Most of the NC public land is heavily pressured and aggressively hunted, so big bucks are few. However a trophy is however you define it...
Where in NC are you hunting? There have been some really nice bucks taken in Eastern NC the last few years.
I hear there's tons of unused public land around the Mitchell River in the foothills, round Elkin Rockford area. Its used but not many people go further than a few 100 yards from their car so if your willing to hike a little bit you should be in good shape. I'm pretty sure the biggest non typical in the state was killed in Surry county one of the last 2 years Sent from my LG-H900 using Tapatalk
Archery only zones get a LOT less pressure than regular gamelands. As a bowhunter you will have the gamelands to yourself until firearms come in. Wait a week or two and the deer get pushed into the archery only areas. Good Luck Hunt Safe Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
Newbie here...from the Charlotte area (Gaston Co) have been hunting SC for the past few years but the new tag requirements for non-resident on top of the license fees are getting to steep. Haven't hunted much public land in NC. A few Day hunts to Alcoa and South Mtns. Both are nice but looking to concentrate on Pisgah ( maybe Burke co) anyone have any experience hunting Pisgah and can give any insight would be greatly appreciated. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
It seems the populations are better the further east you go is why I'm thinking Burke. But I'm willing to explore other areas. Any advice? Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
I will not give up that information. Last time I ended up with visitors Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I've had good luck on every game land I've hunted in North Carolina. I think the south is different then you see on TV. You must scout year-round and stay in the tree as much as you can. We do not have a rut like they do up north. For instance last year I saw the biggest buck I've ever seen in December. Most of the time they are done by Thanksgiving. You never know in the south. I scout two weekends a month all year and I've hunted public land only for 13 years Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Your hard work has paid off. I understand the importance of scouting (especially new property or public land) I'm alittle behind this season on scouting new land but luckily have some places to hunt. I'm mainly thinking about next season. I agree about the South being different and it's not represented well on hunting shows. So what's your setup for public land? I personally use a Summit climber but hear a lot of hunters that will only use lock-ons. Also I'm afraid to use cameras on public lands even with a lock. I've had enough equipment stolen on private land. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
I use a summit climber most of the time but will use my Lonewolf hand climber or lone wolf alpha and sticks when needed. Here in the south we are lucky to have an abundance of straight trees. I prefer the comfort of my summit. I also do not use cameras that just puts more pressure on our already pressured deer. Also never overlook productive spots near the road. Hunters have it in their mind they have to walk far and sometimes you do but the bigger deer I posted was killed a 1/4 mile off the road Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
We do have a rut in the South, in my opinion. If you're hunting public land (free from corn piles), find a tight, narrow, travel zone where as many edges come together as possible with one which has a "go to" acorn draw. You will see bucks in mid-morning and mid-afternoon from the third week of October to the second week of November. After that, they regain their brains. It is a prolonged rut, however. Does get bred clear into "winter". I have pics of a spotted fawn in early and mid-August.
It's hard to see the fawn but I saw it Aug 29 this year while scouting. So yes the rut with last into "winter" Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
I've got a doe amass her fawns (a bit bigger than knee high) on my cam showing up for the first time on 8/8 (doe carrying into end of July). Figuring a whitetail gestation is, 201 days, the doe was bred at the start of Jan. YMMV. May have been a second heat scenario. But from about a week before Thanksgiving to Jan is peak NC breeding season...and why the rifle season corresponds to those dates.
While we're sharing pictures and on the topic of rut timing. Here is a spotted fawn in late June. This is in SC but not far from NC. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
