Bow hunters

[huntforme7909]

I've mentioned several times on here that I'm from West Virginia. Southern West Virginia to be exact. There are 4 counties in southern West Virginia that are bow only counties. Been that way since my dad can remember. Any of you can feel free to look up the numbers but I'd venture to say that some of the biggest bucks in the eastern us come from those four counties. I still hunt them when I can. But my point is that the soils are the same in those counties as in the rest of the counties in WV but you don't see many deer of that caliber come from anywhere else in the state. Soils are not the factor. People from all over hunt these counties because of the sheer number of mature bucks 150 or better. It's because of the controls that have been in place for so long. I personally love to bow hunt as much as anything else and love those controls there and people there know and realize the impact and great outcome from it every year as well. Something like that would never go over here without outrage from everyone that hunted the counties it affected. But I do believe that the diehard bow hunters on here with me would like it. And I've mentioned before that I don't like the arguments and I'm definitely not trying to spark that but just would like to know how some feel if this would ever happen. I think it's a great thing. And where I hunt in east tn the terrain and land is much like wv and I think it would benefit east tn for a few select counties here.

Lol. Now give it to me. ray:

 

[catman529]

Yea it's not gonna happen here but it's a fact when you reduce hunting of an area you get more older deer. Look at presidents island for example.


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[Big20Pointer]

I never knew there were bow only counties, that sounds cool to me

 

[plinker22]

I have heard stories about these bow only WV Counties for yrs. One of my closest friends grew up around Hurricane WV. I have seen, with my own eyes, a WV bow buck from one of those counties. It was a beast... 27 pts or something and massive. It was the WV record non-typical bow kill for several yrs.

I would love to see a few counties that are bow only in TN, but we will never see it happening. Shucks, I'd be OK if it was my county and all the ones that touch it.

Wow, I could sure make some enemies with those words. But again, will NEVER happen. Now, I have to go clean my mzl and oil my rifle.

 

[Vermin93]

Is it simply coincidence that the 4 archery-only counties in West Virginia just happen to be the 4 counties closest to East TN?

Archery only in Unit B!

 

[huntforme7909]

WV also has entire counties closed to deer hunting. Entire counties! That's probably the only example of that anywhere in the Eastern Whitetail range.

Out of curiosity, why are these counties archery only? For what reason?


http://www.GoCarnivore.com

I can't be sure but stories I've heard is that a long time ago the deer numbers were almost nonexistent there. So I guess they made it bow only to try to get the numbers up and never changed it back. Hope they never do. I'm thinking those entire counties you are talking about are those four counties completely closed to firearms season. I've never heard of any counties completely closed to deer season. Especially up north wv. It's like west tn up there with herd densities.

 

[huntforme7909]

I have heard stories about these bow only WV Counties for yrs. One of my closest friends grew up around Hurricane WV. I have seen, with my own eyes, a WV bow buck from one of those counties. It was a beast... 27 pts or something and massive. It was the WV record non-typical bow kill for several yrs.

I would love to see a few counties that are bow only in TN, but we will never see it happening. Shucks, I'd be OK if it was my county and all the ones that touch it.

Wow, I could sure make some enemies with those words. But again, will NEVER happen. Now, I have to go clean my mzl and oil my rifle.

I'm familiar with hurricane. And I agree with you on the counties touching me being bow only.

 

[tree_ghost]

The exact same situation has occurred in Georgia with the counties that Atlanta occupies. They made it archery only due to human population densities and every year there are booners taken out of the 20 and 30 acre patches of woods that lay between subdivisions. It is by and large some of the best hunting in the state...I don't think Tennessee would ever go this route there are to many in opposition to that idea but the results speak for themselves...I have been looking into the possibility of some very large bow only leases but I am finding this to be extremely difficult...


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[chris1976]

Simple solution. First, work very hard. Second, live frugal and save all your money. Third, buy a piece of your own land and declare it bow only. Fourth, let everyone else hunt like they want to. Antler envy and greed. Maybe we should only be allowed to hunt every third year? Maybe only leap years [emoji41]


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[TLRanger]

I would love to see some more WMA's go to archery only...Cheatham, Natchez Trace, and Laurel Hill would be some good ones.

 

[TheLBLman]

The exact same situation has occurred in Georgia with the counties that Atlanta occupies. They made it archery only due to human population densities and every year there are booners taken out of the 20 and 30 acre patches of woods that lay between subdivisions. It is by and large some of the best hunting in the state...I don't think Tennessee would ever go this route there are to many in opposition to that idea but the results speak for themselves...

That is only "the best hunting in Georgia" IF you're an avid bowhunter, and don't mind hunting in an URBAN atmosphere.

You can expect to see more of this in metropolitan areas all across the nation, even in Tennessee. Wouldn't surprise me if Davidson, Shelby and Knox Counties become "archery only" within the next decade.

 

[tree_ghost]

I do concede the fact that you would have to be a bow hunter to take advantage of the opportunity and that will end up excluding some people...

Also how do you highlight quotes in red???


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[huntforme7909]

Yes I agree with the population being very dense and herds of deer bedded on the interstate. But that is Charlestown and north of there. The southern part of the state for whatever reason doesn't have that problem at all. And Sunday hunting being illegal is a bad deal in my opinion too because that's one day when the average worker can actually go hunting without taking off work. However Sunday hunting is legal there on private land or on your own land. And the counties you are mentioning being closed due to mountain top mining was new to me. Must be some of the northern counties that I've never gone to hunt. I appreciate everyone's input without cutting my head off or getting into a big debate. I have lived in tn since 2002 and I thoroughly enjoy it here and have no thoughts of ever leaving. I love it here and the hunting. Just wanted some opinions from fellow bow hunters and all hunters alike on this topic. I value everyone's opinions for the most part on tndeer and I gain a lot of knowledge from here. Otherwise I wouldn't waste my time. But anyway thanks again.

 

[Hardwoodmaterials]

I don't bow hunt but I wouldn't mind seeing a couple of the draw hunt WMA's like Laurel Hill try out archery only at least for a few years to see if it improves the hunting over there.

 

[TheLBLman]

Personally, I'd prefer to see a few WMA's simply have a single weekend a year of buck hunting (somewhat similar to the President's Island WMA),
BUT, make it with a gun.

MOST of Tennessee's deer hunters do not bowhunt, and I see no reason to make a trophy-managed WMA archery-only in view of this. It is public land belong to all of us, not just those who bowhunt.

 

[huntforme7909]

Personally, I'd prefer to see a few WMA's simply have a single weekend a year of buck hunting (somewhat similar to the President's Island WMA),
BUT, make it with a gun.

MOST of Tennessee's deer hunters do not bowhunt, and I see no reason to make a trophy-managed WMA archery-only in view of this. It is public land belong to all of us, not just those who bowhunt.

I agree. It is everyone's and shouldn't be made to cut people out that don't bow hunt. I can see that point of view well.

 

[TheLBLman]

In the meantime, there will be increasing opportunities for "archery-only" deer hunting, large areas that will never get gun-hunted.

 

[catman529]

Personally, I'd prefer to see a few WMA's simply have a single weekend a year of buck hunting (somewhat similar to the President's Island WMA),
BUT, make it with a gun.

MOST of Tennessee's deer hunters do not bowhunt, and I see no reason to make a trophy-managed WMA archery-only in view of this. It is public land belong to all of us, not just those who bowhunt.

that's the thing, anyone who can buy and use a gun can buy and use a crossbow. The "can't bowhunt" argument doesn't make sense, anyone can bowhunt whether its traditional, compound or crossbow. The thing is people don't want to, because it takes more effort and much closer distances to shoot.


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[Mudbone]

Personally, I'd prefer to see a few WMA's simply have a single weekend a year of buck hunting (somewhat similar to the President's Island WMA),
BUT, make it with a gun.

MOST of Tennessee's deer hunters do not bowhunt, and I see no reason to make a trophy-managed WMA archery-only in view of this. It is public land belong to all of us, not just those who bowhunt.

that's the thing, anyone who can buy and use a gun can buy and use a crossbow. The "can't bowhunt" argument doesn't make sense, anyone can bowhunt whether its traditional, compound or crossbow. The thing is people don't want to, because it takes more effort and much closer distances to shoot.


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