gus engling hunts this year

[dsb6446]

anyone on here did any public draws on gus engling this year and if so how was hunting? me and my son go out on nov 22 and 23 for youth draw

[bossbowman]

Do a search for the place, lots of threads here. From the reports I got sounded like the archery hunt was brutal this year, don't know about the gun hunts this year so far, generally though its a tough hunt, lots of hunter traffic through the year, deer density is not that great and very educated deer.

[BTLowry]

Dad is down there now

Said there have been at least 7 good deer killed on the gun hunt that is going this week.

Will have my daughter down for the youth hunt on the 22 and 23 also

Think one of the gun bucks was killed by a TBH member too

[dsb6446]

Be down there with ya. If it is like everywhere else tha bucks will be ruttin

[BTLowry]

Didn't get to talk to dad on the phone he just sent a text.

They started Monday at lunch and hunt through tomorrow at lunch. Pretty sure there is something going on now as far as rut goes

[dsb6446]

youth hunt is only 2 days

[BTLowry]

Latest count is 24 deer, 5 does

One buck aged at 8 by biologist

Think the youth hunt is actually only day and a half by the time you go through orientation

[jcd49]

Just got back from a Gus Engling GDE hunt. Interesting start to the hunt, the entire south section was closed due to a "scheduling error", whatever that means. On the plus side I had never hunted the north section and there were only 10 - 12 hunters, period. Two of us got 2 compartments that totaled somewhere around 900 acres and to say the least it was extremely difficult hunting. The last report was only 2 deer had been killed, a doe and a button head. If you have the idea that you have this deer "hunting" thing figured out, Gus Engling will humble you. We had a great time, saw a few deer but getting a shot was tough. I personally did not see a single buck but I still enjoyed the "hunt" and would like to give the north side another opportunity.

[bossbowman]

Less than half of the permitted hunters showed up!?, I've heard the hunting was tougher than usual there this year, but yikes that sure isn't good to hear...

[jcd49]

I think most of the permitted hunters showed up, it was more that due to a scheduling error that only a limited number of hunters were invited. I know that for me the hunting was pretty tough and humbling. I previously thought I was a pretty fair hunter but somewhere along the line I must have been misguided. I don't measure success by the kill but rather finding the proper areas and seeing deer and then if I'm lucky I'll harvest one. I still had an adventure and would go back today even knowing how tough the hunting was.

[BTLowry]

GE can be tough

jcd49 how long have you lived in the HAWL/Lindale area?
Or is there another Hideaway in Texas?

Nice buck in your avatar

[goose48]

Brian, JCD has lived there a long time and I am from Lindale, too. We both used to hunt with your dad and uncle.

[jcd49]

Brian, I have lived in HAWL / Lindale for the past 20 years and before that I lived in Tyler for over 20 years. I hunted with your dad and your uncle Tom in Athens, Tx for what now seems like a very long time ago. I used to see your dad a lot when I worked for SW Bell and was located in their downtown office. As a matter of fact Tom worked for that auto paint store that was right across the street and I used to see him regularly as well. I enjoyed the G E hunt a lot even as tough as it was. One doesn't get the opportunity to sit on a feeder barrel, you have to make your own luck. I killed the buck in my avatar at my cousin's ranch, with a gun, in Throckmorton, Tx in 2012. The buck scored 151 1/8 and my best ever. I don't get to hunt my cousin's place anymore so more than likely I won't ever kill one any bigger, but I plan to keep trying, just the same.

[bossbowman]

I think most of the permitted hunters showed up, it was more that due to a scheduling error that only a limited number of hunters were invited. I know that for me the hunting was pretty tough and humbling. I previously thought I was a pretty fair hunter but somewhere along the line I must have been misguided. I don't measure success by the kill but rather finding the proper areas and seeing deer and then if I'm lucky I'll harvest one. I still had an adventure and would go back today even knowing how tough the hunting was.

You know if they re-scheduled their hunt or give back the preference points?

[jcd49]

I don't think it was a case of being drawn and not being able to hunt, but rather there was just a very limited number of permits drawn for this hunt.