Anyone ever hunt here? Got drawn for the youth either sex hunt for Dec 17. Looking for tips or advise. Online says last year had a 0% success rate.

How about a report back. I live an easy drive from the unit and thinking about going there for 01/10/17 hunt to try to get a standby position.

The fellow that is in charge of the Chaparral is also responsible for the Choke Canyon North Shore/James Daughtrey and he told me, last January, that it is difficult to hunt because the Lake is so low and has been low for a long time. The area is near double what it is supposed to be and has been low long enough that the brush species and other vegetation are growing below the normal lake level The critters are following the water down slope. Today the Lake sits 41% of the intended capacity. He also said that to watch the level and try hunting when the lake starts to fill as the highest scoring public land deer will be killed on this WMA. They just need to be pushed up on huntable property. I suspect a hurricane moving up the Nueces from coastline at Corpus is what will be needed to fill it at this point.

I've not been there, this is just what the guy that is in charge of it had to say.

I would be interested to see what you find. I drew one of the either sex tags for next months hunt. Ranch Dog, that is some interesting info. I totally understand the situation you are talking about. I used to duck hunt down the road on Mathis when I lived in Corpus and the issue with low water and native grasses and trees In the normal lake bed was a blessing to a bird hunter but I remember seeing lots of deer out in the middle of nowhere on that place when the water was low. I hope I can happen into one of those high scoring deer you are talking about! If you come as a standby keep an eye out for me. I have a white gmc 4x4.
John

They dry lake bed probably isn't more than a couple hundred yards wide, smaller in some areas bigger in others. I would bet that the deer easily move into and out of that area on a daily basis.

Do you know if they area was hunted last year? Maybe that's why 0% success.

Will do, I drive a red Dodge 2500 4X4.


Yes, it was. The Chap staff was getting ready to move to the east to manage the hunt at the Canyon as the hunting came to an end on the Chap. I saw hunters coming out of a couple of the parking areas but did not see them with any deer.

I only offered a reason based on what I was told. I wish all the hunters the best success and if I have nothing going on a home will be inline for the standby draw on 01/10/17. I do plan on hitting the Chap standby on 01/02/16. I wanted to go to out there tomorrow for the hunt on the 9th but my parents have some pretty important Dr. stuff going on this week that I need to get them to plus I need to put in some hunting on my place.

Great input, Thanks for that!
Now with all of that being said, I would like to ask for your opinion. We are coming from Houston, so we have a bit of a drive, then we would be staying at a hotel. Which the cost starts to add up a bit.
My daughter was also lucky enough to get drawn for a antlerless deer hunt the following weekend at Fairfield. In your opinion, should I cancel the Canyon hunt and go for the Fairfield, where the odds are slightly higher?

Unless the hunt really straps your time with family or financially, I would go. You are already in it for the cost of your public hunt and you have probably dumped yoru chance at another drawing on this property for at least a few years. Just adapt if you are not seeing anything during the hunt, don't sit somewhere that is not producing deer sightings.

Despite what has been said, this is why you go. I took a bit of liberty in doctoring the picture of the individual as this 2016 bow kill was posted on social media.

My daughter and I will be there this weekend. So I will update after our hunt. Thanks for yalls input.

Good deal!

anxious to hear how this weekends hunting turned out.

Well, my daughter and I made it there and back last week. Hate to say it, but we came home with empty coolers. So there were 4 permits drawn for this hunt, out of the four just my daughter and another gentlemen with his son showed up, so it gave us more room to hunt. In my opinion, this place is very difficult to hunt, lots and lots of thorny brush for one, so if you don't have a truck with the right tires you'll be doing some walking. Second, with so much brush, it's very difficult to find a good spot to set up the pop ups that would have good shooting lanes. We hunted 2 different spots. First one, was about 1000 yards from the access road and saw nothing and no corn was eaten the next morning. Second spot, was off of the access road saw a huge hog and a doe. We didn't take any shots, cause she was really wanted a Buck. So the hog and doe walked.

Well at least you gave it a go!

Thanks for the report. I'm getting anxious to get there and give it a go.