Heading up there next week to try and fill the freezer, anyone else going? Any tips, never been there. Thanks

I'll be there. First time for me as well.

I'm planning on camping in the camping area off of CR 473, but other than that really have nothing planned out. I'm bringing a ladder stand and some corn to throw out and will just hope for the best. I was thinking about giving the WMA a call to find out if there is anyway to know in advance which compartment I will be assigned to, it would really help to be able to scout the aerial photos and USGS maps for a specific area. I've given the whole property the once over on Google Earth, but it's kind of hard to look over 10,000 acres and really have no idea which portion I'll have access to.

Just got off the phone with them. Compartments are not assigned until orientation, so no way to find out in advance.

I am at Gus Engeling right now sitting high in a tree. Don't normally get on my phone when I'm in the woods but nothing is moving right now at all.

If you want to do some scouting, satellite or on the ground, pick 3 compartments. When you check-in, they will ask you which 3 you would like, in order of preference. The compartment you get will be determined by your group size, ability to access, and drawing order. Most of the time, you'll get the compartment you want.

I could tell you my favorite compartment, but want to keep that under my hat.

It's a tough hunt. You will need to use your woodsmanship skills for sure. Pouring out a pile of corn and staring at it from a pop-up will only get you a sore butt and an empty cooler.

I believe it is Compartment 12 that is my favorite. IT is the one just north of the road that goes E/W and has Catfish Creek on the east side boundary. There is a small campround on that side also. Very swampy, palmetto's, and stuff. THe deer bed on the high ground and come into the low area to feed in the evening and mornings. My son has killed two deer there over the past few years in youth hunts.

Any compartments to avoid as far as acces goes? I'll be in a 2WD GMC half ton with AT tires, but I'd like to avoid getting stuck. I'm generally cautious about road conditions to avoid having to make the call of shame

Thanks for the info gents. Palehorse, with your luck in the draws this year, I hope you leave a few deer for us. Good Luck!

Bony - I will see you there, planning on camping also.

I've hunted there twice. These past few days on the GDE hunt there wasn't much moving around. Never saw a buck except while driving out at 8pm. There is some sand in a few spots in the north unit that can surprise you (or at least surprised me) in a 2wd truck. I had a ground blind and a tree stand and split my time between two spots, but no luck. Heard plenty of shots though, and saw a few does brought in and a hog. I heard there were a couple small bucks harvested as well. As Palehorse mentioned, they asked for your top three units.

I have hunted all over the Gus Engling. Never really had a bad compartment. It's a fun place to hunt enjoy.

It's day 2 and I've only seen one buck and a few squirrels. The tpwd guy said this is the 3rd hunt and only four deer total were taken on the first two.

That's brutal, they need to start having hunts back out on Richland Creek WMA, always been a better success rate there.

The count when I checked out yesterday was five, bringing the total for the year up to a whopping nine.

I only saw three deer in my compartment, one big buck and then a doe and fawn pretty much right behind my stand that spooked when they saw me.

Hope they are moving for youth hunt this weekend.

Tough hunt, the 75 degree temps and wind didn't help. I saw 2 bucks the last day of the hunt, and that was it. Tons of sign, just not moving during daylight hours. Freezer still empty

They shoulda spread out the hunt more there this year with some in december and january, november was a waste with the warm weather.