Prentice Cooper early bow hunt, anybody going?

[RutnStrut]

I picked up one of the left over permits for Prentice Cooper yesterday to get an early jump on deer season and was wondering who all on the site is going? Never been to this particular WMA myself, but always enjoy going to new places. Any advice from Prentice Cooper veterans would be appreciated too.

 

[Grundyhunter]

I got drawed but not sure if i will be going. Depends on when my daughters surgery is. I have never hunted there, but always heard to watch out for the rattlesnakes....

 

[RutnStrut]

Heard the same thing about the rattlesnakes, hopefully a few veterans on the site will chime in and give us some much needed advice.

 

[Poleaxe]

Never been there. My old man wouldn't ever let me go. He was always afraid I would get snake bit. Said after his last trip yrs ago he wasn't going back after they saw over a dozen copperheads in one day. So I never went either.

 

[RutnStrut]

Copperheads too, sounds like I will really need to be watching where I step. Alot of info on the snakes, what about the deer hunting there?

 

[Poleaxe]

? I will ask him in a little bit and get back to you.

 

[DirtyBear0311]

I've hunted there a bit in the past but it was for regular gun hunts. It was really hard hunting for me and was pretty crowded. There are a bunch of food plots there but I never had any luck on them. I would go as far back along the main road as I could and find a saddle or a bench that has a food plot on it and some thick stuff nearby. I would then try to ambush them on the way to and from the food. Or you could always try and identify their escape routes and use the hunter numbers to your advantage by getting the deer as they escape pressure.

Btw, I never saw a single snake after about 8 or so hunts despite it being pretty warm on some days. I would still be careful though.

 

[RutnStrut]

DirtyBear,
Good info, thats the kind of information I need. Anyone know about camping there?

 

[HDUKE1986]

There are a couple of places to camp one by the entrance and one by Davis pond out there and I too have hunted it a bunch just like dirty bear said theres a lot of food plots but dont waste your time I have killed a few does by exactly how he put it find the escape routes along the bluff line and the deer will use them when the hunters start moving around and for snakes ive only seen one and that was during Turkey season

 

[RutnStrut]

HDuke, appreciate the info, kind of got an idea what too look for when I get up there to scout. That is actually how I hunt Catoosa.

 

[RutnStrut]

Just bumping this thread to see if anybody on this site is going and maybe camping at Prentice Cooper on the early archery hunt?

 

[waitfor8]

Not going but be careful about leaving your portable stand in the woods to go eat lunch. Had mine stolen there once. Good Luck.

 

[RutnStrut]

waitfor8,
I will keep that in mind. Did you see many deer while you were up there? Me and buddy are going up there in morning just to look around a little. I know it is a little early, but hopefully we might find some early rubs or at least some good trails.

 

[waitfor8]

I killed a nice 6pt but had to really get off the beaten trail and down on a fairly steep hillside...took two of us 2 hours to drag it out. It's been a few years since I was there. There were a lot of hunters on that bow hunt...too many for me to want to go back. Good luck!

 

[nightowl]

I've hunter there for about 15 years and can say I've only seen 1 snake during that time. It was a big rattlesnake but I was just riding 4 wheeler in July.

 

[cozy23]

Hunted it the past 2 years. Haven't seen a snake yet. I will be there camping/hunting for the hunt. Never killed there but my 2 buddies did first morning 2 years ago. My advice would be the same as others... off the beaten path and not on food plots. See ya there.

Oh! Also there were tons of hunters 2 years ago but last year there were nowhere near the amount as the year before.

 

[Jroberts238]

I will be there. Never hunted PC before but used to ride there a lot.

From everything I have heard everyone is going to be off the beaten path haha. I have heard 20+ people say they will be hunting escape routes and bluff lines.

I'm going up friday to take a look around. I'm gonna follow suit on the first couple days with the escape route plan but thinking about finding a few spots to sit on top as well.

 

[RutnStrut]

Went up this morning and looked around a little. Alot of people up there on ATV's and dirt bikes riding on this Labor Day holiday. I looked mainly on the tops but did not see alot of sign. Plenty of acorns dropping already up there though. Me and my buddy will probably give it a try anyways since we got a permit and for the opportunity to get in the woods early. Look forward to seeing a few of you up there.

 

[Jroberts238]

you would think with all the activity up there year around that the deer wouldn't be so skiddish to have to hunt the escape routes.

When we used to ride up there we would have to stop for packs of deer that wouldn't give us a second thought.

Did you happen to go all the way back toward Haley Road?

 

[Jroberts238]

Any more news for PC? Or at least any that anyone wants to share lol.

I did end up going last Friday. I saw a few signs around creek beds but really had a hard time in all the green. Early season scouting is not my thing obviously.

The spot I have picked out might produce but it's on top and from what the gentlemen said I ran into on the trail everyone and their mother likes. So we will see.

I did jump a doe on accident. She was pretty and would have made nice steaks!

 

[Hill Country Hunter]

I got drawed but not sure if i will be going. Depends on when my daughters surgery is. I have never hunted there, but always heard to watch out for the rattlesnakes....

Very true, they are here and like to sun themselves on a clear September morning. I ran into one I swear was 4 feet long and as big around as my upper arm or calf. Beautiful creatures, though. I've seen a few copperheads, too, so just watch where you step or put your hands. (Most of the acres are steep enough you may need your hands to climb the hill.)

 

[sasquatchgonehuntin]

Be careful. Snakes are still out. I walked up on a Timber rattler and a copperhead yesterday evening. Both were laid out sunning.

 

[Hill Country Hunter]

To be fair, I have killed three deer, two antlerless with my bow and one eight-point with my muzzleloader--but this will be my 10th season hunting there. If you count days spent turkey hunting and scouting for turkeys and deer, I have probably been into those woods 25 times for each deer I took.

PC is typical Tennessee mountain hunting--lots of timber, lots of steep land, lots of rock, and just enough deer to make you know you just might get one if you are really lucky. If your idea of a good hunt requires that you kill a deer, it is probably not the place to spend much time. If you like hiking and climbing, sitting in trees, watching squirrels and chipmunks, and maybe on some hunts seeing some deer or turkeys that you can't kill, then it is the perfect place.

 

[Urban_Hunter]

I PLAN ON GOING TOMORROW SCOUTING .I KILL A 6 POITER ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO ON MUZZLELOADER HUNT .IT LIKE HUNTING A NEEDLE IN HAY STACK BUT A REASON TO BE IN WOODS .I WILL BE GOING ON THE OPEN HUNT .WHEN HUNTING YOU WILL SEE ALOT OF KMART SHOPPERS THAT CAN SIT STILL AND HAS TOO WALK ALL OVER WHERE YOU ARE ,I HAVE ABOUNT 6 HUNTERS ABOUT 50 YARDS ALL AROUND ME .

Why can't you turn your caps lock off?

 

[Anonymous]

I PLAN ON GOING TOMORROW SCOUTING .I KILL A 6 POITER ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO ON MUZZLELOADER HUNT .IT LIKE HUNTING A NEEDLE IN HAY STACK BUT A REASON TO BE IN WOODS .I WILL BE GOING ON THE OPEN HUNT .WHEN HUNTING YOU WILL SEE ALOT OF KMART SHOPPERS THAT CAN SIT STILL AND HAS TOO WALK ALL OVER WHERE YOU ARE ,I HAVE ABOUNT 6 HUNTERS ABOUT 50 YARDS ALL AROUND ME .

Why can't you turn your caps lock off?

Does it really matter, give her a break

 

[Urban_Hunter]

10)Finally, TYPING A POST IN ALL CAPS IS THE MOST ANNYONING HABIT YOU CAN USE ON TNDEER. FOR GOD�S SAKE, ALL IT TAKES IS FOR THAT LITTLE PINKY FINGER TO HIT ONE KEY OVER TO THE LEFT ON YOUR KEYBOARD. IF YOU ARE TOO DUMB TO FIGURE THAT OUT, THEN PLEASE MOVE ON.

Sincerely,
Tennessee Todd
General Manager
Tndeer Talk Forums

It is annoying, hard to read, and it is in the TNDEER commandments.

http://www.tndeer.com/tndeertalk/ubbthr ... part=1&q=1

 

[Anonymous]

Just seems to me rather than being rude that the ignore button is a better solution

 

[Urban_Hunter]

Just seems to me rather than being rude that the ignore button is a better solution

I wasn't being rude, I was asking a serious question. Maybe there is a legitimate reason she has refused to acknowledge numerous requests to stop posting in all caps. Maybe typing on a phone app or hearing/speaking/typing aid... I don't know. I just have seen many people request her to stop typing in all caps and she just ignores it, I was just wondering why. It seems like a simple request to me...

 

[Urban_Hunter]

SOME HAVE TROUBLE WITH MY CAP.LETTERS AND MY DOUBLE POST I DIDN'T REALIZE IT .I HAD TO TEACH MYSELF HOW TO WORK THE COMPUTER .AND IT'S HARD TYPING WITH ONE HAND AND MEDS MAKES SMALL LETTERS HARD TO SEE THEY BECAUSE THEY GLARE

See there.... had no clue. As mentioned above, did not mean to be rude. I figured there was a reason, sorry if I hurt any feelings Southrn Chick.

other guy... not so much

 

[Anonymous]

THANK YOU WALKING TALL !!

Give em hell chief tap a keg