LBL First Draw Hunt

[Crappieaddict]

A buddy and I were drawn for Area 15 for this weekend. He has decided not to participate. I have never been there, can't go early, and am basically clueless. My question, is it worth the 6+ hour drive under these circumstances? I can stay here and see deer, so I am on the fence.

 

[Roost 1]

Not for me it wouldn't be

 

[scn]

It depends on the quality of the deer you are seeing at home. IMO, there will be significant rutting activity at LBL this weekend and there will be some really nice bucks taken. Some years I would question the trip, but with the current weather and stage of the rut, you stand the chance of seeing something really special.

 

[THEdonkey0515]

I agree with SCN.

If I knew I had good bucks in the area around home I would try to get a shot at one of them.

If not I would give LBL a try. They will be some big deer roaming around up there for sure.

In 2011 during this LBL hunt we went up a day early had 3 spots picked out marked on GPS. Well it didnt matter spot #1 had like 4 trucks parked there I was so disappointed. Spot 2 and 3 also had trucks parked around.

We went in completely blind in the dark down a road we never been down. Dad grabbed a coin outta the ash tray said heads I'll go on this side of the road, tails the other...you go which ever side I dont go. Alright I guess

Hour after daylight I had a nice 11pt down trailing a doe.So you never know any spot can produce the big one during the rut with hunters storming the woods

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I've been wondering the same thing. I hate that it's only 2 days of hunting. I have big deer here to hunt but enjoy the adventure. Since they aren't bonus deer though, I just can't shoot one unless it's a stud so that kind of sucks.


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[Crappieaddict]

I like the idea of the adventure, but have never set foot on LBL. No idea how many people are drawn for an area. Also, I have made no preparations, so that leaves sleeping in the truck! Logical thinking says no, but I've never been accused of thinking logically! :drool:

 

[BULL MOOSE]

If you have the time, then go. Camp in your car at campground and I'm sure you can make some friends and swap some tales around the campfire. By yourself to a hotel won't be the same, but it is a neat place ad this should be a good weekend.

I had like 4 priority points ad forgot to enter this year. I hope I did ot lose them.

Good luck

 

[Bone Collector]

I wish i was drawn this year with the weather, but we didn't get drawn. Hopefully next year will have good weather like this.

6+ hours is a llllloooooonnnngggg drive. IDK if I'd have put in with a drive like that. That being said, in 2016 when I got drawn, I killed a nice 10 pt, and they should be moving good, so like others said, if you don;t have many good deer running around go to LBL, but if you do I'd probably stay home.

 

[Skinnyindian]

I saw a headline where they are starting this month on the hog eradication in LBL by helicopter. Not sure of the dates or the areas but I would check into before the drive.

 

[Crappieaddict]

I wish i was drawn this year with the weather, but we didn't get drawn. Hopefully next year will have good weather like this.

6+ hours is a llllloooooonnnngggg drive. IDK if I'd have put in with a drive like that. That being said, in 2016 when I got drawn, I killed a nice 10 pt, and they should be moving good, so like others said, if you don;t have many good deer running around go to LBL, but if you do I'd probably stay home.

Well, after a bit more research, it's not hardly 6 hours......more like 4.5.

 

[THEdonkey0515]

When did they start allowing 2 deer at LBL thought it use to be 1 deer on quota hunts?

I still dont understand the whole a deer hunter cant kill a hog, but we are gonna send attack helicopters at them, and kill them to leave them lay. Maybe that's just me.

 

[Crappieaddict]

:bash:Thanks to all of you for the input. Obviously, a lot of things change between application in July and hunting in November. I am still really torn, but still being somewhat a novice, my confidence is lacking. That's why I applied with an experienced hunter. :bash: I'm kind of ashamed that I am still a novice deer hunter at 60!

 

[BULL MOOSE]

:bash:Thanks to all of you for the input. Obviously, a lot of things change between application in July and hunting in November. I am still really torn, but still being somewhat a novice, my confidence is lacking. That's why I applied with an experienced hunter. :bash: I'm kind of ashamed that I am still a novice deer hunter at 60!

Just go for it! You will not regret it. Just drive into the area, find a parking spot and walk 150 yards I the woods. The deer are gonna be everywhere whe chasing does and the shooting begins...strategy can go out the window.

You can relive this life event in your head 15 years from now when you may ot be able to go.

 

[SKFOOTER]

I drew Area 16 this weekend. Would you recommend hunting from the ground or a stand?

 

[deerfever]

I enjoy going to LBL and live about 4 hours away. I will never forget getting area 15 with a buddy of mine one year. We scouted all over and stands seemed to be hung everywhere we went. The next morning I devised a master plan! We drive around until we come to a spot with no vehicles and we get out and hunt! He killed an absolute beautiful 10 that morning chasing a doe. I seen several but nothing that I wanted. Bull Moose is right just find and area that looks good and hope for a chase or a cruising buck. Good luck if you go!

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I have poured through the rules and don't see an issue with this but thought I would pose it here.... Parking in a closed area and walking through it to get to an area that's open for hunting... okay or no?


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[poorhunter]

I would go if I were you and had the time to go.

 

[Heath423]

Just go for it. I think since you are asking, you just need the extra nudge to go.
I have only hunted there 1 time and it was 20 years ago, not sure which area. I was a lot younger and still fairly new to hunting. On day 2 i just walked up the ridge a couple hundred yards off the road and sat down. The wind was in my favor and a doe came in and bedded down about 50 feet from me for about an hour. About mid morning i heard a buck grunt and on the other ridge in front of me was the biggest bodied and antlered buck that I have ever seen in the wild to this day in TN. I should of had it but instead I was shaking to bad and had a clean miss. I still think about that deer!
So yes i encourage you to go. No regrets.

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[Rackseeker]

I have poured through the rules and don't see an issue with this but thought I would pose it here.... Parking in a closed area and walking through it to get to an area that's open for hunting... okay or no?


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If you want a ticket, I have seen several people over the years get tickets in area 16 for being on a closed area.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I have poured through the rules and don't see an issue with this but thought I would pose it here.... Parking in a closed area and walking through it to get to an area that's open for hunting... okay or no?


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If you want a ticket, I have seen several people over the years get tickets in area 16 for being on a closed area.

That is the area I'm referring to. Closed to hunting for sure. Of course I wouldn't be hunting there, just walking through. Leave it to the Feds to be anal I guess.


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[PickettSFHunter]

There is so much hog sign in this place it's insane. I can't believe it's been allowed to get this bad. I live in a place where we've had hogs for a very long time and it's not even this bad.


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[TN RDG RNR]

Came up early to bow hunt a couple days before the gun hunt. 100% agree with scn. Been seeing deer all day long can't wait to get a rifle in my hands tomorrow.

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[THEdonkey0515]

Agree with the hog sign seen way more then normal today.

Seen 8 doe in fields on the way out of LBL this evening.

 

[TX300mag]

I have poured through the rules and don't see an issue with this but thought I would pose it here.... Parking in a closed area and walking through it to get to an area that's open for hunting... okay or no?


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If you want a ticket, I have seen several people over the years get tickets in area 16 for being on a closed area.

Same here. I've watched them write tickets for parking in closed areas there myself.


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[TX300mag]

I have poured through the rules and don't see an issue with this but thought I would pose it here.... Parking in a closed area and walking through it to get to an area that's open for hunting... okay or no?


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If you want a ticket, I have seen several people over the years get tickets in area 16 for being on a closed area.

That is the area I'm referring to. Closed to hunting for sure. Of course I wouldn't be hunting there, just walking through. Leave it to the Feds to be anal I guess.


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I called them once when I had kids on a four-wheeler tearing through 16. They were there in LITERALLY four minutes. I was impressed.


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[THEdonkey0515]

Sounted this spot yesterday didnt see a soul. Got here around 5:15 this morning no one around.

Set in car awhile. Drank coffee, got set up around 6 nice and quite.

6:35 dude has to be parked right on top of me. And not 1, not 2, but 3 hunters walk past me within 40 yards making crazy amount of noise.

O well crap happens I guess.

 

[Headhunter]

There is so much hog sign in this place it's insane. I can't believe it's been allowed to get this bad. I live in a place where we've had hogs for a very long time and it's not even this bad.


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i was drawn for this hunt. That is most of the reason I am not there and I am working today.

 

[THEdonkey0515]

There is so much hog sign in this place it's insane. I can't believe it's been allowed to get this bad. I live in a place where we've had hogs for a very long time and it's not even this bad.


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i was drawn for this hunt. That is most of the reason I am not there and I am working today.

Dont seem to affect the deer kill numbers, I was at the check in station last night for maybe 15 mins.. 5 deer 8 point or better got checked in while I was there Got back to hotel a family friend had a nice 11 point in the bed of his truck.

I missed a real nice deer around 2pm yesterday and killed a doe with about 20 mins of light left. Let two doe walk in a different spot that morning.

Aged my doe at 7 1/2

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I've seen a pile of deer and a pile of hogs. If they were bonus deer I would have taken a nice 8 but not going to end my season with one. My dad got an 11 point.


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[bjohnson]

I've seen 16 hogs so far this morning. 0 deer!