Old Hickory WMA islands hunting

[newhere]

Hey all. I broke down and bought a kayak big enough to haul me and a deer. Just wondering if anyone has any luck hunting the islands of old hick or if you have better luck at other water accessible areas as opposed to the islands. Going to be hunting rifle in late season. mid dec to the end of the season. Honestly not even looking for bucks, just looking for a few freezer filling does. Any input?

 

[WestTn Huntin man]

I've seen them swimming out to the islands after gun started.They bed up in really thick stuff that's hard to in the traditional style.Team up with someone and do Mini Drives. Drop off a driver on one end and push the deer to the other end. Hunting on the ground you need to be very aware of bullet flight. Boats on the water , cattle, horses, and houses around the banks.

 

[newhere]

I've seen them swimming out to the islands after gun started.They bed up in really thick stuff that's hard to in the traditional style.Team up with someone and do Mini Drives. Drop off a driver on one end and push the deer to the other end. Hunting on the ground you need to be very aware of bullet flight. Boats on the water , cattle, horses, and houses around the banks.

Thats some good advice. how far does a bullet travel after passthrough?

 

[DeerCamp]

Thats some good advice. how far does a bullet travel after passthrough?

No way to predict that without knowing what it passed through. But I've seen hunting videos where the bullet goes through 1 deer and then kills another behind it.

Point being, need a solid backstop no matter what.

 

[CHRIS WILSON]

Never hunted any of the islands out on Old Hickory but I've seen quite a few deer on the shore areas. Haven't come across any what I would call mature bucks, mainly does.

 

[WestTn Huntin man]

Thats some good advice. how far does a bullet travel after passthrough?

Many variables. Bullet type and load ? Trajectory ?? A mile or Mile and a half ?? A bullet can fall and skip across a lake. A Bow , A Shotgun or M.L. would be the safest option. If you're shooting uphill the fall of a bullet can extend the range. Lot's of Ballistic charts to look up what you are shooting. Resident TnDeer Experts can advise you better than me.

 

[newhere]

Many variables. Bullet type and load ? Trajectory ?? A mile or Mile and a half ?? A bullet can fall and skip across a lake. A Bow , A Shotgun or M.L. would be the safest option. If you're shooting uphill the fall of a bullet can extend the range. Lot's of Ballistic charts to look up what you are shooting. Resident TnDeer Experts can advise you better than me.

Thanks this is great info. ill look into just shooting from an elevated area instead of straight or make sure the deers backed again 50 yards of thick trees

 

[AveryPC]

The islands hold quite a few deer, but some of the best spots are the small tracts of public that are up against private on the shore.

 

[newhere]

The islands hold quite a few deer, but some of the best spots are the small tracts of public that are up against private on the shore.

The islands hold quite a few deer, but some of the best spots are the small tracts of public that are up against private on the shore.

Thank you so much this was my question. i see tons of strips that are maybe 50 yards or less thick between shore and private. ive never hunted deer before so im trying my best to be safe and legal and also down 1 or 2 this year. ill do some scouting along those. thank you.

 

[TboneD]

Me and a friend tried some two man drives on a couple of those skinny islands during muzzleloader season many years ago, which I don't recommend. I pushed at least one doe to him and he never shot. Asked him why, and he said she was "totin' the mail!" First time I'd ever heard the expression but I knew what he meant.

 

[newhere]

Me and a friend tried some two man drives on a couple of those skinny islands during muzzleloader season many years ago, which I don't recommend. I pushed at least one doe to him and he never shot. Asked him why, and he said she was "totin' the mail!" First time I'd ever heard the expression but I knew what he meant.

hahahahahah for sure. well i appreciate it. any other advice for the lake if i have a kyack?

 

[TboneD]

hahahahahah for sure. well i appreciate it. any other advice for the lake if i have a kyack?

Yes sir. For starters, it's not a bad idea. It's doable for sure, although the hunting will be tougher later in the season after all leaves are down and duck season is open. Be sure that you know where you are in relation to the property lines, realizing that OnX isn't always right. Use enough gun, and I might also be taking high shoulder shots to make your deer is anchored on public ground. The buddy I mentioned shot a doe that year that bolted across a fence and that was that. He didn't want to go to all the trouble of hunting down the landowner.

Be safe in the kayak and you probably know fog can be really bad out on the lake. Good luck with it. Priest is another good option but you probably know you can't shoot a centerfire.

 

[newhere]

Yes sir. For starters, it's not a bad idea. It's doable for sure, although the hunting will be tougher later in the season after all leaves are down and duck season is open. Be sure that you know where you are in relation to the property lines, realizing that OnX isn't always right. Use enough gun, and I might also be taking high shoulder shots to make your deer is anchored on public ground. The buddy I mentioned shot a doe that year that bolted across a fence and that was that. He didn't want to go to all the trouble of hunting down the landowner.

Be safe in the kayak and you probably know fog can be really bad out on the lake. Good luck with it. Priest is another good option but you probably know you can't shoot a centerfire.

Yeah ive been hunting priest for some squirrels just to get out in the woods and get a feel for it. This is my first year hunting so brand new to everything. im getting myself a 6.5 and will make sure placement is right. hoping to not have to trail anything very far if at all. i appreciate it tho ive been skeptical about finding some legit pub land to put my first doe down but i think this is the best bet.

 

[TboneD]

Yeah ive been hunting priest for some squirrels just to get out in the woods and get a feel for it. This is my first year hunting so brand new to everything. im getting myself a 6.5 and will make sure placement is right. hoping to not have to trail anything very far if at all. i appreciate it tho ive been skeptical about finding some legit pub land to put my first doe down but i think this is the best bet.

There ya go. Can't think of a better introduction to deer hunting than squirrel hunting. Got to take my nephew for his first hunt last month and he got five that mornin. Feel free to pm if you'd like any more help.

 

[newhere]

There ya go. Can't think of a better introduction to deer hunting than squirrel hunting. Got to take my nephew for his first hunt last month and he got five that mornin. Feel free to pm if you'd like any more help.

hey sorry honestly this sound so stupid but i literally cant figure out how to pm you. can you shoot me a message i have a couple questions for you if thats cool

 

[timberjack86]

This is why I carry a shotgun loaded with pumpkin balls. Not near the range of a rifle.

 

[WestTn Huntin man]

This is why I carry a shotgun loaded with pumpkin balls. Not near the range of a rifle.

Buckshot ??

 

[younggun308]

Buckshot ??

Slug

 

[MickThompson]

Thank you so much this was my question. i see tons of strips that are maybe 50 yards or less thick between shore and private. ive never hunted deer before so im trying my best to be safe and legal and also down 1 or 2 this year. ill do some scouting along those. thank you.

Keep in mind that you can't hunt within 100 yards of a dwelling

 

[TITANSFAN2104]

Buckshot ??

Buckshot isnt legal to deer hunt with in TN. Or at least i dont think it is

 

[timberjack86]

Buckshot ??

Rifled slug

 

[WestTn Huntin man]

Rifled slug

Pumpkin Balls was misleading to me. I've never heard that term. Thanks for clearing that up. I didn't want the Newbie getting in trouble.

 

[WestTn Huntin man]

Buckshot isnt legal to deer hunt with in TN. Or at least i dont think it is

You are correct. There's been a lot of discussion on TnDeer about it. Modern slug loads can be very accurate.1st time I've heard the term " Pumpkin Balls".

 

[348Winchester]

You are correct. There's been a lot of discussion on TnDeer about it. Modern slug loads can be very accurate.1st time I've heard the term " Pumpkin Balls".

Before the Foster rifled slug, shotguns were frequently loaded with a single round lead ball like were used in muskets.

 

[Pilchard]

Before the Foster rifled slug, shotguns were frequently loaded with a single round lead ball like were used in muskets.

Often referred to as a pumpkin ball, or if you live in WV, a punkin ball.

 

[Shikari75]

You might want to check the WMA rules for Old Hickory and Percy Priest. Seems like I remember a guy in my old neighborhood that got in a little hot water for hunting with a rifle.

 

[Gravey]

Not sure about Old Hickory but on Percy Priest rifles aren't legal. Must be shotgun or muzzleloader so you might double check that. Been several years since I've been on PP but that was the rule there and would think applies to OH too although I've been wrong before.

 

[WestTn Huntin man]

Not sure about Old Hickory but on Percy Priest rifles aren't legal. Must be shotgun or muzzleloader so you might double check that. Been several years since I've been on PP but that was the rule there and would think applies to OH too although I've been wrong before.

With the range of Modern Smokeless ML I wonder when that will change to shotgun or Primitive weapons ??