All of the stands are not 16 feet fencepost and they are not placed for high success. I'm not here to argue or put the volunteers down for what they do but some of the stands you cant even draw a bow from because of the rails or they are in locations where the deer are so used to them being there they travel different directions to avoid them. Since your a volunteer there how about suggesting placing more stands around some of the fields that hold numerous deer then you will see some greater success and probably some good shooters getting stuck during the archery hunts. Or after each hunt move the stands around a little so the deer aren't so used to that specific stand being there.

The volunteers place the stands in the given location directed by the Hunt Cordinator. SO, the volunteers have nothing to do with stand placements. They can make suggestions, but thats about as far as it goes. It is the Cordinators call. There are way more facts to consider when placing stands other than hunter success. You have to remember the facilty is there to make explosive ammunition, not to appease us hunters.

As far as moving stands after each year to prevent the deer from becoming educated to the stand locations, yeah thats would be a good idea..... but cordinating the efforts to have the limted # of volunteers to relocate 125 stands each year.. well you can see how far that idea would get.

Miltary, past and present are given priority...As long as each person on the application has miltary status.

DUI on a background check will not prevent access to the facility.... the background checks are to prevent felons access.

The point about some stands having arm rails so high that the armrest hamper drawing a bow back...YUP you are correct there too. My suggestion is to try and shoot standing. I know sometimes you dont have time to stand etc etc etc... but thats about the best advice I can give for HAAP stands. The stands are constructed in a manner to be SAFE. Some hunters may not have a problem at all with the handrails. The best advise I would give for this is to bring a climber... you dont have to hunt an archery area to bring a climber, you draw your stand number and you can in most case hang your climbing stand on the same tree above the platform stand...or climb a tree within 50 FEET of the assigned tree.

The suggestion about putting stands along some of the fields that hold so many deer... well that would be great too... but the fields where hunting is allowed, there are stands already there. The fields where most of the hunters, in the back of the trucks are seeing deer, they are in the fields within the production area, or areas where no hunting is allowed.

Being on the outside looking in, it is easy to find fault, or things that can be done differently. Kind of like Monday Football coaching from the couch in your house.

The public that applies for the hunts inside HAAP really takes the opportunity for granted... there is always someone that isnt going to be happy with "ALL" the rules and regs (myself included) BUT if you are wanting an opportunity to harvest a mature buck within the state of Tennessee..really, HAAP is so underrated it isnt funny. P.I. would honestly have a run for their money if HAAP had the publicity as some other "trophy" areas in the state. Good Luck and Happy Hunting!

PS: Im off my soap box now

OK sorry you can spit across the fence and hit Sullivan County. The application says Active duty and DV get a "priority status" read paragraph 3. Why even have them submit proof if it doesn't make a difference?

If I read the application right it said you have to kill a doe first and check it in, then you go back after you check the doe in and buck hunt for the rest of the day and if you do not kill then you get a permit to come back for a buck hunt on one of the first two weekends of rifle season in NOVEMBER 2011. NOVEMBER 2011? so that means all thoughs guys that killed a doe in 2009 will be hunting bucks in Nov. 2010 this year?