Considering hunting the Anahuac national wildlife refuge.. I have never hunted public land before, has anyone hunted this land?or have any advice for me?

I had a friend that went there first split and said it was dry

Get ready to walk a loooong way and deal with skybusters.

Never hunted it but work with an older guy who hunts it regularly. He always tells me how far they have to boat in and pull a canoe over a levee and paddle even further to shoot only a couple birds. Hasn't been a good report from him lately around that area.

We refer to it as the 'death march'. One of toughest physical activities i have ever partaken in to kill ducks. But i will go where i need to to kill ducks...

Amen. I did the "death march" in November when it was 70 degrees and it was absolutely miserable. We managed to kill a few ducks so it ended up being a good day. Just make sure to pack light.

Sounds rough... how about the McFadden national wildlife refuge nearby? any hunting there?

PM me jay K

We have always called it "Cardiac." (the big lake by the fence line) Not as bad walking in from the Intercoastal vs. the Refuge. There are MANY numerous ponds out there to hunt. It is one of those areas where scouting is a must or you can get in some deep _ _ _ _ quick!
I've hunted it over 20 yrs.,(and have many stories of success and scary situations) and some of my hunting buddies have done it longer.

This time of yr. the weather makes the mosquitoes and walk through the marsh bearable. The low tides are at the lowest during the Jan. hunting month and throughout the TX coast. Northwinds don't help this situation. Tug boats/Barges on the Intercoastal have to wedge their load against the banks and wait out the low tide during this time of yr. near Anahuac.

If you go back in there and decoys start laying on their sides while hunting the tidal ponds, too late...then you better have some beef jerky and extra drinks to wait for the tide change. I have a Tunnel boat w/Jackplate, pods, and etc., and I don't dare get off plane coming out of Onion Bayou to the Intercoastal. I've had buddies get stuck back behind me in their boat and all we could do is wait/watch for them to walk towards us dragging and pushing their boat through the mud for a long time.

It is an awesome place to hunt for ducks (and geese) most times but it is hardcore hunting were a lot can go wrong. If you go, then remember to print off their permit from their online web page. Sign it, and keep it on you like your license.

...and please don't go by yourself.

Sounds like the Devil's Elbow area. Sounds easier than going just by or over the re-bar/pipes near the entrance, and going back and around in the skinny water. There are a 1000 areas better to hunt than there.(but it is probably the safest.)

Is that the old Barrows Ranch?

What Time of year do yall think best for duck in that area... I have a place in bolivar so I drive down there all the time going I10 to 562, whites ranch road and fown through winnie... I dont often see too much flying but when I do I see a TON

Hunted there several times and to the guy who called it a death march I agree a 100%. A week or so before Thanksgiving it was about 70-75 degrees when we were picking up our dekes. I have never been so miserable in my life. Treading through knee deep swamp mud trying to pick up the dekes. It's tough sledding but if you are up for it good luck. Plan on walking your boat it most of the way and like No Choke said DO NOT GO ALONE. Good luck!

I went to mcfaddin off the intercostal this past weekend and we had to pull the boat through 60 yards of waist deep mud then over the levee too see maybe 10 ducks but none even took a look at us ton of geese but all a mile high. the anahuac refuge uses the same boat launch and the most ducks killed over there were 3 out of the 5 groups we talked to. As far as getting into the anahuac refuge off the intercostal really isn't all that bad just watch your motor on the rollers and pay attention going through the boat ditches