#2158744 - 11/10/10 09:33 PM
The Grass Isn't Greener or the Bucks Bigger...
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WMAn
6 Point
Registered: 11/05/10
Posts: 775
Loc: Williamson County
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... on the other side.
I want to share a lesson I have learned that I think a lot of other hunters fail to. 90% of my hunting is done on public land. When I first got started, I held a lot of misconceptions about the quality of hunting on public land and where the big deer were.
If a piece of public land was some distance from where I lived or in another state, it had to be better and the bucks had to be bigger than what I had close to home. If there was a draw hunt, even better or so I thought.
In college, I got a chance to spend a lot of time on one piece of public land that was close by. I developed a close, personal knowledge of the land and how the deer used it. I quickly discovered that being able to spend time on the ground because the area was close could make up for what might be gained by traveling to far away "trophy areas."
I am reminded of this everytime I visit a Middle Tennessee WMA and 3 out of 4 license plates are from East Tennessee (almost as if there are no deer or public lands east of Crossville).
Certainly there are exceptions to this. Presidents Island would definately be one. But the home field advantage that can be developed by being able to spend time on the land right out your back door is hard to beat. Especially when you consider the time and money often wasted on the road driving to far away places in search of what might be closer to home than you think.
Just a thought let me hear yours.
P.S. Public land is exactly that. Public. I have no problem at all with the hunter who wants to travel and hunt public land in other parts of the state or a different state. I'm just offering a different approach.
_________________________
"I will remain what I am until I die, a hunter, and when there are no buffalo or other game I will send my children to hunt and live on prairie mice..." - Sitting Bull
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#2158773 - 11/10/10 09:48 PM
Re: The Grass Isn't Greener or the Bucks Bigger...
[Re: WMAn]
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easy45
18 Point
Registered: 11/06/07
Posts: 23802
Loc: Medon
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I can't disagree with you, I have been fortunate enough to have pretty good private land most of my hunting career but this year I was left right before season with out a place and have looked at a few places around hear, unfortunately I didn't have the time to get out and scout and don't want to do it while others are hunting but there are some quality deer on public land if the hunter is dedicated enough
_________________________
Work to live, Live to hunt
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#2158777 - 11/10/10 09:52 PM
Re: The Grass Isn't Greener or the Bucks Bigger...
[Re: easy45]
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knightrider
10 Point
Registered: 09/27/10
Posts: 4763
Loc: claiborne
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the grass isnt greener in middle and west tn but compared to east tn the bag limits sure are bigger and that helps feel my freezer,so thats the big reason you see east tn tags is because of bag limits
_________________________
behold the lamb of GOD,when he nocks please answer it may be your last chance!!!!
happy hunters against armchair biology
killing tomorrows trophies today
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#2158791 - 11/10/10 09:58 PM
Re: The Grass Isn't Greener or the Bucks Bigger...
[Re: knightrider]
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Greg M
6 Point
Registered: 02/11/10
Posts: 753
Loc: Riverview, FL/ Bluff City, TN
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I can guarantee that my little 30 acres in Sullivan County OR Cherokee WMA are better than hunting in west central Florida. Well worth the 12 hour drive.
_________________________
MOA Custom Firearms, LLC
Riverview, FL
Firearms perfection improved
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#2158796 - 11/10/10 10:00 PM
Re: The Grass Isn't Greener or the Bucks Bigger...
[Re: knightrider]
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WMAn
6 Point
Registered: 11/05/10
Posts: 775
Loc: Williamson County
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the grass isnt greener in middle and west tn but compared to east tn the bag limits sure are bigger and that helps feel my freezer,so thats the big reason you see east tn tags is because of bag limits
Hadn't thought of that, but you make an excellent point. Hey, I welcome anyone from anywhere to come fill their freezer with some Middle TN does.
_________________________
"I will remain what I am until I die, a hunter, and when there are no buffalo or other game I will send my children to hunt and live on prairie mice..." - Sitting Bull
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#2158802 - 11/10/10 10:02 PM
Re: The Grass Isn't Greener or the Bucks Bigger...
[Re: Greg M]
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WMAn
6 Point
Registered: 11/05/10
Posts: 775
Loc: Williamson County
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I can guarantee that my little 30 acres in Sullivan County OR Cherokee WMA are better than hunting in west central Florida. Well worth the 12 hour drive.
Yeah, there are definately exceptions. One thing that I imagine holds true for you is that it sounds like you are hunting the same areas year after year. If that's the case, it seems that doing so helps build a knowledge base that can make up for the distance.
_________________________
"I will remain what I am until I die, a hunter, and when there are no buffalo or other game I will send my children to hunt and live on prairie mice..." - Sitting Bull
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#2158843 - 11/10/10 10:57 PM
Re: The Grass Isn't Greener or the Bucks Bigger...
[Re: WMAn]
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Poser
14 Point
Registered: 07/28/10
Posts: 8112
Loc: Tennessee
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I agree that there is potentially a home field advantage on public lands, though, many hunters do not take advantage of it.
I start by doing aerial scouting: Google Earth and a Topo Map. From there I choose a couple of specific areas to focus on. Once I figure these specific areas out, I am usually able to understand the overall property and spread out my hunting accordingly.
That being said, since I hunt different WMAs across TN and in Mississippi, I feel like I have gotten pretty good at prescouting these places and then walking in with a game plan according to my public land "rules of engagement."
In my travels to far away and exotic TN WMA's, I have encountered, observed and studied the practices of many public lands hunters. I have observed that many hunters stick to the same setups year in and year out and that many of them have never actually been down into that swamp or through that thicket. For that matter, most of them have never walked more than .5 mile from any access point, have never out-of-season scouted outside of the last few weeks before opening weekend, and, God forbid: Actually cross the creek.
If you know the ins and outs of your local spot, then, yes, you certainly do have the home field advantage. If you fall into the category above.... well, there just may be others out there roaming the highways, who will come into your town and steal your women! ... I mean deer.
_________________________
It doesn't have to be fun to be fun. Wild & crazy, can't be stopped. Only the strong will survive. Keep your knife sharp and your skillet greasy. http://www.GoCarnivore.com
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#2158962 - 11/11/10 05:40 AM
Re: The Grass Isn't Greener or the Bucks Bigger...
[Re: Poser]
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ChippewaPartners
10 Point
Registered: 08/25/01
Posts: 2909
Loc: Pamelot, my farm near Catoosa
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I think a half-mile is far too generous.....I guesstimate that 500 yards is about it...... probably has something to do with walking in the dark with black cougars around! wink!
Love those mytopo maps myself!
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#2159261 - 11/11/10 08:18 AM
Re: The Grass Isn't Greener or the Bucks Bigger...
[Re: ChippewaPartners]
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Poser
14 Point
Registered: 07/28/10
Posts: 8112
Loc: Tennessee
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I think a half-mile is far too generous.....I guesstimate that 500 yards is about it...... probably has something to do with walking in the dark with black cougars around! wink!
Love those mytopo maps myself!
I actually saw a guy last week bumbling around a nasty swamp full of blow-down .5 mile in from the closest access point, who, given his size, would surprise all of you. That was the first time this season I have been walked up on.
But, yeah, you are right, many folks don't walk more than a few hundred yards, though I have found .5 mile to a magic number. Over .8 miles, you are almost guaranteed seclusion. Though, recoveries at these distances, especially when you are solo, which I almost always am, take tremendous effort. Not that I'm complaining, but when the sunlight is fading quickly, and you are in nasty swamp 1.2 miles from your vehicle, you'll think real hard about the next 4 hours before taking a shot.
_________________________
It doesn't have to be fun to be fun. Wild & crazy, can't be stopped. Only the strong will survive. Keep your knife sharp and your skillet greasy. http://www.GoCarnivore.com
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#2159662 - 11/11/10 12:25 PM
Re: The Grass Isn't Greener or the Bucks Bigger...
[Re: Poser]
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WMAn
6 Point
Registered: 11/05/10
Posts: 775
Loc: Williamson County
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when the sunlight is fading quickly, and you are in nasty swamp 1.2 miles from your vehicle, you'll think real hard about the next 4 hours before taking a shot.
The other thing that can be unnerving about coming out of a swamp in the dark is when you cut the flashlight off and everything around you looks the same.
Poser, have you ever hunted areas with hogs? If so, have you ever had them walk up on you in the dark coming out or going in?
Twice in MS, I have had that happen. Scary!
_________________________
"I will remain what I am until I die, a hunter, and when there are no buffalo or other game I will send my children to hunt and live on prairie mice..." - Sitting Bull
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