Trip to South Texas, what to expect?

M

MNpurple

New member
In March I am going to south texas (Near Eagle Pass) to hunt a ranch for hogs but am also allowed to hunt bobcat and coyotes. What kind of coyote and cat numbers are in this area? I'm used to hunting fairly wooded areas of Minnesota, so I expect this to be a little different, any advice on tactics would be very helpful, thanks! Hoping they are easier to call in down there than in MN.
MNpurple
 
There should be good number of cats and coyotes there. I expect you will do well. The country will likely be whole lot more open than you are used to.
 
I used to deer hunt for several years in Maverick County (near Eagle Pass). I would feel very safe saying that your probably going to be covered up in coyotes, if you plan on doing some calling. Saying that there are a lot of coyotes in the south Texas brush country is very much an understatement. If your using a remote caller, then I would suggest that you hunt from one of the elevated stands on the ranch. The brush is very thick down there, and usually the only open spots are either prickly pear flats (large cactus field) and the senderos (roads or right-of-ways cut through the brush). The brush is usually not over 8-10 foot tall, and I have good luck hunting from elevated box blinds and high rack vehicles. Good luck and be sure and give us a report when you return.
 
I can't help but grin when I hear someone is coming to Texas to hunt in that good of country. You are in for a treat if they are not systematically thinned or trapped on a regular basis on that particular ranch. If they have told you the coyotes are not hunted or hunted hard you have the potential to really have a good time.

I want to advocate a different style of hunting that for me personally is very enjoyable. Bring a shotgun and call them right in your lap. There is nothing more exciting than to have one kick dirt on you as he wheels around to skeedaddle after he realizes he has been had. You can find road or sendero intersections, small natural openings near water holes or cattle feeders and a variety of other areas. What I love to have happen is to hear them pad up in the dirt, breathing hard while standing a few feet behind me. The challenge of swinging on them and getting a killing shot as they scoot between the bushes is almost as good as sex.....almost. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Doorgunners advice is spot on and a very smart way to hunt that kind of terrain for a variety of reasons. If the coyotes are call educated very much at all, you may want to have that height and concealment advantage. Either way you are in for a treat. I hope you will let us all know how your adventure turns out.
 
I lived in Maverick County for 5 years and enjoyed the hunting. If you will have a host/guide who's from the area, he should be able to fill you in on the best methods for yotes and bobcats. Find out whether you can take a cougar, too, since they range in parts of that county. Doorunner & GS both were right on the money with their advice.

A couple of other pieces of advice if I may:

1. If you decide to go to Mexico to "see the sights", make certain there is nothing resembling a firearm or ammunition on your person or in your vehicle. The vacation could end up being a lot longer and less pleasant than you anticpated. Your rights as an American citizen cease to exist when you cross the "Rio Bravo".

2. If the weather has started to warm up, be aware that there are some big rattlesnakes out there. No need to be paranoid, just use good sense.

If you have never been to the South Texas brush country before, you are likely to find it quite an adventure. Let us know how your planning is going. Hope you have a great time. Bust a critter or two for me.
 
I was in South Texas this past weekend. We were mainly deer hunting, but I did carry my calling stuff along. After seeing 3 bobcats one morning from a deer stand I scared the deer I was watching to try the critr-call. The cats were about 300 yards away and didn't seem to respond. The wind was in my face, but about 30 miles and hour. I returned about noon to set up but the wind was really up and I had no luck using the e-caller and cotton tail distress. We even called one night, but the moon was full and the wind never laid down. Not to mention that it was 80 degress during the day. There are a ton of predators in that country, the conditions were just night right and my main focus was deer this time.
 


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