The way it used to be.

[crestoncowboy]

I live, hunt, farm, and own land in the Appalachian mountains. My family didn't hunt but several people asked to hunt our land growing up. I went along with them a few times. We stalked and tracked and that's how I still hunt in anything other than archery season. Deer were scarce back then and even a doe was a rare sight (where now I can guarantee a shot at a deer, maybe a doe, but any day I can get venison). Any day in the early morning bean or tobacco fields we heard grouse drumming many times over. Nowdays grouse are rare, but Turkey and Canadian Geese have became pests. We now have a long deer season, and to control the population we have unlimited doe tags some years. Depredation permits are easy to get as well. So any Thrill of the hunt is gone unless your just a Horn hunter.

Around 1990 my sister married an Archery champion who bow hunted. Of course he asked to hunt our land, when he asked around April to go "scouting" we thought that was the strangest thing. Never heard of scouting, cutting shooting lanes, baiting, plots etc etc back then. His way of hunting seemed so odd to us. Lol. He sat all day long in a stand. Spent tons of money on things like heated socks, new high county bow every year, sprayed deer urine on himself, carried a bag of calls and such.... we thought he was a moron. But he had fun I suppose. Ive hunted his way. Still do if I archery hunt. Can't stand it though.

Then around 16 I got my first real job (beans, Hay, pine trees and tobacco don't count) my boss invited me to hunt down toward the coast. Shotgun only. They ran deer perpendicular to roads with dogs and you shot them as they crossed the road. If you missed, the next guy tried. Lol. Wasn't my thing but fun to try once I guess.

I still stalk. I just enjoy it more. My oldest daughter is developing into quite the tracker too.

 

[illinoisburt]

I feel like your spot on with this. I just moved to Alabama and live more or less IN talladega National forest. I’m shocked by the lack of hunters around. I’ve been driving around a lot scouting and trapping and I’ve seen exactly 2 trucks pulled over on the forest roads doing what I would assume is hunting. It’s currently rifle season and I thought it would sound like a war zone here. Hard to say why…

The national forest is kind of that way around here in Alabama. Hunting clubs are very popular with large percentage of hunters on private land with greenfields and/or bait. There is also a strong hound tradition is some places too but they are not allowed on most public properties.

Alabama has a huge amount of public land and rifle season is 3 months long providing the luxury of getting out when conditions suite. Rut is mostly in January (there is a rut map on the state website) so unlike our northern brethren we still have plenty of time before the deer get moving. Find a good food source right now can yield bucks still on eating patterns.

You will find a lot of old stands and cabin sights in many of the mountains. Check for hard mast nearby then sit a spell. Good things are likely to come your way

 

[Shooterbob]

Umm be careful putting deer urine on your person you may get unexpected results!!! Ha ha