Oklahoma McAAP Trad Hunt

[Cap-Tan]

This year I drew the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant traditional archery hunt for October 18-20th in the Boggy area. When I first drew I was pretty anxious/nervous since I’ve only ever hunted with a compound bow but now with it being months (and hundreds if not thousands of arrows) later I’m feeling decently confident out to 20 yards with my longbow. I’m only a couple weeks away now and getting more excited by the day for the chance to see some quality deer. I’m not getting my hopes up for harvesting one but excited for the experience. That being said, the only intel I have on that area is from 11 years ago. Has anyone here hunted in the boggy area in the last couple years and have any tips or areas to focus on? I’ve heard you don’t have to go super deep into the woods or away from the roads and bunkers but that’s about all I’ve been told. Any help will be greatly appreciated! Also I plan on turning this into a live hunt once the weekend arrives but it will be void of photos since it’s on an active army post. Thanks y’all!

 

[ridn9high]

Are you an Oklahoma resident?

 

[WildWill]

Hey buddy! Didn't even think about you not being able to do pics. Should get some use out of that saddle. I like the live hunt idea.

 

[Cap-Tan]

Are you an Oklahoma resident?

Yes I am.

 

[Cap-Tan]

Hey buddy! Didn't even think about you not being able to do pics. Should get some us out of that saddle. I like the live hunt idea.

I’m actually up in a tree in it now! Trying to get as quick and as quiet with it as I can before McAAP.

 

[WildWill]

I’m actually up in a tree in it now! Trying to get as quick and as quiet with it as I can before McAAP.

You at home or at DF?

 

[Cap-Tan]

You at home or at DF?

DF

 

[longbow51]

Good luck! Coveted draw, and kudos to doing it trad.

 

[psinclair]

I was sent to Oklahoma two winters ago for feral hog training, identification of hog damage to pasture and crop land, and aerial training. We flew the Mcallister. Wildlife Services is contracted to aerial hunt feral hogs there every year. If I recall that complex is 46,000 acres of prime wildlife habitat. I was there in February, so the antlers were off, but the number of deer we saw was very impressive. we saw a couple really large deadheads, and a fair number of large sheds from the air.

Good luck, it's a very unique place.

 

[Cap-Tan]

After many days and nights dreaming about sending a dinner stick through a giant I’m finally on post. Came down a little early today to run to Walmart and grab the last minute necessities (steaks for the group I’ll be riding into the hunting area with every day) and grabbed lunch. Right at 2pm the flood gates opened and the biggest line of pickups and trucks pulling campers I’ve ever seen flowed across the bridge to the access point to be inspected for contraband.

The inspection process was quick but thorough and after receiving my badge was back in the truck and driving onto post. As soon as I made the first turn onto the main road there was a group of doe feeding out near and edge and 3 of the biggest tom turkeys I’ve seen in Oklahoma. I’ll take that as a good sign for this weekend.

Made it to the campground and since I’ll be staying in a tent I have to wait for the others in my group that are pulling a camper to get here and get set up if I want to camp near them. To kill time I made my way to the check station which is adorned with sheds and dead heads.


Once inside, there are even more sheds and even a yearly progress of a particular buck named “Deauce” who lived to be at least 8 1/2. The main attraction however is a group of photos posted on the wall behind the desk. This years “10 most wanted” list and the hunt areas they were last seen in.





Since I’m in the “Boggy” area I of course paid closer attention to the bucks that call it home.




I couldn’t be more excited to get into the field and hopefully get to see one of these monsters with my own eyes. I’m doing my best to tamper my expectations since it will be highly unlikely (but not impossible) for me to harvest one of these guys. If I get a shot at a doe I’m 100% sending it, especially since they do what is known as a “quality pass” here, meaning if you shoot a doe or hog you get invited back the next year without having to draw. I’ll do my best at capturing each days hunts but unless I harvest something this thread will likely be photo thin as there’s no photography allowed in the field.