Yeah, I know that it's 4 months away still, but I've never gone deer hunting, and was wondering whether Wheeler is novice friendly? My birthday falls during the flintlock hunt next year and 4 months gives me some range time to work some of the kinks out of the rifle (and more importantly, the nut behind the buttplate).

-GB

Novice friendly? Nope

It's primarily a Waterfowl Refuge. Black Powder and Lots of Water don't mix well! I have been successful there through preparation. I actually used my neoprene chest waders to access deer on isolated land masses. If you climb make sure you are totally camouflaged. The Wheeler deer are highly educated and will actually walk through the woods looking up into the trees quite often. I would recommend using a climber and staying put during the flintlock hunt you will get multiple shot opportunities if your in the Right Locations. Best of luck!!

Thanks guys. I never would have figured chest waders were deer hunting equipment!

-GB

I hunted it for years and never had chest waders. I do have a boat though.

Had a buddy that used to hunt it pretty hard. He had some nice bucks on the wall because of it.

That place looks like it would be prime habitat for gators anybody ever seen any?

Sure have. And big ones at that. Tend to be very shy. I hunt Wheeler yearly using a canoe with a trolling motor. Lots of deer in the backwaters but its hard hunting.

We see lots of gators bow fishing

Thats one thing I dont understand. I have spent no telling how many hours in the backwaters around wheeler and never seen one gator. I know they are there, just never seen one.

You will see a lot more at night with a spot light. Kinda like if I took you down to eufaula right now, we could ride around all day and not see many if any, but I could show you several hundred eyes in an hour with a spot light

A couple of years ago I could have showed you one on Flint creek just about any time I went and looked for it. Had one swim under a 12 ft. flat bottom on Limestone creek. Watched three two footers play very close to Arrowhead landing. They are there.

Using a boat w/motor? I'm in either a kayak or a canoe and have eased up on several. I followed a big one up Cotaco Creek last year. I saw him slide off a large tree in the water about 20 yds in front of and swim away from me right in the middle of the creek. I followed him for about ten minutes. Still so far from the landing you couldn't see the bridge, a boat put in and started the motor.The second I heard the motor the gator dived. About a week later I got right up on him in a side creek. He was sunning on a log. He hit the water and I back paddled away. Way too close in a tight area.

Use to see on the rivers where I grew up gators all the time. They dig holes in the hills to hibernate in winter. Never wanted to do no night swimming after seeing those 10-12 footers. Lot of times they would just pop up not far from your fishing spot no sound at all. That is the reason I just think how stupid it is when I see people wading in these areas. Probably lose a many of deer to one of those big boar gators over there at wheeler. Should be some big gator kills coming out of there with all the geese and protected cranes over there that is like a buffet to those big ones.

I know its the truth just dont know how I haven't seen one. We used to bowfish out there all night long a few nights a week. We was using a generator so maybe the noise.

As far as the OP question I couldn't imagine it being much more novice place to hunt. Small wood lots make them use them all. Practice with the flintlock, I cant hit crap with mine. It sure is fun though.

I enjoy hunting wheeler as well as anywhere, mainly for the fact its the place I started hunting on, killed my first deer there. Alot of time with good friends around the river, and close to home.

There are a couple of big gators of 10+ feet that live out there, there is a breeding population, and survival is spotty but they're making it. That's on the refuge. Dunno what's on the Arsenal but there are gators there, too.

What I've been told is they were re-introduced in the early-mid 1970s by former Refuge manager Tom Atkeson as part of a conservation effort. I've seen them in Garth Slough and know they're across in Limestone Bay. I suspect the cold winters keep the population in check.

Seen one during the daylight, I believe it was flint creek. I have seen several at night in Blackwell