We got drawn on the exotic only hunt!! Has anyone hunted this place before? Any information on the place would be greatly appreciated.

Lucky

We put in for that draw too but didn't get it. We are hunting the next County to the North. If the hunting there is anything like where we hunt you should have good luck by just pouring some corn on the ground. Good Luck!

Yes we are lucky, I had 8 pp's in the draw and the other three that put in with me had 17pp's each.

Good thing you drew the hunt. When you put in for a draw they apply PP's according to the person on the card with the least points. So, you all went into the drawing with 8 points.

A good friend of mine was chosen a few years back...he killed a big Auodad...he said that you'd better be in good shape as the terrain is up and down...sometimes too harsh for a 4 wheeler.

I believe they average the points with all the applicants. For example if I had 8 and my buddy had 0 then we would have went in with 4 points no matter who was on the application as the primary. At least thats how it used to be. Baker

I was on the archery hunt there a few years ago. There were two nice Auodad taken. I believe one was 27 and the other right at 30 inch. Its fairly rugged country and it was a great hunt. I had shots at two small Auodad but passed. A couple hunters saw axis and couldn't get close enough for a shot. Looks like you are on the rifle hunt so that won't be a problem.

There is no cell phone contact and its about 50-60 miles to the nearest hotel, and 22 miles of that is gravel road. Because of this its best to camp there during the hunt. I stayed in my tent, but if I ever go again I'll reserve a bed in the bunkhouse. There is also a group dining hall near the bunkhouse where they let you cook.

Believe it or not you might want to also pack a spinning outfit with 6-8 lb test and maybe some beetle spin or rooster tail lures for the hefty smallmouth,if you're gonna' camp on the river .I darn sure would.Good luck and post pictures.

Now that I think about it I believe you are correct on the fact that they average the points. I knew there was a reason that I don't like adding anybody to my card that has less points than I do.

Thankyou 45-70. we are calling in the morning to get the bunkhouse. I will try and remember a fishing rod also. I was woundering if there was a unit that produced more game than any of the others. Don't know if we get to pick. someone told me that they won't let u hunt near the river is that true?

I don't remember the compartment numbers. I'll have to look around and see if I still have my map. As I reclall the two guys that hunted the compartment nearest the river did not have access to the river.

I hunted a ranch adjacent to it for 4 years. Those darn aoudad are smart. Get out there up high early, spot and glass all day, only approach them from above. Be ready for 200-350 yard shots and to hike your tail off. Id say a .300 is about right for an aoudad. They are very exciting to hunt.

They say that the Devils is the cleanest river in Texas.Locals would like to keep it that way.Bring contractor quality trash bags to haul your's and anyone else's trash out.Stay safe, that is some ROUGH COUNTRY.

Thnks guys for all the info. I will bring some trash bags too. I hope they will let us look around at the river. Guess i better start getting in shape, looks like I will be doing alot of walking and climbing.

I got lucky in the 2010 drawing and hunted there last January. One of the best hunting experiences I've had here in Texas. As others have already stated its remote, so make sure to bring everthing you may need with you as the nearest store is 90 minutes away. It rugged and a workout, so expect a lot steep up and down hiking, loose rocks and thorns. Yuo should be ready for longer shots but then again, I shot an aoudad at less than 40 yards, and could have taken a nice Corsican sheep at far less than that.

I’m not sure if they keep you from hunting near the river. From what I could tell the rangers assigned most people based on their physical fitness and vehicles, with the harder to reach locations being given to hunters driving lifted (and pre dented/scratched) rigs. The most successful hunters were in a section called Up Top and I think they got eight. They had also done their homework, spending two weekends before the hunt scouting the area and really knew where they wanted to be (and had an old Wrangler).

Call the rangers with any questions you may have. They don’t get many visitors and really like to talk when someone expresses an interest. And they want you to succeed. The message was pretty clear that you should take any and all animals that aren’t native to the area.

PM me with any particular questions you may have, and I will try to answer them. Or I’d be happy to talk abut my experience over the phone.

Good luck and have fun.

i went on a kayaking trip there. we put in at the State Park and was picked up 2 days later. you'll enjoy the area.

Txdiver thanks I will pm u if i have any questions. Called today and the bunkhouse was already full. Not really sure where we are going to stay. I asked if we could pull a camper in and the park ranger said it would not be a good idea as the roads are pretty bad in some parts,but he said there was another place that had a camp 30 miles down the road before u got to DRSNA. So not sure if we will do that or just stay in a tent.

Do the tent thing.You might be shocked at how long it will take you to travel 30 miles in that country.