalupe, Rosillas, Sierra del
Carmen, Chisos, and Davis mountains, whitetails thrive in the
juniper-pinyon oak forested reaches. Deer may be taken legally in
season with the appropriate license and by arrangement with private
landowners and also at scheduled seasons in the various wildlife
management areas. Whitetail deer are also numerous throughout Texas
including the woods of East
Texas, most of the Texas Coastal Plain, South Texas brush country and
the Texas Hill Country. 
For trophy
bucks, many deer hunters consider the brush country
south of San Antonio toward Pearsall, Cotulla, and Laredo, the
ideal Texas area
to hunt. Deer along the Nueches River are magnificent. The hunter
pictured took this 16-point buck in LaSalle County in 2004. When I
lived in
Cotulla it wasn't uncommon to encounter a trophy buck at night walking
along the alleyway behind my house that was in the center of town.
Many outfitters in this region will guarantee a feral hog kill in
addition to your deer. Be aware these hogs are dangerous to dogs and
hunters alike. This trophy buck was taken on the Nueches River in
LaSall County. Urban deer have become a problem in San Antonio. Many
deer hunters
claim the whitetails in Northern Mexico are finer still. Venison Jerky 
For many Texas
landowners and ranchers selling and servicing deer
leases is big business. It is not uncommon to receive $2,500 per gun
for hunting privileges. In eastern Pecos County and Crockett County it
is estimated that deer density is about 1 per 10-25 acres. Turkey
are
numerous if there is a water source nearby. Rio Grande and Mirriam
turkeys are found widely in the Trans Pecos although they are more
plentiful in the eastern portion (eastern Pecos, Terrell, Crockett
counties). Turkeys must drink daily and are most often found along or
near water sources. Turkeys are often taken by deer hunters on their
deer leases.Texas Pronghorn Antelope
Pronghorns in Texas can be found in the High Plains, Rolling Plains, portions of the Edwards Plateau, and in the Trans Pecos. Roughly seventy percent of the Texas population occurs in the area west of the Pecos River. Over the past two decades a decline in the antelope population has occurred. This is speculated to be due to decreased habitat due to climatic (low rainfall) factors. Predation by coyotes is another contributing factor. A limited number of antelope permits are issued by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department annually for the October 1-9 season.Texas Desert Bighorn Sheep
West Texas has a number of small herds of Desert Bighorn Sheep. Bighorn herds have been carefully developed by TPWD since the early 50s by reintroduction. A number of introductions were done over the years in some of the wilder and more remote wildlife management areas. These include the Black Gap WMA and the Elephant Tusk WMA in Brewster County as well as the Sierra Diablo WMA in Culberson and Hudspeth Counties. Additional introductions occurred in the Van Horn Mountains, Baylor Mountains, and Beach Mountains in Culberson County. A 2003 survey by helicopter revealed approximately 350 individual sheep. TPWD reports a total of 6 sheep legally taken by hunters in 2002. Nature lovers with good eyes and good binoculars can sometimes see these sheep in the high elevations around Fort Davis and Alpine.Texas Ducks & Geese
Check out my article on Eagle Lake Texas: Goose Hunting Capital of the World. Rockport/Fulton page.Hunting/Fishing Links
This link from to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is a wealth of information about hunting and fishing in Texas.
Check out one of my food pages on my experiment with making venison jerky.