I'll be sure to bring some corn and my camera

Ok man I got Intel for ya....

the old man goes around on a mule (Kawasaki) and feeds and does misc things durring the day. That's why they move later in the day. He feed around noon by me and right after he left here come 2 for a button buck and 3 fawns. They ate for 5min and back in the woods to bed. So make noise when you feed that way they know the "dinner bell" has rung.

They are like pets around here but it's a game reserve and the kids love seeing the deer up close so I get it! That's what did it for me as a kid. I was like WHATs THAT daddy!!!

The park has been slow this week so that's good. The deer are moving that's for sure. They had road work done up by the office so that might have spooked a few deer out around there. They left Thursday but the smell of blacktop is bad, I don't know if deer like to be around that but before that I would hunt around the office or the back of the office cuz those old ladies feed the deer out back. Next would be boat ramp area. The boat ramp has been closed so nobody has been around that area. A thick trail is near it so they come out to feed on the green grass to the left of the ramp. If you wait and hunt the next day you might be able to hunt in the observation stand. It's a nice stand up in air.

Good luck man

Thanks for the scoop! I have plans to be there all 3 days, so hoping I will get a chance to fill the tag

Here ya go man! oh and I noticed today he only puts corn in one spot. So choose a number (stand) with the wind in yo face... May the force be with you

Don't draw that number cuz you gonna craw in on your hands and knees

Thanks for the update, I will hopefully have some pics to post in a couple of days..

In the past its been a random draw for stand #'s didn't get to pick and choose.

And it still is a draw the first day

Hope Mako will post up soon with his trophy...

Hi Jiggy, I will update with a story and pictures tomorrow. It was a successful trip

This was my first experience hunting in Texas, and it was a good one. First of all, since we moved here in June, one of the things I noticed is that the people in Texas are the most genuinely friendly and helpful people I have ever met. The assistance and information I have received on this forum made this whole trip possible, so thank you to everyone. A special thanks to Get'n Jiggy who provided the ground intel of the area.
I left the house at 0530 Monday for the drive to Lake Whitney, wanted to get out of Houston before the traffic got to bad. Made it to the park early, so had some time to visit with the other hunters, and the group of stand-by guys. It was overcast, and a little cool, so we expected the deer to be moving that afternoon. The park staff was outstanding during our hunt, they wanted everyone to enjoy themselves, and they really wanted everyone to have a successful hunt. At noon, we had the safety briefing, and drew for blinds. The way that it is set up, the park staff drops everyone off at their blinds, and that is where you stay until the agreed upon pick up time, you are not supposed to move more than 100 yards of the blind, so you don't move into anyone else's area by mistake. This hunt was muzzle loader and shotgun only - Helpful hint for the muzzle hunters, they have you discharge your rifle prior to getting in the vehicle when they pick you up, so make sure and bring enough powder and lead for the entire hunt. A couple of the guys only brought 3 rounds, and the closest Walmart is about 30 miles away. View from the blind

The first afternoon, the deer were moving, I had several does come through, but wasn't ready to tag out too early, sometimes not a good idea to be too picky when trying to fill a meat tag, but thought I would give it a little time, unless I saw a really big doe.
Did get to see a nice sunset:

Only one guy tagged out the first night, guess most of us wanted to stay on for another day. Morning came with a dense fog, but lots of movement. Heard a couple of shots from other blinds, and the shots didn't seem to bother the deer close to my blind at all, Saw several small does, and a nice 8 point that hung out and ate my corn for about 45 minutes..




About 0800 I had a group of 3 does come through, and I decided this was a good time to try and fill my tag. I flat out missed with my first shot, but the doe stood there and looked at me, maybe with the fog it was difficult for her to tell where the noise came from. Shot number 2 hit her low, she ran a few yards, and since she wasn't hit hard, I took one more shot, and was able to get in a good head shot to put her down. For some reason, all the other pictures loaded, but the one of my doe wouldn't..

When we were picked up at 1100, 4 of us had tagged out during the morning, so 5 deer for 9 hunters at that point. After checking in the deer and processing them (does weighed between 51-70 lbs field dressed), the 4 that hadn't filled tags headed back out to the stands. Everyone pitched in and helped with cleaning and packing coolers, and I hit the road for home. I got my timing wrong, and hit Houston right at 1600, made it home about dinner time.

Again, the park staff were outstanding, the draw hunt system allowed me a chance to hunt this year, and I got some meat for the freezer. Hopefully I will get a chance to to it again next year. Thanks again to everyone for the helpful hints!!

Looks like a first class deal for a meat hunt...Whitney is a pretty place. Did u camp in the SP?

I want to try to do a Youth Hunt with my Daughter next year thru TPW...

I didn't camp, but probably will next time, there were 3 hunters that camped. The hotel I stayed at in Hillsboro was about 30 miles away, and kind of a long drive after the day in the blind. They did not do a youth hunt at Lake Whitney this year, since the success rate from last years youth hunt was 0%. Make sure and spend some time at the range with your daughter before going on a hunt, the park staff said that all of the kids that shot, missed. I would definitely recommend one of these hunts for kids, you will see deer, and the park system needs the help reducing the population.

Thanks for the info...the Whitney Inn isn't bad fyi...I have a small lease in Blum that has some deer. I will follow the state for these doe youth hunts and yes we need to pratice. Also the Bosque Resort (across the dam) has rooms and pretty good food as well.

Nice work man!

Congrats on your first texas whitetail

Wet or dry age for 18-21 days and you be eat'n like a king

Thanks Jiggy, looking forward to a belly full

I took this doe on the first afternoon of the Jan 5-7th hunt at about 125 yards from blind #13. She weighted 67 pounds dressed and was 6.5 years old.



I think we had 8 hunters that drew a permit and another 6 standbys of which 8 or 9 of us tagged out on the first sit. There are a ton of deer in the park as I saw 8 - 10 while going to the blind from the truck, another 10 or so before I shot and at least 20 more when going to retrieve her.

Big thanks to Luke and his staff for hosting us.

Hey bud I was there with ya.. didn't shoot a deer the first day. Got mine today. 5 1/2 year old deer dressed out at 95lbs. Shoot me a pm

How do you get in on these hunts? Do they do youth hunts as well?

http://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbth...ES_A#Post348583

Also look at ACOE hunts.

Hunts are a draw.. online applicaton

nice deer proline and seadog! The biggest one during the hunt I was on was 71 lbs dressed.