Buffalo Ridge Refuge - UPDATE from the hunt

[Shooter77]

Has anyone ever been here? My son was selected by TWRA along with 30 other kids to do a youth hunt Oct 29th. I googled it but didn't really find a lot of info about the place. I found that they have youth and Women in Outdoor hunts there along with other activates on the 2000 acres.

 

[Weegee]

I went to a TWRA trapping class there in 2020. That should be a great place to hunt. It's got some pretty good topography. Mostly big timber. Aside from the veteran/women/youth hunts I don't think it's open for hunting. The TWRA folks who were working the event indicated that there are some studs out there…

 

[Shooter77]

I went to a TWRA trapping class there in 2020. That should be a great place to hunt. It's got some pretty good topography. Mostly big timber. Aside from the veteran/women/youth hunts I don't think it's open for hunting. The TWRA folks who were working the event indicated that there are some studs out there…

Thank you! I found a "Wanted" Poster from a few years back posted online and had some huge deer on it.

 

[BSK]

The property is primarily ridge-and-hollow hardwoods but has lots of food plots and managed brush habitat. And it's directly adjacent to the Buffalo River Bottoms, which produce some of the biggest bucks in the region. The bucks grow big eating agriculture in the bottoms and then move up into the hill country in fall.

 

[Shooter77]

The property is primarily ridge-and-hollow hardwoods but has lots of food plots and managed brush habitat. And it's directly adjacent to the Buffalo River Bottoms, which produce some of the biggest bucks in the region. The bucks grow big eating agriculture in the bottoms and then move up into the hill country in fall.

Thanks for the info. I've never hunted west of Catoosa, so it's all new areas to me. I was just happy he was picked to hunt. Be a fun 5hr drive down to hunt 1 day but with the potential for good deer, seems it would be worth it then.

 

[BSK]

Thanks for the info. I've never hunted west of Catoosa, so it's all new areas to me. I was just happy he was picked to hunt. Be a fun 5hr drive down to hunt 1 day but with the potential for good deer, seems it would be worth it then.

Property is 10 miles due south of my place. It is right where I-40 crosses the Buffalo River.

 

[Shooter77]

Property is 10 miles due south of my place. It is right where I-40 crosses the Buffalo River.

So if we don't kill a big one there, can we swing up on Sunday and shoot one of your studs?...j/k

 

[BSK]

So if we don't kill a big one there, can we swing up on Sunday and shoot one of you studs?...j/k

Ha!

 

[DeerCamp]

So if we don't kill a big one there, can we swing up on Sunday and shoot one of you studs?...j/k

Are you calling BSK a stud?!

 

[Shooter77]

Are you calling BSK a stud?!

No, he's more of a spud. Especially when it comes to burning up trucks and letting trains tear up your ATV.

 

[BSK]

No, he's more of a spud. Especially when it comes to burning up trucks and letting trains tear up your ATV.

And my waistline. Definitely a spud!

 

[double browtine]

I've been there twice for the trapper training class with my boys. I remember seeing stands and box blinds every where we rode around on atvs and wagons behind the tractor. Y'all should have a good chance at seeing some good ones there. There were lots worn out trails so the place must be loaded with deer.

 

[Turkeychaser]

I am excited for your son. I can't wait to see the updates!

 

[Dennis]

My son and I went to that event last year. Son shot his first deer there, 8 pt.

When we hunted I wasn't sure what to expect. They put us in a tower stand and we started seeing deer at first light. Yearling buck walked by and son wasn't sure whether to shoot or wait. Decided to wait and saw another 5 deer few minutes later including that 8 pt. 2.5 yr old. He decided to shoot that one

Most of the others didn't see anything. So in retrospect might not be smart to pass deer on that hunt.

 

[BSK]

Feisty Redhead has several times participated in the Becoming an Outdoors Woman muzzleloader hunt held there. She talks highly about the property and the hunt.

 

[xatxay]

My Ex also hunted it on the Woman's MZ hunt. She had a great time and brought home a 5 pointer.

 

[Shooter77]

My son and I went to that event last year. Son shot his first deer there, 8 pt.

When we hunted I wasn't sure what to expect. They put us in a tower stand and we started seeing deer at first light. Yearling buck walked by and son wasn't sure whether to shoot or wait. Decided to wait and saw another 5 deer few minutes later including that 8 pt. 2.5 yr old. He decided to shoot that one

Most of the others didn't see anything. So in retrospect might not be smart to pass deer on that hunt.

That's great info. I will have him shoot anything he can then. What is the accommodations like? Do they camp or have some place to sleep?

 

[bobbuck]

Pretty good video about the area and how it came to be a Refuge.

 

[BSK]

Very cool video!

I would love to run a season-long photo census on that property. Could be very interesting, especially herd dynamics-wise.

 

[Dennis]

That's great info. I will have him shoot anything he can then. What is the accommodations like? Do they camp or have some place to sleep?

They did have an area where camping was allowed if I recall correctly. But we stayed at a nearby hotel, think maybe it was a Best Western.