First Time Tips

[Blot64]

Hey everyone! Long time lurker, first time poster. Do any of you all have any tips for a first time deer hunter in Davidson County? Any good local public spots within a decent driving distance?

Love the forums and hoping to start posting more often. Thank you for your time. Good luck out there this weekend!

 

[MUP]

Welcome in! Sure someone will chime in before too long with some advice for you.

 

[MMHunter]

Cheatham or priest just choose an area and SCOUT! Important to do go scouting on public ground.

 

[Blot64]

Thanks MUP! Alright, I can do that. I've been to Cheatham once or twice, but didnt see much activity up there.

 

[BigPete357]

There is some good public land available around you. If you have lots of time to hunt, I would say go to Cheatham and learn it. There are deer there, no matter what folks may tell you. I only wish it was closer to me. I am in Spring Hill and it is just too far.

I hunt mostly public land. My best advice is to just go and find some spots and hunt. Go during the middle of the day and walk around and you will find them. Always have a couple of good locations in case someone is hunting in your area when you get there. You can then just go to plan B. I have only had this happen once, but managed to kill a nice deer that day at my second spot.

Good luck and welcome!

 

[Blot64]

Thanks BP! Good advice. Cheatham is an overwhelming area...something like 20k acres? Really big. Do you hunt the WMA close to you down that way?

 

[BigPete357]

I mostly hunt Yanahli, but have been to a few other WMAs around here. All have something to offer.

 

[TRIGGER]

Welcome to the site.

 

[bowriter]

If you will put i8n the time and boot leather during the off season, you can find some excellent places on Cheatham. The key is, don't get stuck in the "how far back can I walk" syndrome. Some of the best hunting is within sight of the roads...where everybody won't hunt.

Here is one tip. At the entrance to the area, just as you turn onto the main road and within 50-yards of the blacktop, on your right, is a place to park, just a pull off. Park there and you will see an old road (maybe) paralleling the blacktop. Get 9n the road and start scouting both sides. I have probably killed a dozen deer in that area and could see cars going down the blacktop. That is just a start.

I have not hunted Cheatham in probably 10-years but prior to that, I hunted and guided there for close to 20-years. I have killed a couple "good" bucks there and a ton of "just deer". I have never killed on more than 250-yards from a road.