Island trip 2021

[PickettSFHunter]

I realized I haven't shared about an annual barrier island trip in awhile. I returned recently from a Georgia barrier island quota hunt that I have been going on for about 6 years now. I really enjoy these hunts, the GA DNR just does such a good job. My group ended up staying 6 days for a 3 day hunt. You ride a DNR ferry over and a DNR truck or a Gullah sponsor rides you up to a isolated oak hammock to camp. The DNR provides a bathhouse and a walk in cooler. The bad: bugs and eastern diamondbacks were worse than normal this year, it was crazy. This turns away a lot of people or causes them to leave early. This is a deer hunt, you are encouraged to shoot deer, not trophy hunt. There really aren't large bucks anyway, 70 pounds is considered a big deer. This year, I shot the first one I saw and then hunted for a island "giant". I did see one of those giants, a 80" 8 point but could only see its antlers above the palmettos. The level of thickness is hard to comprehend without experiencing it. I try to get 30-40' high to able to see some holes or shoot firebreaks. Our group of 5 hunters ended up with 5 deer and 3 hogs. Can't wait to go again in December and next October!

 

[AT Hiker]

Epic. Thats probably as old school original as one could get and….if anyone could kill a island "giant" it would be you .

 

[bigtex]

Looks to be a fun hunt..............except for the rattlesnakes lol.

 

[Andy S.]

Super cool hunt and overall experience, thanks for sharing. Congrats on your success!

 

[Racknquack]

Always look forward to hearing the story! This one interests me alot!

 

[UPSman]

Awesome. I was gonna go hunt Wassaw island myself and ended up not going due to a couple of things popping up. Hunting in the palmettos and Live oaks is definitely a unique hunt. There is nothing quite like watching the sun come up over the ocean and then whacking a deer.

 

[Lincoln Co Archer]

Definitely look forward to this report every year!

 

[poorhunter]

Good times right there!

 

[Bon3_Daddy]

I cannot imagine the awesomeness of this hunt.
Amazing

 

[Rackseeker]

Looks like a awesome hunt, but when you mentioned snakes and bugs that did me in.

 

[rem270]

Always look forward to your pics and stories from there. Congrats

 

[gatodoc]

What kind of weapon was allowed to harvest the deer? Bow only?

 

[catman529]

That looks like a heck of a good time. I've heard about the Georgia island deer and hog hunting and it sounds like a blast.

 

[Heath423]

Sounds like a great time.

 

[UPSman]

If you were hunting where I think you were, one of my best friends helps run those hunts. He works for the USFWS and is stationed out of Savannah. He has been killing the crap out of hogs this year when the turtles were hatching.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

What kind of weapon was allowed to harvest the deer? Bow only?

This one is a muzzleloader hunt during the rut. Yes they rut in mid October when it's 85 degrees. There are archery and rifle options on this island and other islands as well. In December, I'll be bow hunting. I don't want to track deer though when it's 80 with snakes all over. Not every island or every area is that thick though. In what I call the "sea of palmettos" it is very difficult to see your feet and you have to crawl in a lot of areas.

 

[Pilchard]

How would you compare this to a south Florida hunt in terms of terrain? Looks very similar. I think I remember you being from FL… forgive me if I got that wrong.

Congrats on an awesome hunt!

 

[Gravey]

Wow looks and sounds like a great time. Congrats!!!

 

[Bone Collector]

That looks awesome and probably not for me. I am not going 30-40' up anything to hunt....

 

[DoubleRidge]

Interesting hunt ...thanks for sharing....and congrats on the deer!