I would like to hear from all of you that drew the Grapevine hunts this year then had it taken away due to some or one individual that didn't like his lack of draw or ??. Thought if one or two people could reverse the corps. work to improve the hunting experience (paid for by our tax dollars), all the research and population counts and such that has to start over. We could petition or just start busting the congress members and legislators chops we can get the next draw locked out.

After all once again a whiner or two screws the people who did it right, accepted the rules, even if they didn't like it (and I didn't and don't). I do appreciate why though, by the way they would have had TPWD enforcing the law but since its once again a free for all the WILL NOT be patroling it now on a regular basis. So the combat style gunfire, poachers, illegal blinds and feeders will continue.

Let me know if you agree or disagree and if you want to let your voice be heard, I will be continueing my research on who to contact. lets get together and help them get it right

So you are in favor of them only allowing 75 hunting permits a year?

The biggest issue I see is they based the permit number solely on the deer population. They completely left out consideration that many of the hunters were small game hunters. Most of the hunters drawn could have been from either category. I am certain they did not get the full 75 bowhunters that won that draw. Back when it was first come, first serve with a waterfowl permit limit of 200, the full 200 permits would be issued that morning when they opened. If you were not in line at least an hour before they opened, you risked not getting one. I would not be surprised if the majority that got permits this year were actually small game/dove/waterfowl hunters. There was a time too when grapevine was a draw for week long hunt periods. I always drew a couple weeks of hunting during those years. But it is a new manager and he is probably not familiar with their permit system from years ago and it has been the bowhunters that have been the most public with the problems. They tried to grease the squeaky wheel, did not take other hunting into consideration, and made it worse instead. I think you will see a permit system again next year. I have no guess as to the number of permits, but I predict the bowhunting and small game or waterfowl are separate draws when they do.

Go get you a permit, go enjoy hunting and report all the combat style gunfire, poachers, illegal blinds and feeders if you really want to be beneficial. I was one of the major people involved in the complaints. They also admitted they wish I had talked to them before they did the draw program and they could have avoided a lot of the problems. Truth was that I tried and a former employee brushed me off.

I personally thought back when in they asked for the hunters opinions on making it a draw at the end of the 07 season that it should stay open so everybody could get out and hunt and still do. After all its federal property and the feds are the only ones collecting income tax around here.

As far as the 75 permits goes according to the corps. of engineers reps. that count was going to be for the first year to see what the counts would look like. And that number is way to little, maybe 75 deer, 75 waterfowl, something like that. And all who drew could hunt second season (pigs spring turkey) and add a few to help clean out the little squellers. but I say leave it open. They Gtapevine draw was a open draw not restricted to prey type, with it being split 75 Sept. thru Feb. second season also 75 hunters March thru Aug. 31st. I personally never have seen more then 10 cars in any one area or ran into 10 hunters in a day.

And the last time I saw small game hunters out there they where hunting with what looked like a 410 with their baby on there back and where shooting at whatever (not game) and I had to yell at them when they leveled it in my direction.

As far as getting my permit I was on of the lucky ones that got both seasons in the draw. What I found interesting in my conversations with the corps. reps is that even though they issued several hundred permits last year, less then 200 put in for the draw, and of those several didn't complete their info.. Including not filling in there phone numbers and addresses, making it impossible to contact them if they did get drawn. And I doubt that the corps. listened to the hunters anyway because I'm sure most stated in their surveys they didn't want it turned into a draw.

Keep it coming my brother hunters, we need to figure it out and then put something together so we the hunters and tax payers get what we all need or a real good balance.

Please don't shot me I'll be out there hunting friday

Funny, I work out there almost daily and never hear that gunfire as described

No messing with my truck either...

Try Saturday and Sunday, west of 377 south of the bridge is where they seem to be consistant. Any one that messes with a mans ride, like his horse should be hung.

The biggest problems west of 377 and south of the bridge is normally the bordering land owners, really the kids that access through that property. That is where a lot of the shooting, dirt bikes, four wheelers and rifle hunters come from. I have seen a few target shooters around the power lines with the 22's out. Also some clay shooters on the east side down the old 377 road. Those dirt bags are generally lazy and will not walk far. You will have to call the county on those guys. Corp will not come and if they are not shooting game then game warden is out also.

Re-post: I will say this guys I don't hunt this place but do hunt other COE property, and you guy (hunters) need to organize pronto and have a round table discussion and work with the corp of engineers on developing a suitable permit system for both the hunters and the conservation of that place. Let them know the hunters want protect and make it a better safer place. Due to the human population density around that lake there probably does need to be a lottery system of some sorts but it should not be resticted to such a small number as it was this year. Good luck to yall in the future.

So anybody interssted in getting together and talking to the corp. or are we gonna let them do what they do and bend over and take it?

You all should really get together with COE and discuss these issues, the illegal acts exspecially!!

would like to be involved just PM me..if their is a get together.

Im in< just let me know when

This is one of the main reasons stratched up what I could and got on a lease for the past three years. I called the game wardens on numerous people, one was shooting a AR with a 90 round magazine in almost every directions. When branches started breaking near my blind, I had enough. Not to mention, you would see tons of people walking in on your spot an hour or two after daylight. One sat down on a lawn chair about 15 yards from until I yelled and he noticed I was there.

I received a survey in the mail for the C.O.E. property so they are trying to get something going.

So we got two so far interested in getting involved. Im going into the offices this week and see if i can get the contact info on the corp ringleader so we will have someone that can do something involved that way we arent talking to someone on the low end of the totem pole

Something needs to be worked out with the corps on this but the lottery for this year was ridiculous. 1st they have no clue what the deer pop. out there is. 2nd the illegal people need no permit. 3rd denton cty. game warden told me they don't enforce corps rules. 4th the corps wardens don't enforce anything. 5th 125 total permits for the size of grapevine is too low. Should i continue. IMO the way this is going the hunting @ Grapevine will soon be taken away completely because the COE just doesn't want the headache.

would like to know more

so how many thfers got drawn?

Put the message out on some other forums, texasbowhunter.com gets alot of traffic from grapevine guys. The effort is definitely worth organizing, there is some great deer hunting there. This buck ran off grapevine corp land and was hit by a car last week on hwy 114, and I'm sure alot fo the locals have heard of the big one that came out of there a few years back.

Mandrake - I will join you in the fight. I am a bowhunter who lives on the north side of the lake. Don't really duck hunt, but can hear all the racket in November from my house and see all the BS off of 377. IMO it could be fairly simple to clean this up, but we have to get the COE and local PD (who contract with the COE) to assist and not the TPWD. We have a HUGE deer density problem on the north side of the lake. As I posted in another thread, I have personally seen HERDS of deer in neighbors yards, including 10 and 12 point bucks. Problem is on the north side there is no public access except through the parks. Twin Coves is now shut down (due to drugs i hear) but could be re-opened for fall bowhunting very easily. My neighborhood, Red Bud Point, actually has land designated for a park but was never developed. Not that I would want public access there. But a serious bowhunter could access the entire north side through twin coves. there is no other access on this side of the lake so it could be controlled with relative ease. Limited draws, limited days, with enforcement at 2-3 access points. All other access prohibited during those days. Just like TPWD does for some state parks to control wildlife populations.

I am in on the fight boys!!! I live about 5 mins. from there, and have been out there a few times. I have a 12 year old that I like to take out there to hunt. Let me know and I will be anywhere, anytime.