Cheatham

[lightsareout]

I just got back from driving out and checking out the Cheatham WMA. I drove all the way down HQ road and checked out a couple of the little roads that split off but didn't go in too far due to the amount of standing water and mud; not really wanting to get stuck all the way out there when its not prime hunting season.

How is that area hunted?! Some of the elevation changes were intense that I saw. I would dread having to drag a deer out if it started rolling/running down one of those ridges. Is it mostly hunt the top of the ridges and stay out of the bottoms? Currently debating if I should pursue Cheatham as a location for me to frequent next year or move on to another WMA or seek out a lease.

 

[BSK]

My hunting property looks just like Cheatham, and honestly, we've had to winch a number of deer out using ATV winches and LOTS of extra cable.

 

[WORM82]

I don't know if you still can but you used to be able to use atv's to retrieve a deer with the managers permission.

 

[thetoolman]

You call those hills? The terrain on Cheatham is only moderately sloped :lol:

Seriously though you can or at least could retrieve a downed deer by ATV with the managers permission. Many people use game carts out there. There are good deer on Cheatham, they are just hard to hunt.

 

[TNWhit3tail]

Unless you drop a deer in it's tracks you WILL be dragging/4-wheeling uphill. I started hunting there a few years ago and haven't killed a deer yet, but I've only gun hunted. I think it was 2007 when the deer got hit by EHD so as of now you can only shoot bucks during muzzleloader/gun. I still love going up there though and will actually be there later this week. Randy Cromer is the area manager and a real nice guy.

My dad and uncles used to hunt up there back in the 70's and they still had topos marked up where they killed deer which was a good tool for me to get started. They hunted the tops of ridges and saddles. Actually the biggest buck my dad killed there was on a saddle. I would recommend finding the thickest nastiest stuff you can and hunt there. That's what I've been doing the last couple years and have seen more sign and deer than I ever have...I just don't hunt there often since it's a longer drive for me. Just find one or two ridges with clearcuts and/or pine thickets and concentrate on that. The place is so big..it takes years to scout a lot of area up there..believe me I know.

Good luck!

 

[Deer Assassin]

i think it is still buck only

that is why i havent been there in years

 

[TNWhit3tail]

Buck only during Muz/Gun. You can still shoot does during archery and Juvenile hunts.

A few years ago my dad and I talked to Randy at the check station and he said they were hoping to allow does again during gun the next year but I guess the herd still isn't quite back how they want it...