Mustang Ranch Camp
2009 Deer Hunting
Reports and Photos
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| Ben McCulloch - Mustang Ranch Camp |
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| Mustang Ranch Camp
Since 2004, Ben McCulloch and his Mustang Ranch have been hosting Adobe Lodge hunters. Both for deer in the fall, and turkeys in the spring, the Mustang Ranch Camp is a great place for parties of four or five hunters. Close to 90% of Mustang Ranch's 2009 hunters are repeat clients.
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Hunt 2 December 2 - 6
Don and Travis Wilson from Carthage, TX come every year to hunt with Ben McCulloch at his Mustang Ranch Camp. As does Mike Anderson from Richardson, TX. But 2009 was the first year that all hunted together. Mike generally comes a week later, but when it appeared he might have to come alone, Ben prevailed on Don and Travis to accept Mike into their group of four. So, if our arithmetic is correct through all this, Ben had five hunters - a party of four and a party of one. It should be noted that there is plenty of room for a group of this size. Both in the lodge itself, and in regards to the amount of land available to hunt.
In addition to Don and Travis, their group included Mike Lloyd from Weimer, TX plus Jeff Bragg from Corpus Christi. The entire Hunt # 2 then was pure Texas from top to bottom.
With all three camps in the Adobe Lodge group hunting identical days, you can bet that the Mustang Ranch experienced the same snowfall experienced by the others. And Ben reported, as did the hunters at the rest of the camps, the hunting on that snowy day was "o.k.", but not "great", as one might expect. Apparently, Texas deer would rather go hide under a dry, warm bush and wait'er out. Better (warmer) times are coming. And that's what they did.
But despite losing the one morning to the snow, the hunting was good for the balance of the time. Don and Travis Wilson both collected 9 pointers. Mike Lloyd and Mike Anderson each put eight pointers on Ben's tally board. The only hunter who failed to score was Jeff Bragg. Admittedly, he had multiple opportunities, both for bucks and for does, but Jeff was on hand for the experience of the adventure as much as anything else.
Don tried his hand at bow hunting without success. Unfortunately, the doe he did take with his gun was not recovered, at first. But when she was finally found, she had been partially eaten by a cat of some kind. A similar thieving/depredating cat (reported elsewhere on this website) was afoot at the Home Camp, as well.
So the group of five will be credited with four bucks and five does (counting the DNF doe). The litmus test of a hunt can usually be found in the re-booking level. Ben says the Wilson group, barring unforeseen developments) is planning yet one more trip to the Mustang Ranch next season. No doubt about it - they've found a deer hunting home in West Texas.
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Hunt 1 November 20-24
There's an old saying which reminds us: "If the shoe fits, wear it." You might apply the same wisdom when searching for a place to hunt.
Kevin Niedoba and Ross Restuccio, both from New Jersey, have been hunting with Ben McCulloch every year since 2004. That was when Ben first offered guided and outfitted hunts on the Mustang Ranch.
Kevin had hunted the Adobe Lodge Home Camp a couple of times with his dad years ago. In booking that first Mustang Ranch trip for his amigos (actually, they were VIP clients of his), Kevin wondered if their surroundings would be comparable to what he was used to at the Home Camp. Since Kevin and Ross have returned without fail to the Mustang Ranch Camp every single year, it's safe to say THE SHOE FITS. They've found a hunting home in Texas. They are often accompanied each year by someone new. In 2009, the Mustang Ranch rookie was Les Templeton, similarly from the Hammonton/Berlin area of New Jersey.
Back during last summer, Ben and his hunting camp staff had been guests of Ross in New Jersey. Ross owns a large boat and took the entire group way off-shore for some tuna fishing. Those who didn't get seasick during the adventure had one heck of a good time. Not to mention seeing sights that West Texans just hardly ever even imagine. The group included the cook, Ben McCulloch, Jr. and the two guides, Cam Kleibrink and Mike Turner, in addition to Ben, Sr., of course.
Regaring the now-named "Niedoba/Restuccio Hunt", their 2009 hunting adventure could hardly have been more productive. Both Kevin and Ross collected two bucks and three does each. The newcomer, Les, took a nine pointer but said that only two does would be plenty for him.
Things have a way of going bad at the worst possible time. And so it was at the Mustang Ranch on the third day of the hunt. Doggoned if the septic tank at the hunting lodge backed-up/filled-up, resulting in Ben having to call a truck to come the sixty miles from San Angelo, right at noontime, just as the Dallas Cowboys were about to kickoff. (No telling what the bill was for that little job.) As you probably already know, there is a less-than-glamorous side to the outfitting business. It's much more fun to take photos of large deer. It's not quite as romantic when you are dealing with septic tank problems.
In any case, the weather for the entire time was decent - no major storms or complications. Deer movement, as it has been at all other locations, ran hot and cold. The rut is definitely underway, although it seems to be a bit early.
Ben reports that lots of turkeys are being seen. This is extremely good news. It's not too early to get a spring turkey hunt date nailed-down at the Mustang Camp for next April.
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