Chaparral WMA YDA drawing

[Cypress Hunter]

After 5 years of putting in for youth and adult drawings; my two sons have been selected for the YDA (Spike/Doe) at the Chaparral WMA Nov. 28-30. Can anyone tell me what to expect on one of these hunts? And has anyone ever been there? Looking at the information provided we’ll be tent camping. I can’t picture a better way to spend a long weekend then hunting and camping with my two sons.

In the information provided there are stands throughout the hunt areas. I have two popup blinds; should I take those or will we be regulated to using their stands.

Any information from anyone that has been there before would be greatly appreciated.

[BowSlayer]

I would not use the provided stands. They are half boxes with no top and the deer know where they are. I would take the pop ups and brush them in. You will be assigned a compartment and you can set up wherever you want to within your area. On the youth hunts the biologists usually pre bait some spots near the existing stands but like I said I wouldn't use them. It will be fun and you should see some deer and javis. Good luck! Oh, the camping area is very nice too.

[79F250]

I've hunted 3-4 times in a row when I was youth and been every year since with my cousins. Great place lots of game. Last year was slow with all the rain made it where deer weren't coming to corn as much but the 90 degree weather didn't help either.
You'll be assigned a compartment. Each compartment has a couple tower blinds and tripods. The tower blinds are big enough for two people and could fit 3 but it would be a tight fit. You are free to set up your own blind if you wish. We never have and have killed something every time we've been. Except twice but we still saw something. They don't have seats in the stands so bring your own or you can grab a swivel seat bucket but those are in limited numbers so everyone won't be able to get one. You follow them out the first day so they show you how to get to your compartment and after that you can come and go as you please. They have a walk in cooler to hang game in and they have and cleaning station as well as an ice machine. The chaparral is one of my favorite places to hunt.
Good luck and have fun

[glen]

Ill be there as well with my 2 kids. We have been several times. Bring corn- ground blinds- comfortable chairs

They have blinds but sometimes not where you want to sit. Hit me up before the hunt and Ill help you any way I can. Nice campground. Nice facilities. Shower and restroom- cleaning station.
If your kids bow hunt there are usually lots of Javi around.

[meathunter]

We have been the last four years and have sat in their stands and have never been skunked. Talk to the biologist and they will tell you where they have seen deer movement and if and where they have been feeding for youth hunts. It is a great time and you might see some really nice bucks. We got drawn again this year but ours is opening weekend of rifle season.

[BowSlayer]

To be clear, I was not skunked sitting in their stands either. I did see several deer come to the edge of the brush and look at the stand to see if anyone was in it and leave though.

[ForEverlast]

congrats! I have hunted there a couple of times once with my dad with crossbow and saw a few good uns but he ended up shooting a doe the last day. Depending on pastures it can be really good typically you draw for pasture or pick of pasture so study the area we hunted Guajalote pasture and it was really good and those around it are good as well. Water if you can find it is usually a good place to set up around it and sometimes on youth hunts they allow baiting so take advantage if they do,

Good luck

[grizzman]

We will be down there also. I have hunted javelina there a couple of times and my son went on the javelina youth hunt earlier this year. I love the Chap. Camp ground is pretty nice and fenced in. Never had any problems there.

[rmartinjr4]

My Brother and I will also be there with our two boys. Heard a lot of great stuff. Only thing I was told was to set up camp as far away as possible from highway. Oil tankers all night. Ought to be a great hunt for the boys. Maybe we can all get together after hunts to share stories in the evenings.

[Cypress Hunter]

For those who have been before. Do you require four wheel drive?

Also would like to meet with the others attending the hunt. The boys are really excited.

[BowSlayer]

For those who have been before. Do you require four wheel drive?

Also would like to meet with the others attending the hunt. The boys are really excited.

No. Good roads everywhere I went.

[79F250]

For those who have been before. Do you require four wheel drive?

Also would like to meet with the others attending the hunt. The boys are really excited.

We have never needed 4x4. I've seen people out there in little cars. Only time you might need it is if it rains really hard right before or durin hunt.
Last year they had a lot of rain a couple months before the hunt and some of the senderos were washed out but they blocked those areas off

[grizzman]

Never needed a 4 wheel drive at the Chap even after a day and a half of rain. Weather can change real fast there so be prepared. I've been there when it was in the mid 20s and around 90.

[Cypress Hunter]

the first youth hunt at the Chap was this past weekend; anyone have any results?

[Cypress Hunter]

Good news and bad news. We are a few days from leaving on the hunt. Leaving my older son in Cypress. Cy Fair won their second playoff game Friday night. He'll be running hard against Dickenson Saturday at Rice. If we're lucky my younger son shoots Friday and we're back in Houston for kickoff.