TESTIMONIALS
Review of Dead Man’s Pass
The slogan at Dead Man’s Pass Ranch is “We make dreams come true.” The first dream to come true was the ranch itself. 2300 acres cleared of indigenous wildlife then stocked with the best quality deer and exotics. The lodge is sanitized weekly and meals are prepared on site by a talented chef including steaks branded “DMP” on Saturday night. Clients are guided one on one. Animals taken are on schedule as per what is best for the environment. If it sounds clinical the truth is onsite you quickly become one of the family. I can’t imagine a better hunting experience.
The meat hunt package at Dead Man’s Pass Ranch has got to be one of the best bargains available to the hunter. Lunch on arrival Friday, a sight-in session at the 100-yard range thereafter followed by an evening hunt guided one on one from a clean, well-designed stand seated some ten or more feet above the rugged landscape. Inside the stand was a carpeted floor with compact wheeled desk chairs. Three additional hunt sessions were scheduled for Saturday morning, Saturday night and Sunday morning. No luck Friday night but the show was magnificent. A pecking order of different sized bucks and does followed by exotics cautiously stepped into the clearing. Saturday morning the hunt began with a drive to the stand under a starlit night. The Big Dipper was clearly displayed. Its size was staggering as if it were staged lighting from the walls of a skyscraper. Planets Jupiter and Saturn beamed like incoming aircraft.
No words are adequate to prepare one for the sky view available in deep West Texas. Before the sun could rise, I spied what appeared to be several large white boulders that suddenly began to move like ghosts. These were the Scimitar Oryx, huge desert antelope from North Africa. They ruled the clearing driving off the deer that had been taking turns at the feeder. Nevertheless, a Black Buck exotic from India about one-quarter their size showed no fear and the Oryx gave them a wide berth. As mysteriously as the Oryx had arrived they decided to leave, exiting stage left. Finally, a set of does came in. Choosing the largest doe my guide, a young man with a degree in wildlife management, walked me through the process of letting the doe settle into a position that was safe from my shot possibly impacting any of the other animals that were taking turns at the feeder. We took our time. Finally an ethical shot with the doe nearly quartering the angle of the shot path became available. One round from my 243 Winchester Weatherby Mark V put down the doe. The fully expanded 100-grain bullet was recovered from beneath the hide at an angle across from the entry wound. The doe was transported back to the cutting room where it weighed in a 94.9 pounds.
My guide then gave me a lesson in how to skin and quarter a deer in preparation for processing the meat. Aged by inspecting its teeth excessive wear to the crown of the third rearward molar indicated the doe was about 5 years of age. What a magnificent lesson. My first deer.
For the Saturday evening hunt our stand was positioned before a broad expanse of flat ground. The first deer to arrive were young bucks that locked horns treating us to a series of wrestling matches. Several does arrived and also engaged in posturing and aggressive behavior standing on their hind legs and throwing “punches” with their hooves. With so many deer in attendance the only question was the taking of which animal would be most beneficial to the ranch and leave the best opportunities in store for the future. My guide contacted ranch management and a decision was made leaving three possible candidates for harvest including an Axis doe. The next problem was getting a clear shot. Hunting is a game of not just stealth and marksmanship but of patience. My guide instructed me we were going to go slow and take as much as 20 minutes to settle on a shot after the right doe has come into view. In this case we needed a fawn to clear out completely as it kept moving into the shot path. Several times it walked forward and back turning its head momentarily exposing the side of the doe. Our desired point of impact was directly behind the shoulder just below midline. The doe repeatedly pulled back, turned, and pulled alongside the doe again. Finally, the fawn moved fully rearward of the doe and stopped. The fired shot came just as the doe was rotating towards us. The doe jumped upon impact and ran even though the guide assured me it was as solid hit. As with the morning kill, we waited about 10 minutes before exiting the stand in pursuit. It was up to the guide track the doe.
Having seen the herd move away to the right my guide reasoned he should track in the same direction. It was beginning get dark, but we were able to track the deer through the heavy brush. His tracking skills paid off just as they had 12 hours earlier finding the deer expired at the base of a patch of mesquite. Transported to the shed by ATV the doe weighed in at 85 pounds. Age was estimated at more than 4.5 years old. Both deer were big healthy specimens yielding enough meat to fill two large coolers after processing. In addition, we had enough hide to produce two large pillows and a warm throw for the couch.
GOOGLE REVIEWS
Dead Man’s pass was absolutely awesome! This was my first time hunting and Todd did an amazing job making me feel comfortable and educating me on efficient hunting. The cooks are great and make great southern home meals! Lodging was comfortable and everything I needed was at my finger tips. I can’t wait to return to and get a nice Axis Buck!
James Harris IVGreat Experience 10/10
Definitely well worth every bit,
The cook was amazingly with his gracious meals,
The guides are immediately your new best friends they’ll teach and do everything for you.
First time I’ve ever hunted and it couldn’t have gone any better,
The property itself is crazy huge and nice good rocky patches.
Can’t forget little Lucy the dog full of energy and incredible herself.
Thank you all.
I’ll definitely return soon.
Best guided hunt I’ve been on! Amazing lodge with everything included to stay at. Great people, lots of fun and laughs! We tagged out the 1st day, Aoudad hunting.
We had a wonderful experience at Dead Man’s Pass Ranch. Our guide Andrew P. Was amazing! He was so wonderful with our 9 year old daughter. He made sure to include her when she went out with her dad for the hunt. He showed her how to spot the deer, and explained all the different types of animals. This made the hunt more special to us since we went to spend time as a family while my husband hunted. He was also very helpful locating the deer that my husband wanted to get. The lodging was wonderful we were able to get adjointing rooms with bathroom in between so that our daughter was right next to us. The food was amazing and very filling. You definitely will not go hungry during your stay. They also have a game room to enjoy on your down time. We will definitely be going back!
Diana SmithJust wrapped up another fantastic weekend with some clients. We had a top notch experience. You wont find better food, hospitality and professionalism then at DMP. These guys never fail to show us a great time. Mike, Randy and the gang thank you for the Bucket list experience this weekend.
Just wrapped up another fantastic weekend with some clients. We had a top notch experience. You wont find better food, hospitality and professionalism then at DMP. These guys never fail to show us a great time. Mike, Randy and the gang thank you for the Bucket list experience this weekend.
I visited Dead Man’s Pass Ranch for a deer hunt based upon the recommendation of a family friend who’s enjoyed their time visiting the ranch. I shot a great looking buck and enjoyed every moment of the experience. Everyone was friendly and service oriented. Our cook was Melissa and she made excellent food all weekend. My guide, Allen, was knowledgeable and willing to answer all of my questions as a novice hunter. Hunting expertise and helpfulness is consistent across all the guides from what I observed. At night everyone enjoyed dinners, fires, and corn hole games. I’m looking forward to my next visit!
A great hunting experience! Everything is top notch from the accommodations to the guides to the hunt to the food. The guides treat you like family and fit right in like your buddies you have been hunting with for years. This place is full service from the moment you arrive until the end of your hunt. They are honest and ethical hunters wanting to give you the best hunting experience and memories. I highly recommend Dead Man’s Pass and will be returning for another hunt. Thanks for the great times!
Scott SessumsThis place is amazing and the people that run it make it that way. They make sure you are happy and comfortable. From the moment we walked in to the camp house until we left. From the gun range siting in our rifles to the food, camp fires to the great organization of our hunts. My wife had never deer hunted. I only had deer hunted a handful of times. I harvested a trophy that I’m likely not to top. My wife got her first deer. Randy, Allen, Todd, Robert and Nick were amazing. The accommodations and food were great. Even after we completed our hunt we were able to continue our adventure to the Devil’s River and hike to the caves and see Aoudad herds. You will not be disappointed if you book hunts with this group. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ thank you for a trip of a lifetime.
Dead mans pass ranch has been outstanding. We have been hunting on the ranch for several seasons now and always have had a great experience. These last two seasons I have taken my son there to shoot his first bucks. Now he can not wait to go back. The staff and facilities are first class. Just writing this I can not wait to go back. Thanks for the hunt, good food, and the memories.
This ranch has become a tradition for us. My son and I have hunted here for the past six years and love everything about it. Their attention to every detail from the comfort of the lodge to the high quality of wildlife and focus on safety make this perfect for hunters of every level. This is where my son shot his very first deer and this year harvested a buck in the 140’s. If you’re looking for a ranch to make your own annual tradition with family or a group of friends, this is the one…no need to keep looking.
I just finished up a great weekend hunting at Deadman’s Pass Ranch. This is my second time to hunt with them. The first time I hunted with them I was supposed to harvest a Bronze buck 130-139 but the buck didn’t quit score big enough. The owner was more than happy to make it right and gave me a discount on a Silver hunt 140-149 for the same price as the Bronze. Mike and his team are awesome people. My wife and I harvested 2 Silver bucks and she even surprised me with a Platinum buck 160-169. I can’t say enough about the people at the ranch everyone is friendly and ready to help anyway they can. Give them a call and book your hunt today you won’t be disappointed.Thanks again Mike, Randy, and everyone at camp for a Great Hunt!!!
I just finished up a great weekend hunting at Deadman’s Pass Ranch. This is my second time to hunt with them. The first time I hunted with them I was supposed to harvest a Bronze buck 130-139 but the buck didn’t quit score big enough. The owner was more than happy to make it right and gave me a discount on a Silver hunt 140-149 for the same price as the Bronze. Mike and his team are awesome people. My wife and I harvested 2 Silver bucks and she even surprised me with a Platinum buck 160-169. I can’t say enough about the people at the ranch everyone is friendly and ready to help anyway they can. Give them a call and book your hunt today you won’t be disappointed.Thanks again Mike, Randy, and everyone at camp for a Great Hunt!!!
An excellent hunting experience! The accommodations were 5 star, the food outstanding, a beautiful well managed property will ample opportunities to harvest your trophy. The owner and guides treated you as a VIP every step of the way. They are truly a first class operation and I have already set plans in motion to return in 2021! See you next year. For anyone that are a bit older than the average hunter, as I am or have limited physical disabilities, this is the place to fulfill your dream hunt!
Dear Deadmans Pass Ranch,
I just wanted to tell you what a great experience my Son in law and I had when we visited your ranch several times for a great hunting experience.
I don’t believe hunters really know what a great hunting experience is until they book a hunt at your ranch. Everything is taken care of and besides being an experience it is also a lot of fun. Anything you need is there. The McGee family will make your hunt a Great Hunting Experience and you will want to come back.
Thank You to the McGee Family and the Deadman’s Pass Family also.
Dan Folsom, Sr.
Opening season was a huge success. This team is all about giving their hunters a memorable experience. The food, hospitality, accommodations and the hunting experience is Top Notch. I am already working on booking my next trip. You wont be sorry give them a Call.
This place is awesome for a guided Hunt! Especially for all the busy guys out there. I don’t usually have enough time to get my own lease and go on multiple hunting trips. These guys and gals handle everything that you may need. Going back home with coolers full with the Ranch handling everything you can think of! I will be going back!
Adam PiasJust finished my first hunt at Dead Man’s Pass Ranch. World class operation, great deer, great guides, great food. Loved it and will be back next year. I highly recommend Dead Man’s Pass Ranch to anyone looking for a quality guided hunt.
My son and I went on a hunt at Deadman’s Pass Ranch near Comstock, Texas. Our hunt was Nov. 8-10. This is a hunt my son and I have taken six times in the past six years. I cannot recommended this hunt high enough. It is a five star hunt. The facilities are super the staff is top notch and the food and care they provide is superior. You can hunt meat or trophy at very good prices. My son and I will go again next year. You should check this hunt out. They have aoudad, dear, axis, and next year probably black buck. Good luck. Kelly and Nic.
This place was great! Everyone was friendly and helpful and all three of us harvested good Aoudad and rel free range animals. A+++
This is hands-down the best ranch I have ever been too. The hunt was amazing, service, facilities, guides, ranch managers and cook; whole thing is first class.
J THave been visiting Dead Man’s Pass Ranch for the past several years and it is outstanding. Great experiences each time with the way we’re treated by the guides and hosts and great meals and lodging. Highly recommend.
The 5 star treatment is amazing. These guys really care to treat you well and make your hunting experience a truly enjoyable one. From their guides to the cook to the accommodations. You’ll never want to hunt anywhere else, and stick your nose up at everything else!
Great Experience where my daughter shot her first deer this past weekend. Staff/Guides/Cook all first rate. Lots of fantastic food also. Should be on everyone’s bucket list for one time a year at least!
Fantastic experience that exceeded our expectations. The guides were great, the food fantastic and the service was 5 star. Everybody was very friendly, helpful, and accommodating. I will definitely be coming back.
First class all the way! Beautiful ranch and awesome staff! And Robert is a great cook…food was amazing!!!
Ron BoddieGreat place and great people. These folks go above and beyond to provide an awesome hunting experience.
Greg Luther