Found out today that my son drew the youth gun deer either sex hunt there. Has anybody hunted there? Just curious what to expect as far as deer numbers and quality. I don't want him to shoot a basket rack if there are better ones there. If big bucks are scarce there I will let him shoot any buck that gives him a shot. Thanks for any info in advance!

I've camped there a lot and usually see tons of does and some young bucks. I don't recall seeing any mature bucks in the camping areas. Perhaps more remote areas of the park will have some mature bucks.

Never hunted there but the striper fishing was good before the drought when I went.

Took my grandson hunting there about 15 years ago. Lots of deer, but as you might expect, mostly small. They are not concerned with managing for antler size. They are concerned with the removal of mouths. Any mouth you remove (large or small, male or female) is one less to compete for a scarce food supply. They will encourage you to not pass up a doe. So, my advice to you is that if your son is lucky enough to see a buck while hunting (no matter how small) take it, because I will almost guarantee you that if that buck makes its way to the kid hunting next to you, he/she will take it. At that time, we hunted in blinds made of concrete reinforcing wire formed in a circle and covered with camo mesh. By the way, my grandson got a small 9-pointer.

We are just down the road a bit. I'd say that area, if you see a 120-130 inch buck on a drawn hunt, you need to pull the trigger. Good luck.

Thanks to all for the information. I figured the deer would be pretty plentiful and the bucks would be small. I did not want him to hunt a 140 if the largest deer there was a 120.

A 140 is not out of the question, but I wouldn't be expecting it on public land. When are you hunting? Rut is mid November.

I hunt not to far from there too. Good area and some good deer, you never know what you'll see out there. I got a nice mid 130's 11 point last year and had not seen anything close to that the previous year. This should be a good year for the 4.5 year old deer that have made it this far. It was a good year for fawns back then. Last year I saw rut start on our place in late October, just depends on the weather.

Our hunt is December 27-30th.

They assign blinds so it depends on your location.

Can't comment on the hunting at Inks SP ...but we spent a couple days in Burnet & Llano Counties in June of this year looking for real estate.
1.FYI Inks is a constant level lake that draws water from Buchanan...and Buch was over 10' low in June and I am hearing that it is at about 25% of capacity right now.
2. We stayed super cheap in Burnet across the street from the Mickey D's on Hwy 281 and a block or so north of Hwy 29....just down the street from the Chamber of Commerce building. It was not fancy but quiet, clean, decent and about $45-$50 for 2 double beds with 2 people...and prolly 30-45 minutes from Inks SP
3. Where to eat...ya gotta go for breakfast in Marble Falls at the Bluebonnet Cafe... they don't take credit cards but you WILL NOT walk away hungry. Our best meal was at The Maxican on Hwy 281 just as you come into Burnet from the south in a big old cotton gin looking building on the east side of the street...you WILL NOT go away hungry and neither place will hurt your wallet. We tried to get into Cooper's but the line midweek in June was 40-50 folks long and should have gone down the street a block or two west to the big BBQ place up high overlooking the highway that Cooper's is on. The worst place we ate was at the Hungry Hunter in Llano same side of the street as Cooper's, on their lunch menu and they've had my last bidnizz ever.
I used to travel for a living and my Rule about eating in strange towns is A. look for the crowded parking lots and B. pay attention where the locals recommend.

I would have loved to be able to afford to live in Burnet County, but my other priorities do not allow for it either and some time sooner than later we hope to move from Lake Texoma to Zip Code 76513 just east of the Fort where the water is 125' deep in front of the dam at normal lake levels, and I will only be 15 miles +/- from the hospital complex's in Temple. Oh Well.
Ron

Thanks for the info!

Beautiful place with all the granite outcroppings.I've never hunted there but have camped at Inks and had deer come into camp eat anything we threw at them including small pieces of crappie fillets,I guess the cornmeal got their attention.I know-a waste of crappie filets,they didn't get many.

Grew up and lived in burnet county, don't expect 140's at all. Get a storm's burger while your around, thank me later.

I'll second a Storm's Burger.

If the boy gets a shot at a mature buck, regardless of score, take it.

He asked me last night what he would be allowed to shoot. I told him one buck and one doe or two does. He said "how big does the buck have to be". I told him that I would let him shoot any buck that he wanted to use his tag on. He says he will hold out for a "big" one but I have heard that before. I have a feeling the first rack buck that gives him a shot will be in great danger...lol.

Will get a Storms burger for sure! Thanks

I live 10 miles south of Inks. You should bag a deer this yr. The acorns are already dropping. They are half the size of last yr but seem to be the same in numbers. I think they started dropping the last weekend in september or early oct. last year. the stress has dropped them early I suppose.