My brother and I got drawn for GDA at Fairfield Lake State Park. Anyone ever hunted there? Hope to get a couple of does and/or a hog. Are there many hogs in the area?

There used to be lots of them a few years back.

I know there is plenty of deer and hogs back in those woods.

After 30 yrs of putting in for drawn hunts, I finally got drawn last year at Big Lake Bottom.I met three hunter that couldn't believe that it took me that long to get picked when everyone else gets picked evey year or every other year. To make a long story short, I got picked again this year to go to Fairfield Lake,G.D.A. These Guyes where the best of hunters/new friends that I could have met on a drawn hunt.The main hunting conversation was about me winning the Texas drawn hunts for 2013.I love to listen more than talk so i went on the advise they gave me.I was told that everyone under estimates Fairfield because its east texas and everyone prefers West Texas or such and not many people apply. I also was told that there was plenty of deer and every time they went,it was a successful hunt.I have faith in these guys cause they brought me this far to be hunting this year with all of you. Wish you lots of luck and I'll be seeing ya at the cleaning station.

Last year GDA hunt (3 hunt periods) at Fairfield yielded 20 deer (2 spikes and 18 antlerless) and 2 feral hogs with 68 hunters where 21 of those were standby positions.

Thanks for the info kyotee 1!

Kimblesouth,
What dates did you get drawn? We got drawn for January 1-3.

Don't think it would be any different now but when we went fishing there in the winter months (usually Nov-Feb), we would always see a lot of deer while driving thru the park. They really liked to hang out around the check-in station, lol. But, we would see them while driving thru to the boat ramps too. Also saw quite a few hogs and deer while actually fishing on the south side of the lake. The north side (near the power plant) also seemed to have a lot of deer. Can't say I ever saw any monster bucks but aquite a few 6-8 pters, plenty of doe.

NDN98, I was drawn on for the first hunt which is 12/02 to 12/04.I'll be able to scout the area and then report back the kill ratio. Either way i feel that this will be a good hunt.I'm kinda courious what kind of assinded blinds they have.In 2011 my daughter was drawn on a youth hunt at Lake Somerville-Nails Creek Unit.They're assigned blinds are made up of three 4x4 wood pallets tied together with wire and held up with rebar, and you sat on a five gallon bucket.At first it was like" OH boy, this is gonna be a challenge to keep my 9 yr old still enough get her first buck, not alone me sticking up three feet in open air." But i was proved wrong. We saw so much deer,that i probably could have done a dance and it wouldn't have bothered the deer movement.

kimblesouth,
It has been my experience on other public hunts that they just give you a 5 gallon bucket to sit on and blinds made of plywood or pallets. I would recommend taking your own chair and you might consider taking a pop-up blind in case it is raining.

Good luck and let me know how your hunt goes.

Fairfield Lake guys do their homework on the deer and their blinds. you WILL need your own chair, but the blind is very well brushed in but in the elements as stated above. I cannot say enough about how professional the guys up there are though. they do everything in their power to get everyone a "fair shake" at the deer. Was very impressed 2 years ago when I drew.

Thanks for the info Ndn98 and 1FowlHntR on the blinds. I have two pop-ups but leaning towards tree climbers. Seriously thinking about heading down next weekend to get the feel of the place,if at least to see the camp sites. Got blessed by having my name drawn one more time (Yessss).Drawn for Gus Engeling,GDM. IM very excited cause the way my luck has been,Ill probably be pushing tulips before my name gets drawn again. One for the road, my daughter was drawn in 2010 at Madd Island on a feral hog hunt and their assigned blinds/stands were the bomb, like Academies.I assumed all assigned blind drawn hunts were similar. Im finding out now how wrong I was.

I think they limit you to their blinds OR pop-ups.....might wanna call and ask before you take all that stuff with you!! I know for a FACT they will let you use your own pop up instead of their blinds, just not sure of climbers. wished I could remember the one I was in, i would steer you away from it....no deer sign whatsoever!! the hogs were tearing my corn up at night though. OH YEAH, take corn with you they highly recommend feeding the stands and you can have the stand you draw the entirety of the hunt if you wish. as hunters tag out or leave, they give you the option to move to new stands too.

Anyone got a report on the first hunt held in December?