Registered: Apr 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 226

A few friends and I are planning a first time trip to the White River Refuge to hunt the south unit in December. Was looking for some advice on when to avoid the crowds or areas to avoid, ect. Appreciate any help, thanks!

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Registered: Jul 2017
Location: Central ky
Posts: 10

I have been looking into it myself and looking for information on it looks like a good time!

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Registered: Feb 2006
Location: Prosperity,S.C.
Posts: 1130

Friend and I are thinking of going. Would like imfo on someone that's been allso

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Registered: Jun 2012
Location: McRae Ar
Posts: 3701

I look forward to it every year. Its a place that takes a long time to learn, you need to do a lot of scouting through the day. If you find a spot you like get there before dark to claim it. I think the coon population has been hurt by flooding the last several springs when they are having kittens. It did it this year again, The water just got out of there. Spend some time before you go looking at satellite imaging of where the lakes and creeks are and the best places to get around. Expect to run into other people and dogs, if a dog comes to you just leave it, the owner is somewhere around there. Lots of things to learn about it but I love it.

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Registered: Jan 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 745

Mike is right on. Been there the last five years. Between the logging on the refuge and the water just not the coons people tell me there used to be. However for a fella from central Texas it is lots of fun. Not too easy to just go there and start hunting. I started there with a fella been hunting it for 30 years and still learning my way around. Good luck.

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Picosa Creek Kennel / Brad Cotton
830-391-0337

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Registered: May 2017
Location: West Plains Mo
Posts: 471

Last year was my first time but went with buddy that's been several years. The walking is easy lots slew and creek that's hard cross even with hip waders. Several hunters but not impossible to get away but you stay long you will have dogs come in on you. Not as many coon as I was told or expecting. The flooding in spring had hurt kitten population but the water had also hurt the acorn crop. The coon I treed was small and thin.

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Registered: Dec 2016
Location: Ky
Posts: 75

Is this event?

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Daniel Donahue 502-349-2800

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Registered: Jun 2012
Location: McRae Ar
Posts: 3701

I don't think the logging has hurt the coon population. If anything it will help it with more of a berry crop. What hurt them is the flooding in the spring after the kittens were born. I'm not talking a little water in the woods. It was 12 to 15 feet in the timber. Another problem is it used to flood and we couldn't hunt it every couple of years in the fall. For a long time it didn't do that and the coon were over harvested.

The roads are limited so the hunters are concentrated to certain areas. Its 160,756 acres, 251 square miles and only about 25% or less gets hunted. If you really want to get to where they are, get a boat that can go on white river.

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Registered: Dec 2016
Location: Ark/Miss
Posts: 524

Primitive camping on the refuge, but cabins and electricity are available on the boarders. Atvs & side×sides are allowed and you'll differently want one & make sure you have a winch or come along. Very little cell phone service if any. Its good hunting but the population isn't near what it used to be and overcrowding is an issue at times.

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Registered: Dec 2016
Location: Ark/Miss
Posts: 524

Best advice I can give-
1. If you're dog will me to or run any junk make sure it has a shocking collar cause at any given time you'll hear 1-12 dogs treed in different directions and deer, bear, & bobcat are plentiful.
2. If planning a short trip you'll wanna hunt/camp Tue-Thur.
3. Never enter without a GPS or compass and map it's very easy to get lost..

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Chattanooga, Tn
Posts: 22462

And make sure your dog is also broke off armidillos. If your dog isn't straight, you can be in for an awful lot of walking. If there hasn't been a lot of rain then the walking is easy. If there has then it can be pretty bad. And if your dogs get after a bear then you are in for a long night. There didn't use to be many bear but now there are quite a few.
If you are from an area with thin coons and have a straight dog that doesn't go to other dogs and don't mind crowds then it can be fun. But if you are from flat land and thick coons, then you might as well stay home.

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Registered: Jan 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 745

Nobody mentioned hogs. First time I went I kept smelling them and seeing sign. Fella with me from up there said they didn't have hogs on the refuge. Later that night saw a pack of em😄. Think they are getting pretty populated now.

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Picosa Creek Kennel / Brad Cotton
830-391-0337

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Registered: Jun 2012
Location: McRae Ar
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quote:

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Originally posted by BCotton
Nobody mentioned hogs. First time I went I kept smelling them and seeing sign. Fella with me from up there said they didn't have hogs on the refuge. Later that night saw a pack of em😄. Think they are getting pretty populated now.

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Registered: Jan 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 745

South unit. Saw a pack of 20+ 5 years ago. Been seeing and smelling them every year. Have a hog trap by one of the spots we go in to. This was right off the levy. Have even seen them on the levy.

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Picosa Creek Kennel / Brad Cotton
830-391-0337

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Registered: Jul 2017
Location: Central ky
Posts: 10

Any of you guys ever run into any cottonmouths??

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Registered: Jun 2012
Location: McRae Ar
Posts: 3701

quote:

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Originally posted by BCotton
South unit. Saw a pack of 20+ 5 years ago. Been seeing and smelling them every year. Have a hog trap by one of the spots we go in to. This was right off the levy. Have even seen them on the levy.

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Registered: Jun 2012
Location: McRae Ar
Posts: 3701

quote:

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Originally posted by Ky split tree
Any of you guys ever run into any cottonmouths??

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Michael Rosamond
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Registered: May 2008
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 3145

The last two years that I have been there I have had 1 dog come into a tree. We hunt the smokehouse hill area. Hunt same spots every night. Just pull up along the road turn loose tree a coon and repeat till daylight.

I tell everyone that place is Gods gift to a coonhunter

It's a must go to place.

Some may have had problems in past I may have some this year but don't get bent out of shape worrying about anything.

Go down there, tree Coons, fellowship around campground during day with other hunters.

I can't wait till December

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Get a Good One

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Registered: Dec 2016
Location: Ark/Miss
Posts: 524

With below average coon population the last few years and the kittens decimated by flooding this year along with a Friday night opener I expect a full blown Circus😀 It'll be entertaining for sure.

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Registered: Jan 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 745

Gotta love the fellas driving round cutting in behind you or the ones come up on you on the trails, go 300 yards ahead and cut loose. Thankfully it hasn't happened too awful much but it does happen. Still have a good time.

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Picosa Creek Kennel / Brad Cotton
830-391-0337

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Registered: Jun 2012
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quote:

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Originally posted by BCotton
Gotta love the fellas driving round cutting in behind you or the ones come up on you on the trails, go 300 yards ahead and cut loose. Thankfully it hasn't happened too awful much but it does happen. Still have a good time.

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Michael Rosamond
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Registered: Jul 2017
Location: Central ky
Posts: 10

It sounds like for the first time it would be good to find somebody to go with that has been before to learn the ends and outs

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Registered: Jun 2012
Location: McRae Ar
Posts: 3701

quote:

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Originally posted by Ky split tree
It sounds like for the first time it would be good to find somebody to go with that has been before to learn the ends and outs

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Michael Rosamond
Sunspot Lights
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Home Of:
PKC Ch, Grch Grnch 2008 Tx state champion They call me Crazy Betty

PKC SCh CH Grnch They call me Howler too

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Registered: Jun 2012
Location: McRae Ar
Posts: 3701

quote:

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Originally posted by marpal
Anyone know why they outlawed, riding mules on the refuge?

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Michael Rosamond
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Home Of:
PKC Ch, Grch Grnch 2008 Tx state champion They call me Crazy Betty

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Registered: Dec 2016
Location: Ark/Miss
Posts: 524

I found a mule in 95 or 96 while looking for a dog one morning. Tied it up to a tree in the trail and it was gone a few hours later. Don't know if it came untied or there was a rodeo in the woods..

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