and Cedar Creek SOA hunts. How good of quality is the hunting in these SOA areas? Are the hunting areas easily accessible? I have hunted once in all the years I have deer hunted in the Black belt and it was in Furman area- North Wilcox county on Cedar Creek and it was a great hunt IMO but this was back in 1993. I don’t want to be expecting to much if I do ever get to hunt these SOA so I would like to hear from hunters that have hunted these areas before.

It's in a jam up area, have no idea about the hunt.

the Portland SOA is fairly easy to access, pretty good roads, easy to know where you r they have it marked well, as to the hunting itself.....we were drawn for bow in Nov last year and saw quite a few even killed a doe, i passed on 4 does myself wanting a buck. lodging can be an issue, there is nothing around there, i think i heard someone say the nearest gas was about 12 miles away. good luck, and yes i entered again for this year.

The Southern Inn in Camden is your best bet for lodging IF you reserve a room in time. At least that's the way it was when I hunted that area. There was more buck sign in those woods than I have ever seen anywhere.

I have a friend with a very nice camp in Portland landing and he provides lodging for a fair price. If interested pm me.

Roland Cooper State Park still has cabins for rent I guess? That would be the closest lodging. Better reserve one early and cancel if you don't get drawn. Someone that did get drawn will snatch up the cabin about 10 minutes after you cancel.

According to the website, they have six 2 bedroom cabins. Like I said, I'd call now and reserve one. You can change your mind later.

Anyone been to the Southern Inn lately? Been over 20 years since I have been and it was nice then but not sure now.

Hard to do that when there are 10 different dates you can get drawn for.

I hunted this property when it was a private club year before FW bought it. Over three days ( last three days to hunt in February that year), I saw 8 different bucks, all 8 point outside the ears, 4+ years old. I would have taken 2 of those deer on my own leases, but I was a guest and would not shoot because :
a) I had seen pics of the deer members were passing and those set the minimum
b) I had seen pics of bigger deer than I was seeing and was holding out for a chance at one of those bucks
.
ended up shooting a doe and big boar because I was asked to , but only in woods- no does and hogs on food plots.

Long explanation to say GO if you get a chance, and best deer are around the cut overs and pine plantations in the middle of the property, not along the river.

Nice lodge on site, walk in freezer and big pole barn for 4 wheelers/ UTV's.
just my.02

I hunted it several times when it was owned by Hammermill Paper Co. and made available to their employees years and years ago (late 70s early 80s) and it was fine hunting then. It was some of the best in the state at the time. I even went a time or two after it was sold by Hammermill, or leased out by International Paper, who bought Hammermill, not sure which. Always saw deer, but like Stickers said, you don't waste the chance to go there on a big deer. You hold out for a really big deer.

I applaud the state for making such quality land available to the public and for using a lottery system to protect the quality of the hunts.

Used to hunt property bordering it over 20 years ago and it was great hunting. Lot of bobcats there too. Massive bucks.

I drew a hunt at Portland the last weekend of the season 8-10 February. I drew area 9 which is right on the corner of 225 and 41. We just parked off 41 and walked in.

I saw several bucks, one 8 pt close to being a shooter. My buddy saw a few small bucks. We both saw a ton of sign. I enjoyed the hunt because it was someplace new. My hunting camp is only about 20 minutes away so it was easy for me. The guys that run the hunt are terrific.