A buddy of mine got drawn for a hunt at Trinity River NWR. Sounds great, except my buddy is half cripple with a bad back and can't carry or haul heavy loads. I could go help him but I only have limited time available.

Has anyone hunted this area? What can you tell me about it? I'm guessing it's pretty swampy.......Is there a way to park and hunt within walking distance of a parking spot? So that I could skid a deer out with a rope and a skid? I have a four wheeler that I'd have to go get, trailer up, haul out to the NWR, etc.......time I'd rather not spend.

Overall, what is this place like and how's the hunting?

The hunting is great when it’s not flooded. When TPWD took it over they raised the permit price to $130. Originally it was $30. So, if you pay the $130, then show up to hunt, it may be flooded. And, that normally ends the entire season. I have only ever hunted Boar’s Den. There is a road that provides disabled hunting. But again, it all hinges on the flood level. You need to watch the flood stage online to determine if it’s worth the trip & preparation.

Boar’s Den, the unit off 105 @ 146, was once a family lease for a very close friend who still hunts there as he owns a parcel of it. Squirrels, Deer, Hogs & waterfowl abound. I have hunted with him several times there. But, once the paper company kicked everybody off in 2005, I think, and turned it over to the Fed’s, my remaining interest was Squirrel’s. At $130 permit price & a 70/30 % chance it will be flooded, I gave up.

It was good while it lasted. Did his pass say which unit? I think there are a total of seven units…..I think.

It's NOWHERE near flooded as of right now. I live just a few miles from the unit Reloder Is talking about. Most of these units are a ton of walking. I know used to you couldn't drive a motor vehicle or any type out there, maybe that's changed I don't know.

The unit he got was Page unit. All the units say no ATVs, but Page and Hirsch unit supposedly allow handicap folks to bring an ATV. We'll have to see.

From the map, it looks like all bottomland, which means right now it'll be dry and accessible, but come a good rain it'll be underwater.

So we'll see. My friend is the one with the permit, so my job is to drag stuff out of the woods. Maybe there's enough of a clearing where he can shoot something. If nothing else, a day in the woods is a good day.

The deer hunting is really really tough. The hogs have run off the deer. If he has his heart set on a deer he is going to be very disappointed. Yes you can hang out within a mile of the parking lot and still find "hogs". But if he is truly after deer his best bet is really out of reach being the very southern end of the property closer to the private land boundaries. 3 mile hike in basically. No ATV's allowed and no baiting but if handicapped is allowed an ATV then there is a chance to get back there somehow. There are lots of trails thru there.. If you can make him understand that this a hog hunt not a deer hunt he wont be disappointed too much.

good luck

I went squirrel hunting at Page today for my upland drawn hunt, perfect place to put my new CZ Drake through its paces. Full choke 20 gauge was the perfect medicine for them today with the trees still fully leaved. Undergrowth is fairly thick in most places since it hasn't flooded in a long time. There are some areas where there would be better shooting lanes. Saw a lot of hog sign. Didn't see much deer sign but I'm sure they're around given how many squirrels there are. It is very dry, even the sinks and cypress sloughs where it should be wet or moist at least year round were dry. You could probably cross the Trinity there and not even get your speedo wet. Like Bigfoot said I'd focus on hog and if a deer comes along that's great. I'll be gunning for hog at McGuire later this year myself.

I hunted the Page unit years ago. Lots of hogs in there! But I did kill several deer out of there. Including a dandy 8pt. I had mounted. But yes, walking is part of it there. I was walking way back in there to get away for other people. I have a deer cart to haul my climbing stand in and the game out.

If we went out there this week to walk around and look, will they let us in, or do they have it closed off for squirrel?

I believe right now it's closed to everyone but people permitted for the particular hunt. I know they have a scouting period before the deer hunt, and it's open to the general public for birdwatching and whatnot when no seasons are on.

When I was there today I heard a hog squealing not too far off at about 9am, saw fresh droppings and wallows, even some droppings on the main road. They're pretty bold and unafraid compared to the hogs I'm used to, I guess they only get hunted a week a year plus whatever USFS and rogue hog doggers do. I did spot a doe as well.