Gus eangling wma draw hunt

[Old Scratch]

Was drawn for Gus this October. Never set foot in the place. Any input or anyone with any deer hunting experience out there? What do you all think. Tree stand, pop up , any info would be appreciated. Thanks

[Deerguy]

Outside of the rut, can be a frustrating place to hunt. Great habitat and good (low) deer density means harder hunting, especially for those that just like to stare at corn. For rifle hunting, you definitely want to get off the ground as the vegetation is tall. Not as important if bowhunting unless you want to be able to see deer out of range. Although they have done a great job of trapping in the past, it's a pig factory. If you do throw corn, you may never see a deer on it, but it will be gone each morning due to pigs. October is tricky; off the food pattern, but not really rutting yet. I'd get off the ground on a travel lane adjacent to a creek. Its a good area, with a good number of older deer, just hard to see many that time of year.

[Old Scratch]

Thanks deerguy! It’s a bow hunt draw but it seems like a tree stand may work better than a pop up. Either way I’ve got until the 26th to purchase. May wait and see if any of my pending 2nd draws come thru. Good luck to everyone this season.

[jshouse]

Thanks deerguy! It’s a bow hunt draw but it seems like a tree stand may work better than a pop up. Either way I’ve got until the 26th to purchase. May wait and see if any of my pending 2nd draws come thru. Good luck to everyone this season.

pretty sure the "pending 2nd draw" results wont come out until after they see who all bought their permits by the 26th.

[sqiggy]

I’ve hunted that place 3 times but that was years ago when my son drew those youth hunts. He’s now 28 but that’s where he killed his first 2 deer. We hunted from a pop up but bow hunting will require a climber or lock on. For October, I would look for the oaks that are dropping acorns and deer poop. If you get a compartment that has a clearing, then walk the edge till you find a spot that looks good. Those deer will come out of the thick stuff and walk those edges, especially in the evening. When we were there, we saw some real good bucks, but we were on a doe/spike only hunt. Best buck I saw was on the east side of catfish creek. Came out and walked along the edge of a 5 acre clearing we were hunting.
Just find the food source and you will find the deer.

[Old Scratch]

Pretty new to draw hunts. But that makes sense. Thanks for your input.

[Old Scratch]

Thanks squiggy!!

[7sdad]

I grew up near there and the rut is the last week of Oct give or take a few days. I would scout it and find some good white oak trees and hang a lock on stand.

[Sasqy]

Saw the biggest non typical buck I’ve ever seen there !
crossing the road, right by the camping area.
Deer had to have 20 points or more.

[tx_basser]

some good deer out there, but the biologist there will tell you are they hard to hunt because of the thick woods and stuff. They let you chose a compartment, and most people opt for the right of way or something like that, but the bigger deer are far back in the unit near Catfish creek.