Im thinking about heading out there this weekend to try to bag a few squirrels and rabbits and also scout for hogs once the general season starts. Does anyone have any experience out there? Does it get very crowded? I plan to hunt/scout the west side which I understand is the non-ATV side of the WMA and hopefully its not going to be too drenched from this weeks rain.

It will be flooded after all the rain. Not crowded in late season. You must have the $40 dollar permit to hunt WMA's

I hunted on the west side about 5 years ago. It was next to a parking lot that you walk in from and there were no ATV's allowed. I saw several people in that area. That doesn't necessarily mean you will have the same experience though.

What White Falcon stated. It will be wet and slick. It will push the hogs out of the bottom some though.

Now I kind of regret staying home this weekend. With all the rain and me being new to the area I figured it would be best to just hold off until next weekend when things dry out a bit.

Sun might be out, but water is still up!

Probably still rising with all the creeks flowing again. Every farm pond around is overflowing.

And I like it too. It has been so dry this fall/winter. When I would go feed the cows the dang dust was ruff.

Boy ain't that right. I had hay rings from parched ground to mud holes. That was our first good rain since before Harvey.

River is down today. There were 5 trucks in the parking lot and by the boat ramp. I think they were duck hunters. Lots of booming going onat sun rise.

Im glad to hear its back down! Ill be out there over the long weekend to scout a bit and enjoy some fresh air.

How did the hunting/scouting trip go ?
As White Falcon mentioned it stays wet down their. Should be the hog only hunts going on... That's when did my hunt/scouting for next years archery hunts...
Best wishes for the New Year & little late, Merry Christmas ta all

Scouting went well! I was on the west side of the WMA since my understanding its thats the no ATV side. I found hog sign gallore out there including a few ruts so deep I damned near fell into them. When those ruts get covered up with leaves they could actually be a little dangerous. I also got the drop on a group of two mama's and three to four babies. They were so slow to get out of my way I seriously considered trying my luck with the 22 I had with me since they were legal to harvest with a rimfire. I only had my day pack with me though and dragging a hog out of there seemed like a great way to ruin what was a pretty nice day so I passed.

I definitely want to get back out there once or twice before the general hog season is over. I really liked the area in general and its making me think about taking up bow hunting so I can get out there for some deer. Sadly things have been so busy I probably wont make it out until after the general is over. Hopefully squirrels will still be in season by then at least.

Glad you had a good experience. Just watch for snakes, of all kind!!

Tips his hat. Did i ever tell ya bout the time was down in the switch cain on a hog hunt ?
Nature was a callen, all them ru.ors bout people chooten at hem White tails in the thick stuff got me nervous, even with the bright orange, so found me a big ol tree, dropped me britches, ta make a deposit & do the paper work, went ta squat, looked behind ta make sure no poison ivy or oak when spotted a snake coiled up...
Took off a runnen (best could with britches down around ankles) sceamen & yellen, some say it sounded like a panther, others say, mating call of a squash, yet i know diferent.
Ya, got bout 20 steps till took a tumble, & when woke up from me nap, & back ta me truck, rumors started bouts panthers & squash. Ya, as pappy says: when ya huntsolo memories die with ya, stay safe, it's a jungle out their...
Get off beaten b path, thick stuff, you'll find the hogs, most of rooting up along old atv trails, mostly done at night. Less hunting pressure.
Best wishs, & stay safe.

Funny!!

KeyLymePie, you park at parking area at Hoard Rd ? Forget the road that ya drive past the old check in station, it goes ta the three camp sites & divides east & west trails. West side, no atvs allowed. When it first opened, draw hunts were only time atvs were allowed. Son & i been from far east ta Hoard, sliding feet when crossing knee ta chest deep water. They let use of atvs on east side as experiment program. Have used Jon boat & canoe on north boundary. They later extended west of Hoard rd. Have seen hogs their while scout & hunt. Not sure if miss understood your post, you do know ya can hunt both east & west trails, restriction is for atv use.
They had released turkeys when first opened it up ta public, flooding pushed them out. At one time they had plans ta flood area & make it a lake. Had maps of what it would look like. Send pm if wanna chat. Best wishes. Hope all enjoy the hunts as much as i did.
Take some one with, as pappy says: when ya huntsolo your memories die with ya.

????????????????????

The Hoard Road parking lot is exactly where I parked when I was out there. You can follow the power line right of way all the way to the south end of the WMA and then follow the Sabine channel further in which is pretty handy. Ive only been as far east from Hoard Road as the pretty good sized lake that sits about three miles in. That seemed like a pretty good spot to stop for a coffee before turning back.The brush in the area between that lake and Hoard Road is pretty dense for the most part, I only found a few places that seemed like a decent place for a stand. My plan when I get back out there, which will hopefully be tomorrow, is to just get out there and move around a whole lot and hope I see some more hogs.

I really like the WMA and was hoping Id get to spend more time out there this season. Sadly life had other plans for me and Ive just been super busy.

Two different lakes on wma, found antler shed on east side on a March hunt. Think one of the lakes theirs small bridge. Been awhile, Best wishes.

Try to work along the river East of H. road. Lots of hogs follow the river and there are still some good acorns under the leaves. Good luck, there are some big hogs there and a lot of grill size!

Old Sabine River is North boundary, they used ta brush hog trail roughly 50-75rds went left, their was a deer stand sitting before got ta the tree line. Watch the trail, can see hog-deer trails leading off, ta the left back in thick young growth, little slew, have seen several hogs in their, also if ya follow high-line hog trails, little slews, were had sow bluff charge, had mentioned in different thread.
If ya hit the trail going east by North river boundary, theirs slew on left side, on right side in thick switch cain is were took video of hogs sleepen, could have reached out and touched em, seen lots hogs in that area. If ya stay on trail, old crank up camper, with add on. Used ta walk two bends up & zig-zag south ta trail by Old Sabine Channel. Seen hogs, that was back few years. Keep eyes roamen, that orange shows up at goid distance. Slower the better.

. Now that's a story worth tellin'.

colt.45, is the Man!

not really, WF.
Just trying ta help out with the wild hog problem, like on privet land, they kept saying they want em gone. Them ol boys with the video's in the hog section, they the exterminators, my hunts were more for en & chillen. Lots of good memories on sabine. WMAs are affordable hunts. as saying goes replace the thread with my posts. A lot depends on the presure. No night hunts, deer & hogs can hit the acorns along atv trails under the moon light. Best wishes.

West side, are you refuring Hoard Rd as dividing the east & west of the bottom ? When it starts ta flood, they close the gates on rd going ta the camp sites, what i refure to as east & west trails. East side of camps atvs were allowed if not to wet. Ya can catch a lot of the game heading west towards Hoard Rd. Yet several get caught on the higher grounds, if willing ta get your feet, & as a frog says (knee deep) wet. Slide your feet, some good, (great) hunting can be found if ya don't mind little exercise. Right now with hog hunts is when did my scout & hunt & chance ta put some on the . Even find some sheds, Shhhh, it's a secret.

There were two trucks parked in parking lot Hoard Rd yesterday!

any updates bout OSBWMA ?

I live about 20 miles from there, Had over 8" of rain in the last week at the house. I bet it is way under water for the next couple weeks.

Tips his hat, last lease had was roughly 2miles as crow flies from your address. When OSBWMA opened up ta public, gave up leasing. Did the archery dee-hog hunts, squirrel-hog & the hog hunts.
Had place for rifle deer behind house, had my corn feeder, deer food plot by creek with 4 trail cams set up.
At last camp site, North boundary when river low, it around 15ft drop. When river starts rising animals start headen towards Hoard Rd. Some hogs get stranded on higher ground. Been chest deep several times, lol, duck tape & pvc glue ta hold me tennis shoes tagether.
Thanks for the update.

Pic from yesterday [img]https://texashuntingforum.com/forum/pics/...0_5479142728312[/img]
.

And more coming.

Is that Hoard road?

Hello colt 45, how big is the area west of Hoard road and is there hogs there? Ive been to Sabine a few times and I've seen quite a few hogs but mostly around the lake west of Hoard. And I did see a few I'm the area you mentioned in previous post on the trail with the camper that is there.

All I have. Hogs should be on any high ground.

White Falcon, in the picture you posted what road is that running I'm the middle?

Denogean3 ta HF & Public Hunting. Wish had my old books, they at my daughters. When it first opened ta public the land west of Hoard Rd was not part of it. Don't have my TOPO USA CD or could check acrage. It goes, believe two more poles after it turns ta left, theirs a fence. Used ta be a heart shaped trap just ta left in edge of woods at boundry, also a stand, it was full of fire ants. Have seen hogs in that area also.
The hoard rd has two bridges, have came from South ridge, put canoe in at parking area & paddled ta North bridge it was up higher than in pic, looked like a lake, & floated ta 14. Put in at dark-thrirty & hit 14 at sunrise,took daughter with also.
When heading East towards tree line, watch the trails, have followed them & found hogs. Not sure if they brush hogging a trail or not, theirs trail at North end & South end.
WhiteFalcon & thanks for memories. Have many on Sabine. Safe Hunting.

Colt 45, thank you glad to be a part of the forum. Next time I go I will take pictures and see if I can find the spots you are talking about. I appreciate the info.

If ya ever their when its real wet, & easen threw water, slideyour feet,can be half way up chin ta neck deep, litterly. Sent ya a pm. Theirs several old stands, theirs another cabin besides the one, think it was Colman camper popup, it had l8ving quarters added on. Area before camper, in switch Cain is were took video of hogs sleeping. Had several videos, in the public hunting several years back. It my tagoto place for hog hunts, also deer archery.
Ya get back out their, give up date, on here or pm.
Got lots of memories of the place. Been from one end ta other.

Large road in middle is 1804. The thing that looks like a road going east and west at the top is the pipeline.

Anyone know if its dried out enough to get out there on foot? I finally get a weekend free and from what Ive heard the place Id most like to be is underwater.

If you end up going let us know how it is please. I was planning on making a trip out there the 16 or 17. Hopefully it’s not to bad for you this weekend.

I was on 1804 yesterday, still closed. Water is still over the two bridges. River is way over the banks. If it rains this weekend it will be another 2 weeks to get in.

the downfall of the OSBWMA, the flooding. If ya know the high spots, can still be some good hog hunts when it first starts flooding with a boat or lesure canoe trip.
Good info, WF, save time & gas money for those Thinken of doing a walk in. Even when not flooding, the trails stay little wet. Stay Safe.

So this mean Ive finally found an excuse to buy a boat? I cant wait to till my wife!

Sit in
Kayak! More stable than canoe!

Hwy 80 at Lake fork creek bridge.

Colt - you got a link to the video you are talking about?

Not sure witch video your talking about ?

You mentioned a video with hogs sleeping in the Cain area.

Tried walking into the OSB Main entrance yesterday, Got through two areas where the water was about 16" over the road and moving fast. Found my waterproof boots were not. Came to a third crossing a bit longer and deeper and decided I had enough. Found this site today. I'll be checking it next time I go out. River Data

having troubles with net, 4th time tried to reply to your post.
The threads only go back 6 pages, last one reply was 2017, the video posted, was in public hunting, 2015 ? Not sure if it can be looked up.
It was about videos at OSBWMA had several videos. Was scouting for weekend hunt, when guy was driving down from FW, parked at Hoard road, took trail that went North by a box stand before edge of woods. Once at edge North boundary river took trail heading for a Colman pop up camper, that was added onto. Theirs some switch-cain on right side walked into it. Heard the hogs, sleepen, eased up to them, i carry my camera, friend kids me bout doing too much shooting with it. Took video, quality not best, got shoulder problems, they took off runnen. Day or two later, same area, easen threw switch-cain, hogs came towards me, got behind tree, had orange on, videoed, they layed down by a fallen tree. Think same hogs, a boar laid behind fallen tree. Backed off tried circle ta take out boar, small 5-10# squeeled, they ran.
That weekend the guy came down, we seen two different sounders.
Both videos & others were in thread, think they got deleted, ta keep up dated. Not able ta down load, tried doing pic, it not work. Sorry.

Leveled that brought back memories of when it first opened ta public, hunting with son, we waited some times chest deep going ta higher ground, (slide feet) one step could be over head. Also took flat bottem, or canoe.

I use this website.Click the blue numbers on the far left.

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/tx/nwis/current/?type=flow

No worries! Maybe I can find it if I can go back further. Sounds like a cool experience to say the least.

Went by 1804 today, it's open! But water is still out of the river banks.

Leveled, where are you located, nothing on your Profile.

some good info for the weather info. Several years back went to a WMA rifle scout & hunt. Didn't check weather. Got rained out, changed cloths, it let up hit woods again, soaked again. Had no dry cloths left, Radeon said bridges might flood, so left.
Did find lots of good sign though, scraps & nice rubs. By small town, Apple Springs or something.
Still enjoyed the Sabine.
Usually when water starts flowing it's banks, the closed gate just after oil rig, not sure if it's still their. Theirs road goes ta right to parking area with trails heading East, one trail circles South back ta main road. Any ways theirs a gate past that road on main road before last camp. Every thing starts heading West. Takes while for things move back in.
Enjoy the info, lots of memories, wish could be their with ya. Stay safe, their be few gaters, been spotted. Affordable & good hunting, never did see lots of squirrels for as big of hard wood. Spent many hours in bow stand with camera ready ta video. Heard noise behind me, turned an a yote carring off a small piglet, didnt get video though.

Spenrt many an hour on Sabine from Hoard ta 155 in canoe, kayak (it early version) has a hole in one end, used a clip on bleacher seat ta sit on & me little ol jon boat. Used ta put canoe in at 3rd camp site & go down stream, river low during archery hunts. couldnt get vary far up river. Also banks made it tough, their was an area that could get up bank down river, fell in once, phone quit working.
Have you checked your food plots & feeders N of sabine ? If river up, most critters move off WMA. Private land owners have some good hog hunten. Think now ya can archery hog year round.

Last year!!! Water didn't get to my feeder this year, but close

I'm wondering if it would help to start locking up that entire WMA at night? Maybe move that overnight campground closer to the entrance/headquarters and lock up the rest of the WMA at night. Would cut down on any poaching on the area. As it is now the deer hunting is not very good on the area and I'm thinking part of the problem might be poaching.That's kinda what they do at Richland Creek and Engeling.

swampthang, river gets up like in some of the photos in this thread, they DO LOCK the gates. Saves on wear & tear on the main road going ta last camp site.
As far as people poaching the WMA during high water, the deer sence it & leave the WMA to surrounding privet owned land owners. Locking gates not gonna solve poaching.
As pappy once said: " WMA are the last resort for the low-income hunters. What once was price of Gov. Food Stamps has become a Richmans Sport. "
i know damn Yankee .
Edit: actually applied for job working their, Dang D- in grammer.

Apparently they allow coon hunting on the area so I guess we can forget about locking it up at night.

That is one monstrosity of a feeder. Looks like a giant wind chime with those other legs still attached to the feeder.

Ya, coon hunting is allowed at sabine. Done the archery deer & hog hunts since it opened ta public.
Not sure when that was. Over the years, seen many deer that rival any deer that have been posted on HF.
archery only hunts does more for aging deer, do to limit of range vs rifle. The flooding does push deer & hogs off WMA. As posted in other threads, if ya know the high areas, ya can find hogs.

Cherokee Mingan, The short legs are so when you let it down to fill feeder, you don't crush the time and motor. Hundreds of these sold around here.

Ah yes, that makes sense. Makes me want one now. I bet the coons have a difficult time getting to the thrower too?

nice, the river floods the WMA it looks like a big lake from West of hoard rd ta 155.
Every thing gets pushed out. House was roughly 10-15 miles from WMA office as crow flies. Would see increase of hogs down by creek-branch South of house were had my tri-pod feeder & deer food plot. Would see 10-15 on trail cams. Neighbor hood dogs kept hog hunts on run. Hogs knocked down my tri-pod feeder three nights in a row. Took ol cable had laying around & run it from tree ta tree over head. Solved that problem, filling feeder was difficalt. only hew days left for hog any legal means left at WMA, think they let ya hunt archery hog year round now. Miss me time spent at OSBWMA lots of great memories. Doing some scouting for around here. Thingas have changed here. Used ta be 1 day fpr deer if applied for doe tag, pard & I hunted the three day buck only with our cap & ball. Hear can use cross-bow, any one over 60 also can rest me .45 kentucky on shooting sticks or such. " Low-income workers dont have ta be told how bad times are, they live it. "

There are some issues with these feeders. tree rats chew them up a little, and after about 7 yrs plastic gets brittle. Other than that for over 7 yrs old not a bad feeder.

Bet river is up this week!

I finally got out to OSB on Sunday. I wish I had taken some pictures but the mosquitos were so thick the only thing I had on my mind was getting out of there. There were so many hogs moving around that it felt like you couldnt throw a rock without hitting one. Saturday is the last day of the general season for hogs if I remember correctly, but assuming its not all underwater and you remember your mosquito repellant you could have a pretty great hunt out there.

never had troubles with the mosketoes this time of year, always kept on the move. Must be warm weather. Early archery hunts in October, seen some bad days, wear the head net mosketoes & natts in the eye cut outs. They have the gates closed leading ta camp sites ?

I think it must have been a combination of the recent flooding and the heat. There was a whole lot of standing water in the WMA which probably made it prime territory for the mosquitos. They were so bad that the moment I stood still all I could hear was their buzzing, it made sneaking up on the hogs kind of difficult. It was still a wonderful hunt and I saw more hogs out there in one morning than I had in a while.

Im not sure about the gates to the campground though. I parked over off Hoard Rd and walked in from there so I was a fair bit away from the campground.

it starts flooding ya see the deer & hogs headen West. The higher parts are East of rd leading ta campsites, often find hogs stranded on little islands. Just gotta know high areas.
It's best kept secret, me tagoto for hogs.
glad ta see someone enjoying the place, lots of great memories, can be tough hunt, not for sissies. Even with alien body parts would be thar on a hog hunt.

Water and river are down!!

take it ya finaly got ta check on your feeders & stand. Think only thing going on now at the WMA is archery hog hunts. Heard they started that couple years back, it gonna take awhile for things ta move back on WMA. We got more snow here last Sunday, they talken more this weekend, warm weather some rain, so it makes every thing slushy.
OSBWMA can be some great hunting if weather is right. The archery only for deer is big factor, just my Smith county still 4 deer, personaly thought that was foolish, We couldnt get a doe tag cause " not enough deer " when it was buck only.
Usualy take a solo trip down sabine, kayak, canoe if gonna camp this time of year. From 14 ta 155, its an 8 mile trip, river up its easier getting off river, steep banks. When its down, at times gotta get out an float canoe, & always a log jam around 7 mile marker. Couple tight bends. Lots of memories.

You aut ta have some good hog hunten at your feeder. ( for record, his set upbis on N orth side of River, not on WMA) . Some might get wrong impression.
Thanks for update White Falcon.
Still Proud supporter of WMA's. Take care Best wishes.

Will be there next week to do some feeder repairs and check out any flood damage.

I used to go with my dad all the time and we did our best squirrel hunting in the harwood flats east of King Lake and one of the other big sloughs close to King. Also saw a nice 12 pt in there. But this was 15+ years ago and i havent been in nearly as many. No clue what it looks like in there now. But being a flood plane the underbaush is usually a little thinner there than the east end. We used bicycles and little trailers to haul in equipment and it worked really well. Quick, fairly quiet, and works well in muddy trails.

Come And Get 'Em... thar B several. More than a handfull of times have seen nice bucks. Found a shed at SE end of King or Long lake, get em mixed up. Several times seen two bucks traveling tagether, just out of bow range, & had doe followed bt nice 10pnt with another that had lost 9ne side of rack run riggt under stand while securing climber. was chatting with one of the officials about me coming in too late, twas my bad, chatting with him, if would have just went in would have been set up.
Also seen what i call the yard stick buck. It was wide, not sure how many points, was too busy stairing at width. Talked ta one of the guys out their, it wasnt taken, & it would hit paper head lines.
White Falcon how was trip ta your stands-feeders, hope not much damage. Been seeing lots of deer, several times almost hit with truck, see few turkeys, & pheasents still not able ta hold fire arm out with shoulder, but worken on it. Can use rest & use crossbow here, 60+ it legal. Best wishes. Might be in
Edit: ta OP ya was asken bout squirrels. Personaly never seen that many, did lots Iif archery hunts in stand. Mostly watchen for deer or hogs. Actualy seen more deer than squirrel, but mosly hogd. & think they were 8 point now that think about it.

Went to check on stands and feeders, no damage. I do have a feeder that needs some work, timer, and resealed. Water has been way down for about 2 months.' There are lots of squirrels along the river as well as chiggers mosquito's and SNAKES. I need to go back and use some roundup under the feeders.

Thar be a gator or two..
Part of the perks.

Edit : & lets not forget the tic's found several on me up here. Twice left red ring around when pulled.
Tic's didnt survive, i had me rabies shot.

Went to weed eat under my feeder on N. side. Hotter than the blue blazes of He..! Did see a lot of hog signs crossing river.

Think they opened the WMA ta hog archery year round 3ta4 years ago. May they have the squirrel-hog hunts, shotgun, rimfire, & muzzleloader.
Went several times, earlt morning hunts. Wasnt realy woeth effort for hogs, hotter the temps-faster need ta get on ice.
Archery deer-hog hunts hunted closer to the parking areas, warmer weather, hog any legal meens, cooler months, is when did me en & chillen hunts. Ya could put up enought ta last threw warmer months.
Back strap steaks, some from hind quarters, lots of sausage, & even did some hog jerkey.
We did our own prossesing, cut back on cost.
Only once took hog ta butcher, took couple at same time, did smaller one & sent bigger one ta butcher.
Still had place ta hunt S of house were haddeer foodplots & corn feeders by creek. Lot easier & quicker ta get on ice.
OSBWMA was best kept secret, dont see any one posting. Be the first ta say, i'm not that great of hunter. Yet could keep the freezer full.
Seen the number in hogs drop, first the AK's then AR's, & found many that werent recovered, they wanted hogs gone. Yet it brings hunters in. Used my AR carried 10 rnd mag with 4ta5 rounds. Cheep 55gr fmj or hp, it was light weight, easy ta manuvor in the thick switch cain, tall grass & palmedo plants, kept my shots close range, small bullet, not best blood trails, most goes into body cavety. Usualy fast action, heart llung bigger target, had great luck, only one not recovered.
Ya, miss me hog hunts at OSBWMA.
see very few reports of any one hunting it, as a lease, they had a waiting list ta get on it. The flooding pushes the hogs out ta surounding privet land owners, they follow the creeks, & the pressure has pushed em ta were had my set up. Had pics of up ta 9-10 moven threw on cams. The neighbors dogs kept em moving.

Still the best kept secret! That is why you don't see many posts!

11,820 views less than 5 viewers

5 viewers? Ha,that's what you think! Yall keep running your face about how awesome OSB is and you'll see how many "viewers" show up on opening day of bow season. LOL.

I will let you know when I drive by during hunting season! Have a great day!

Been hunten OSBWMA since it went public hunting & 99% time never seen another hunter in d woods.
While not origanally from Tip me hat ta those who run the OSBWMA. Did the leasing thing, enjoyed hunting with the group shared lease with. Mostly low-income workers. Seen the games played on other leases, people do the work, then loose lease ta Big Bucks (people with more money).
Threw the years started seeing more deer, bucks & does. Main reason archery only deer hunts. Used the hog only season for hunt & stalk. Helping out with the hog problem, & getting ta know the place. Kept notes on all rubs, scrapes, tracks, dropings sightings, dates, times.
It was part of the hunt.
First on HF my posts mainly refuring ta people looking for hog hunts. One of monitors started the public hunting threads, up in general hunting thread, people posting bout public lands out west. Not every one is middle or upper income.
has some awesome public hunting. Its not the execative hunts like leases, sit in stand, watch feeder, & food plots & wait. Had that set up by house down by creek. Could have taken 4 deer a year when it went 4 deer county. Yet took me bow in hand & pitched my stand at WMA.
Just sharing. Best wishes.