I've read a lot about how many big deer have been seen in this area. On another forum the comment was made that there was a reason it was forbidden but the guy didn't want to post it online.

Obviously it's the spillway for the dam. But other than that is there a big secret that anyone knows of? My curiosity got the best of me when I read that.

Feel free to PM me.

well my understanding is the land is owned by the corp of engineers and yes the land floods very quickly i was hunting on richland creek the day the spillway let open without any warning and some guy was trapped down there we watched the game wardens on air boats rescue him, why he was down there no clue i was like 12 at the time and i was told its a deer santuary or something, but the main reason is because when the gates open it gets pretty rough down there if anyone is caught off guard by the river, there is a viewing area right past the dam that over looks that field and we have seen monsters a few times

We go into the Richland Creek WMA quite often, and there are some monster deer that stay in there! There are two units and the north unit is opened for hunting. It has some huge hogs in there, and a fairly good herd of deer. To the south unit, the camp ground is an area where we had a herd of deer came running thru one morning, with a massive 12pt. buck in the herd! The area behind the ranger station is very thick and has paved roads that you can maneuver around, but the dirt roads are extremely slick and soft during and after any rain! Usually, the southern unit of the WMA is kept close during deer season.

And just a FYI, there have been several reports of a very large, black/brown hairy man seen in that WMA and that once shook a family's camper trailer!

And just a FYI, there have been several reports of a very large, black/brown hairy man seen in that WMA and that once shook a family's camper trailer![/quote]

Not sure what to think about this. I'll be sure and bring a good flashlight when I go.

Interesting....I've driven by this for years and wondered what the "forbidden Zone" was all about. Tonight while waiting to meet up with my kids in the area I saw a few deer and luckily had my binocs with me. Boy there must have been as many as sixty deer out there. I saw four really nice bucks. One had a pretty big mangled rack. Then one of the others was simply a stud, big big body a with a rack to match. He was at least a ten and perhaps more. I never realized there were do many deer in this area and especially this many big bucks

I've seen the biggest bucks of my life driving through there. Hundreds of hogs and does. I heard it got closed off because a man was down there fishing and got robbed. That they took his life over 7$. I used to love going to fairfield to catch blues and reds. Before the fish kill. Idk if the story about that guy is true though. Them saying it floods quick could be a reason but theres plenty of places you can go that floods faster and isn't forbiddin, so idk.

The trading post there in town said their deer lease is right beside the forbidden zone....His wife shot a trophy buck last year.

Lived in Teague just south of RC all my life. I can remember that area even before the lake was impounded. Always been some really big deer along the Trinity in that area. A few really big deer are harvested near there every year. Leased a place just SW of the TPWD WMA 10-12 years ago, and saw the biggest buck I've ever seen on the hoof. Just never got a shot. A 196" deer was shot right over there last season.

As for the Forbiddeen Zone, it's simply a dangerous flood zone. If you've ever seen that area when a bunch of gates are open, you'd understand. It's not uncommon for hwy 287 to be closed back there either.

I want to know about this camper shaker, is that a joke or for real?

worst thing that ever happned was the lake being put in.....

I didnt know you couldnt hunt there. I'v hunted there several times. got some big bucks in there

I remember reading that too. Always wondered what the "secret" was. I don't think it has to do with the flood gates. The only time the "Forbidden Zone" floods is if they have the gates open and the Trinity River is out at the same time. Some of the best tail race fishing in Texas used to be on the metal piers behind the dam. Tarrant county Water District shut that down after a few years too.I used to have a lease that bordered a portion of that area and the guys that worked for Tarrant County Water District would come on to our lease and poach! All those thousand of acres they have and they would cross our fences. No sir, I'm not a big fan of Tarrrant County water district!

I'm Curios, does this WMA get very crowded?

I use it a few times for pig hunting. Have a doe/spike hunt there at the end of the month

Is it ever so congested that other hunter are walking around near you while youre hunting... thats my only fear of public land

I bet there are some monster hybrid fish behind that dam. We drive by that spot all the time going to Port Authur TX. I ve seen a heard of hogs bunkered down next to the highway ,287. Thank goodness they never came up out on to the road!

I'll post the reason, I'm not scared. It's off limts because that's where the bigfoot population keeps their pet black panthers.

Now your being redculous. Black panthers cannot be tamed.

For deer, it is by draw only, which means you had to apply before the deadline and then draw a permit for certain dates for certain hunts (bow,rifle,etc.) Then, if you draw a hunt, you are given a certain area to hunt and only you and/or those in your group can hunt.
As far as other hunts, like duck, just need to be first in line at the gate when they open it to get to the best spot. Not sure how they do the hog season.

I was drawn for archery there the first time i applied and got the unit along the river joining the forbidden zone way back and they let my group bring 4-wheelers for riding from the last parking spot to our area. Did'nt kill but someone killed a 145 inch 10pt, only buck killed on that hunt. A young dumb poacher took a 226 inch non-typical off the forbidden zone a few yrs back and cut head off and took to taxidermy shop i Fairfied.

I interviewed for a job with the TRA about 15 years ago and the job was to develop a system of plants that could filter out water. The work was being done in the Forbidden Zone. They can't be doing research and have a bunch of yahoos hunting in the middle of their research. Also the TRA employees are allowed to hunt the Forbidden Zone. It is one of the benefits of being an employee.