Well dog hunting has its issues but all in all those guys and clubs make up 10’s of thousands of VA licenses and always have a bunch of youth involved. Also fwiw, most dog clubs are just hunt clubs. Usually like 40-70 members most of whom have 0 dogs. Clubs always have a few dog men, the folks who actually train and keep the dogs. Members Bow hunt, bp hunt, still hunt just like everyone else and yes the clubs often have good land. Main difference is when general firearms opens they do organized hunts with dogs usually opening week, a couple of days every week, and then pretty much Christmas til the last day. I was in 3 clubs last year (don’t ask) and they provide great still hunting opportunities on good private land during Bow and bp. Clubs are almost always taking members and you can easily find clubs on Craigslist and FB every season. If that’s not your thing VA is chock full of public land and other options: WMA’s (a brand new 1 opened in Spotsylvania County 2,900 acres-Oakley Forest) National Forests State Forests (ie Appomattox-Buckingham) National Wildlife Refuges (see James River) Urban Archery Programs (ie Fairfax) Military Bases (ie AP Hill) Outdoor Access VA is still an awesome state to hunt, we need to get more people involved.
I don't think it's just a Virginia thing. Numbers are down in wisconsin too. I believe the numbers of licenses sold here doesn't accurately depict the number of hunters here if that makes sense. A large portion of "hunters" in wisconsin only hunt a few days out of the year. I log more hours on the stand during bow hunting than most people I know will log hunting anything all year combined.
NEW...long time no see. Nice to see you on here again. In a couple of weeks I'll be moving down to central VA. Looking for new places to hunt. Looking at Fort Pickett, the northern sections of Kerr Lake wmas, and the Cumberland State Forest. Is the James River refuge a lottery hunt? (I don't hunt those types of hunts) Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Yeah I haven't been on much, I have learned that I'm not too good at internetting...when it comes to communication anyway Yes on the James River hunt. It's a quota hunt so it's $7 to apply and $50 if you get drawn (bow season). If you get drawn you can sign up 1 guest (they also must pay $50). It is absolutely ridiculouse though, a beautiful piece of land with a strong herd and some absolute giants come out of there every year. During BP season it's open to a certain number of hunters on a first come first serve basis and folks will be camping out at the gate to get in on that. All in all it sees relatively low pressure for that area and minimal human "interference" throughout the year. A bunch of us always apply and the ones who get drawn sign the ones who didn't up. I didn't put in for it last season though due to not having the time. Pickett I've heard is decent but I've never actually hunted there mainly due to the fact our family land is about 30 miles from there off of Route 40 so if I'm hunting that part of the state that's where I'll be found. I love the military bases though and several of my buddies only hunt them (primarily AP Hill). One hang up for me is I hate is checking in/out and most bases have a check in/out area and sometimes that can be a little tedious (fwiw AP Hill and some others are online now). Also usually a qualification/orientation process, small fee, and sometimes areas you want to hunt will be closed. Still great places to hunt those are just some things on the con side of my pro/con list for bases. There are a couple decent WMA's within about an hour of Pickett (Big Woods / Ware Creek), I have burned up some boots on these two.. I have been looking at the Kerr WMA's for a few seasons now (online) but just haven't made the trip. They look very promising! It looks like the perfect place to camp out for a few days and fish/hunt. Also, some cool places available to stay as far as lodging/camping from what I've seen. I'm not familiar with Cumberland but I love Appamattox/Buckingham State Forest and Big Woods State Forest. I missed what would have been my biggest bow buck to date in one of those forests last October on my first hunt of the year (7 deer 3 bucks that evening!). I'll never tell which forest though!!!! jk...it was BW I find myself focusing more on WMA's and State Forests. Nothing special needed except your licenses, and you can just pull up and hunt. Hope all is well with you! You know what County/City you're moving to already?
We are moving to the western end of Chesterfield. Close by the Amelia WMA as well. Im used to the check in and out procedures on the military bases as Ive hunted Quantico for close to twenty years now. One real negative on Fort Pickett is it seems they dont let you scout much at all. I live on boot leather on the public lands. Plus I really enjoy walking and finding new stuff before the weather gets real hot. I don't want to get too spread out but I want three options. Think Im gonna hang my hat on Fort Pickett, Cumberland State Forest, and some smaller off the beaten path WMA's on Kerr Lake. Boat in and slip in quiet.
Sounds like a plan. Check out Shooters Archery when you get settled. Great Bow shop bout an hour from Chesterfield. Indoor range, outdoor range, outdoor 3-d range , and great Bow techs
Thanks. I appreciate that. I need to get the bow restrung and have a solid archery shop to go to. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
It’s weird because the nationwide message is “hunting is dying”, yet locally i feel like there’s too many hunters and they are hunting the wrong way. All the farms are being leased or have too many hunters...trespassing and camera theft is a big issue, too many young bucks are being killed, ect. So which one is it? I think it’s area based honestly. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
