treeman800
Member
I live 60 miles south of wash dc. I have 250 acres and hunt about 1000 ajoing acres. We have a cabin for the guests and were very productive this year. We killed 8 bucks and 11 does.
How was your season?
How was your season?
Who hunts VA?
- Thread starter treeman800
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rickyford2
Member
What do you do with all the meat?
bluetopper
Member
You live in old extablished foxhunting/foxhound country.
Nothing like listening to a pack of hounds in hot pursuit. Makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck.
Nothing like listening to a pack of hounds in hot pursuit. Makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck.
treeman800
Member
I put a couple in my freezer, give alot to hunters for the hungry and have contacts with firemen/women that come pick it up.
Nothing goes to waste.
The local foxhunts give us notice before an event. I love to watch the foxes outsmart the hounds.
Nothing goes to waste.
The local foxhunts give us notice before an event. I love to watch the foxes outsmart the hounds.
Hello.
I hunt in Alleghany County. I grew up not hunting and thinking that the mountains were prime hunting land because everyone I knew hunted. Now I know better. As best I can tell the areas with the largest deer population are not mixed hardwood forrests, but the farmlands of the piedmont and coastal plain.
I have only been hunting the last 3 seasons. First season I spent very nearly the whole 2 weeks in the woods. It was warm and rainy and I saw bears and turkey and coyotes, but the only deer I saw snuck up behind me right about the end of legal hunting light.
The next year I upgraded from the open sighted savage model 340(?) 30-30 to a remington 700 ADL .308 which I scoped with a 2-7 Burris FF-II. I feel ok using open sights to 100yrds in good light, but the scope makes me much more comfortable. Especially since there are only two either sex days on public land, so most of the time you better be sure you are shooting something with horns. I think I only got into the woods a couple of times that season, dont think I saw any deer.
Then, during the summer season! I shot my first deer during a cull for a farmer. Glad I had the scope for that. Farm fields really open up the distances. They were both shot at over 200 yrds. Not really hunting, but venison is good however I come by it.
This last season I got out a lot. Snuck up on two tiny almost fawns, saw some turkeys, walked up on a decent buck on the first day of muzzleloading but hadent set up the muzzleloader for hunting yet. . . . . Got a medium sized doe on a friends 4,000 acres. But that wasnt really hunting either. The does and young spikes just hang around the road to camp, or in whatever field they like that day, and really are not too alert. Ride around, find the deer, walk up to edge of field, Bam. 155 yrds. Everyone else who hunts there is after a big buck, so the does dont get much pressure? I dont think they want the trouble of dressing out a doe. I'm not so picky, and the does taste better.
Almost forgot, I also got to hunt in Rockbridge county for one day. My friend put me in the woods between some fields. I heard some deer chased back and forth past my position by other hunters, but far enough away that I could only see brown movement, not the deer.
So thats my hunting in VA. I guess all my stalking about and cold toes, and steep ridges make up for blasting the poor unaware deer hanging out in fields. A mans gotta eat, right?
Also, I usually try to hunt obscure and difficult to access public lands because the rest can be pretty crowded. I'm really going to get a workout when I do shoot something on the otherside of a 1,000 ft ridge from my car! But it seems everytime I trudge up to the top of some seemingly inaccessible spot, there is a 4 wheeler trail ::sigh::
Drew
I hunt in Alleghany County. I grew up not hunting and thinking that the mountains were prime hunting land because everyone I knew hunted. Now I know better. As best I can tell the areas with the largest deer population are not mixed hardwood forrests, but the farmlands of the piedmont and coastal plain.
I have only been hunting the last 3 seasons. First season I spent very nearly the whole 2 weeks in the woods. It was warm and rainy and I saw bears and turkey and coyotes, but the only deer I saw snuck up behind me right about the end of legal hunting light.
The next year I upgraded from the open sighted savage model 340(?) 30-30 to a remington 700 ADL .308 which I scoped with a 2-7 Burris FF-II. I feel ok using open sights to 100yrds in good light, but the scope makes me much more comfortable. Especially since there are only two either sex days on public land, so most of the time you better be sure you are shooting something with horns. I think I only got into the woods a couple of times that season, dont think I saw any deer.
Then, during the summer season! I shot my first deer during a cull for a farmer. Glad I had the scope for that. Farm fields really open up the distances. They were both shot at over 200 yrds. Not really hunting, but venison is good however I come by it.
This last season I got out a lot. Snuck up on two tiny almost fawns, saw some turkeys, walked up on a decent buck on the first day of muzzleloading but hadent set up the muzzleloader for hunting yet. . . . . Got a medium sized doe on a friends 4,000 acres. But that wasnt really hunting either. The does and young spikes just hang around the road to camp, or in whatever field they like that day, and really are not too alert. Ride around, find the deer, walk up to edge of field, Bam. 155 yrds. Everyone else who hunts there is after a big buck, so the does dont get much pressure? I dont think they want the trouble of dressing out a doe. I'm not so picky, and the does taste better.
Almost forgot, I also got to hunt in Rockbridge county for one day. My friend put me in the woods between some fields. I heard some deer chased back and forth past my position by other hunters, but far enough away that I could only see brown movement, not the deer.
So thats my hunting in VA. I guess all my stalking about and cold toes, and steep ridges make up for blasting the poor unaware deer hanging out in fields. A mans gotta eat, right?
Also, I usually try to hunt obscure and difficult to access public lands because the rest can be pretty crowded. I'm really going to get a workout when I do shoot something on the otherside of a 1,000 ft ridge from my car! But it seems everytime I trudge up to the top of some seemingly inaccessible spot, there is a 4 wheeler trail ::sigh::
Drew
treeman800
Member
We hunt a mix of hardwoods and feild. There is a river that runs down the middle of it.
Ours does and yearlings are also unaware of hunters but the old bucks are onto us by Oct 15.
Ours does and yearlings are also unaware of hunters but the old bucks are onto us by Oct 15.
Titan6
member
You will note that East of the Blue Ridge the bag limit is normally double West of the Blue Ridge. This is simply because people do not hunt in the numbers that they used to on that side of the state.
I have some small acerage in Augusta County that abuts some large acreage (about 5500 acres on three sides) and has a decent sized creek running through it. Last year we took two medium sized bucks in the 120-140 lb range with modest eight point racks. There were plenty more out there but most were simply too small to harvest. The family is still eating the venison.
Lots of healthy turkey out there as well but I will miss Turkey season this year. Some Fox, but only saw one in my daily walk to the creek. We only hunt for food so I don't hunt fox. They roam free until they get run over on the adjacent highway. We also saw some bear as well. It is unusual to see bear in my part of the county and we were surprised. The drought was likely drawing them down a little. Oh, and rabbits... they were accounted for.
I have some small acerage in Augusta County that abuts some large acreage (about 5500 acres on three sides) and has a decent sized creek running through it. Last year we took two medium sized bucks in the 120-140 lb range with modest eight point racks. There were plenty more out there but most were simply too small to harvest. The family is still eating the venison.
Lots of healthy turkey out there as well but I will miss Turkey season this year. Some Fox, but only saw one in my daily walk to the creek. We only hunt for food so I don't hunt fox. They roam free until they get run over on the adjacent highway. We also saw some bear as well. It is unusual to see bear in my part of the county and we were surprised. The drought was likely drawing them down a little. Oh, and rabbits... they were accounted for.
treeman800
Member
We have alot of wildlife here. Always see a few bear every year. Was on my river bottom driving golf balls, went to pick them up and a 200-250# bear walks out of the tree line about 50 yds from me. Looked like he jist woke up, was scratching and stretching like a dog does in the morning. I went for my camera and turned it on and the batt. died. I wasnt scared and didnt even think for a second that I should be. As I watched him slowley walk across the driveway and keep looking back at me I relized that the 9 iron in my hand wasnt my rifle, he walked away never to be seen again
Fozzy_Bear
Member
I would love to go hunting sometime, but I have never managed to meet anybody with land to hunt. And since I'm not sure that I will really get into it, it doesn't make since to join any of the clubs I've found ($$, and picking the right one would be tough since they are all a stiff drive from home)... I'm 38 years old and have gone out a total of twice (and none in the last 18 years). - Neither time did I, or any in my group, even see a deer.
If anybody would like to invite a mature but novice hunter... please drop me a note.
If anybody would like to invite a mature but novice hunter... please drop me a note.
CajunBass
Member
I killed a few squirrels.
tinygnat219
Member
Got one deer on private land in Loudon County this year, my first.
I typically hunt in Fauquier, or on AP Hill down in Caroline County.
I typically hunt in Fauquier, or on AP Hill down in Caroline County.
treeman800
Member
I used to live in loudoun. Taken a few there. Its always good hunting there due to the developers. either sex all season is so nice
Hey Fozzy, I'm in the same situation here. My father had a house with 40 acres, but sold it. I have yet to find another place to hunt. I have a 500 Raging Bull that is just itching to go bear hunting.
BTW: Where on our C5's can we strap a deer?
BTW: Where on our C5's can we strap a deer?
birdbustr
Member
I'll be back in VA for the 2009 season. When I was there before I did some scouting on the nearby Management Areas to Norfolk (nothing is very close), but never really found anything that looked too promissing. I hope to find some area in Chesapeake County or anywhere that is private land. Maybe join a hunt club, eventhough I will be extremely limited in the days I can go. Management areas can be hazardous to your health. I've got about 20-25 deer in my day (rifle hunting) all from SC or NY. Got a really nice 12 point in NY this year.
I've got 50 open acres in Highland and the deer hold on it pretty good since we don't graze it to nubs like most of the county. I've got water and letting some scrub grow up in spots too as well as two giant oak trees of acorn producing bliss. Next step is a food plot and lick. I don't hunt my land, the biggest challenge would be walking out on my deck. Head count was 15 transients the other morning when I went out, mama and two yearlings are permanent residents.
I hunt some National Forest that is designated wilderness. That means no four wheelers which means no hunters. That and the 6 mile walk. I don't see many people which is the main goal. Don't see many deer either but I hope one day to see the bruiser no one else was there to see. Hardwood forests can produce monsters, we used to have land on the east edge of the park, every morning the deer came down off the mountain, every night they went up. We could see the park border from where we sat. No need for a tree stand, deer followed the botom of the gulch, we sat on top. Too easy.
Birdbustr, never shot anything but I like still hunting the scrub and swamp of Chickahominy WMA. I do that in the day when light is good and everyone is back at their truck for lunch. If I sit in one spot I get there at 4am and stay still until about lunch. Any stomping around at dawn or dusk could definitely be a health risk.
I hunt some National Forest that is designated wilderness. That means no four wheelers which means no hunters. That and the 6 mile walk. I don't see many people which is the main goal. Don't see many deer either but I hope one day to see the bruiser no one else was there to see. Hardwood forests can produce monsters, we used to have land on the east edge of the park, every morning the deer came down off the mountain, every night they went up. We could see the park border from where we sat. No need for a tree stand, deer followed the botom of the gulch, we sat on top. Too easy.
Birdbustr, never shot anything but I like still hunting the scrub and swamp of Chickahominy WMA. I do that in the day when light is good and everyone is back at their truck for lunch. If I sit in one spot I get there at 4am and stay still until about lunch. Any stomping around at dawn or dusk could definitely be a health risk.
GLOCK45GUY
Member
I'm a member of Lal-A-Lot Hunt Club that hunts a few thousand acers leased from a logging company in James City County and New Kent County. we have two cabins with water access.
The club as a whole killed around 50 deer, and I killed 4 (3 does and 1 button head that was pre-wounded. He didn't look like he was going to stop, so I put him down)
The club as a whole killed around 50 deer, and I killed 4 (3 does and 1 button head that was pre-wounded. He didn't look like he was going to stop, so I put him down)
birdbustr
Member
Navy Joe,
Navy here too as you may have guessed. I may have went to Chickahominy WMA before. Is that up past Williamsburg, past Bush Gardens a little way? There was a 100yd range and I found a few decent places to squirrel hunt. Anyway I'll be happy to be back to the East Coast. I've done a lot of dove, duck, squirrel and deer hunting in SC growing up. Virginia has a lot of promise. Beautiful land if you can find the spots to be in.
Navy here too as you may have guessed. I may have went to Chickahominy WMA before. Is that up past Williamsburg, past Bush Gardens a little way? There was a 100yd range and I found a few decent places to squirrel hunt. Anyway I'll be happy to be back to the East Coast. I've done a lot of dove, duck, squirrel and deer hunting in SC growing up. Virginia has a lot of promise. Beautiful land if you can find the spots to be in.
treeman800
Member
Im considering leaseing out a couple weeks during bow season, havnt done it in the past but might start this year. I have a nice cabin and alot of stands.
Anyone ever lease out before?
Anyone ever lease out before?
Fozzy_Bear
Member
98C5 said:
Good question.
...
But I'm also Fozzy_Bear on JEEPforum.com too...
The XJ has plenty of room and the ability to get me pretty much anywhere. (I've got bigger tires since this pic. And THOSE were 33's) It's configured with a lot of heavy armor (for rock crawling) but it will handle trail riding as well as I'd want also.
Fozzy_Bear
Member
glock45guy said:
That sounds really nice. Are you accepting new members?
.
treeman800
Member
nice jeep
What is a good strategy for hunting the National Forrest in the western part of the state? Lots of ridges, not a lot of bottom land or fields. Where do the deer feed? Are they less concentrated because their food sources are less concentrated? i.e. acorns and small patched of grass or other greenery? I would presume that water would be very important because there is very little on high ridges, so is there a certain part of the day that they move down to water?
Is still hunting along a ridge top good? I feel very exposed when I do this, but movement is easy and I can see a decent distance.
I friend of mine says to hunt saddles, but he isn't real clear on when deer would be moving through them. The less pressured Natl. Forrest is where I like to be, but then deer arnt pushed by other hunters, and I cant seem to figure out what their movement pattern is. Maybe it is after dark!
Is still hunting along a ridge top good? I feel very exposed when I do this, but movement is easy and I can see a decent distance.
I friend of mine says to hunt saddles, but he isn't real clear on when deer would be moving through them. The less pressured Natl. Forrest is where I like to be, but then deer arnt pushed by other hunters, and I cant seem to figure out what their movement pattern is. Maybe it is after dark!
treeman800
Member
Scout it out of season first. Find the trails and follow then to bedding, feeding and water areas.
Make sure you have a gps to be able to return to those places.
Once you have found a core area pick 3 spots to hunt from.
'When you return to hunt choose the spot that gives you the best advantage
Make sure you have a gps to be able to return to those places.
Once you have found a core area pick 3 spots to hunt from.
'When you return to hunt choose the spot that gives you the best advantage
I hunt VA quite a bit - mostly with the bow, in Rappahannock and Albemarle; I filled my freezer early this year though on a CO elk.
Mcnownaw - my best tip is to look for saddles and benches, near thick cover, far from roads and trails, and near oak tress that are dropping acorns.
Pete
Mcnownaw - my best tip is to look for saddles and benches, near thick cover, far from roads and trails, and near oak tress that are dropping acorns.
Pete
treeman800
Member
I was recentley told that the deer in rapp county are on the decline.
Is it true?
Is it true?
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