VA, NC, WV, MD, PA, TN, KY, DE----Fall 2013 Public land hunt get together

I just used the above states as a reference for those of us in the general mid-atlantic area. Of course, anyone else is welcome to join us for the potential 2013 public land hunt/camp/friendship thing some of us have expressed interest in doing in the fall. I am not looking to kill a monster buck, just looking to put an arrow into something from my recurve and enjoy a hard hunt with a good group of guys/gals. Carpooling would be cool and anyone that is coming from the DC Metro area is more than welcome to park their vehicles at my house so we can carpool and save gas $$$.


Also, everyone else that is interested but is too far away from our get together should try and enlist members in their area to have a get together as well.

I'm in 100%.

I was thinking a tentative timeline of Friday or Saturday November 1st-2nd until Tuesday or Wednesday November 5th or 6th. 5 solid days of hunting would be great. That would allow people to spend time with their families on Halloween and to return home and prepare for those magical hunting days of November 7th-10th in their home terroritories. Of course, people can come and go as they please, coming earlier, staying later, leaving one day and coming back...your life your choice, no pressure.

So.......

WHEN: Friday November 1st until Tuesday November 5th. I will more than likely arrive Friday morning after travelling all night.

WHERE: Don''t know. Kentucky, Southern Ohio, MD? We preferrably need a place that allows Sunday hunting.

WHO: Up to you


No stress but those of us that want to attend, lets get on this so we can finalize some dates that fit everyone. We are all busy guys/gals and need ample time to plan/adjust.

LINK to the original thread that holds many ideas...

http://forums.bowhunting.com/showth...nting-get-together&highlight=2013+public+land

 

Scratch NC off for the lack of Sunday hunting, unless its private land.

 

If you all hunt anywhere in ky or tn I would love to join you.

 

NC scratched

 

MD only offers about a half dozen Sunday hunts throughout the season.


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What happened to that other thread? Some specific locations had been listed there that might be worth looking into a bit more. It seemed like most were leaning toward KY which sounds good to me I'm just curious about their seasons and dates. For example for the dates listed above in VA that is opening weekend and the first week of blackpowder. Just mentioning it in case we need to take into consideration the increased pressure.

 

I put in the link to the original thread in the 1st post--good call.

Also, here is a link to the KY hunting season last year. Looks like the above dates I mentioned would be ok as they fall in between the muzzleloader and gun season.

http://fw.ky.gov/pdf/huntposter1213.pdf

 

I've been online since my other post and have found a ton of good info. I've been looking into the KY public land in the Northeast and Southeast sections and comparing the counties they are located in to the KY 2012 harvest data. I've primarily been trying to find counties that had good buck and doe harvests. Some WMA's that have stood out so far:

Yatesville lake WMA (13,191 acres) / Lawrence County / 898b & 829d
Lewis County WMA (1,156 acres) / Lewis County / 769b & 530d
Grayson Lake WMA (8,025 acres) / Carter & Elliot Counties / (C)882b & 648d, (E)338b & 198d
Fishtrap Lake WMA (13,135 acres) / Pike County / 809b & 242d (low doe harvest?)


I have quite a few others that I'm looking into and it's worth mentioning that I've never been to Kentucky so guys from there probably have a lot more insight I'm just researching it the way I do the ones I hunt here in VA. I use the numbers to try and guess which ones are more productive but ultimately it's still just a guess.

I liked the Grayson Lake WMA and from what I've read it's mostly bowhunting except for Youth Firearms Season and a special Youth Hunt(unfortunately thedates may conflict because for 2012 the SYH was Nov. 3 & 4). Bow only would be nice though.

 

Good work NEW. Also, we don't have to be limited to only one spot. If we are close to more than one public land spot and one isn't producing or we just want a change of pace, then we can hunt multiple tracts. I will research the areas you provided and will also send a PM to gri22ly for any insight on KY hunting.

 

Southwestern Ky. Have some monsters

 

Anybody look into Salt Fork State Park? We could camp...and hunt for a squatch!

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/overnightfacilities/camping/tabid/19426/Default.aspx

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/saltfork/tabid/785/Default.aspx

Im not sure about the hunting regulations for bow season though...

 

Higginson-Henry WMA (5,450 acres) / Union County / 515b & 415d

Archery only, 15" antler restrictions, 1 deer limit (if i'm reading right)


Proposed 2013-14 KY Season Dates:

http://fw.ky.gov/20132014proposedseasondates.asp

 

Mentioned this one earlier and it seems to have a low doe harvest but it also appears to be archery only except for youth gun and some other no-deer seasons.

FISHTRAP LAKE WMA
13,134 acres
Pike County, (606) 424-2086

Open under statewide regulations for all squirrel, rabbit, quail, grouse, furbearer and fall turkey seasons, except these seasons are closed during deer Quota Hunt.

Also open to bear hunting and EHU 1 quota elk hunts, except closed during deer Quota Hunt.

Other Exceptions
Deer: Quota Hunt, either sex, limit one, Nov. 17-18.

Open under statewide regulations for Youth Firearm Seasons.

Open under statewide regulations for Archery/Crossbow Seasons, except closed during deer Quota Hunt.

 

Yatesville Lake WMA listed earlier seems to have more does taken than some others and gets decent reviews from what I've found on forums. No does allowed during the modern firearms season so that might be why the doe harvest numbers are good.

 

KY is looking good.

 

Of course Bootlegger. Looks like KY is getting the early nod.

 

I live 15 minutes from Higginson Henry in ky. It has a 15" outside spread on antler limit. 1 deer only, atleast the past couple years. Great camping. No hookups but the camp ground is nice. Beautiful lake as well.

One issue would be it is open 1 weekend (oct14/15 this year) for youth rifle season.

Great hunting with some nice bucks but they aren't around every corner. Little bit of luck and a whole lot of work will be needed.

My private land is 15 minutes from there as well and there is alot of deer in the area.

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Couple pics





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There are a few germs so hunter beware.



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tfox, sounds like a nice place. At least there is a lake where we can bathe.

How many acres is the Higginson Henry and how is the terrain?