Prentice Cooper muzzleloader hunt

[AveryPC]

I was drawn for the late October muzzleloader hunt this year at Prentice Cooper and am trying to decide if its even worth the 30 minute drive. I also drew the early bow hunt and saw one lone spike and the only thing I came home with was a dirty truck. I am new to the area and the idea of hunting "mountain deer" so I am sure that it is not the hunt or location but rather me. Any advice from people that have participated in this hunt before? Is it worth it to go?

 

[Buzzard Breath]

I've never hunted PC, but the only way your going to get better hunting mountain deer is to spend time in the woods. I'd go and use it as a learning experience. Who knows, you might get lucky. It's youth weekend everywhere else. What else is there to do?

 

[AveryPC]

It being youth weekend is the main thing pushing me to go right now. I hunted all three days of the archery hunt in what felt like a great spot where I had seen sign and deer while scouting. Maybe I can push out those memories with some good ones this weekend.

 

[dhpro]

The had 180 kids up there this weekend. Weather did not cooperate with there hunt. Think around 20 last I heard?

 

[Racknquack]

Gotta keep trying if you want to learn an area. Sometimes it takes years. Enjoy the hunt, allow yourself to chill and relax and don't judge your hunt by killing a deer learning a new area. Every hunt builds pieces of the puzzle and it will eventually all come together.

 

[oldmanelrod]

Only way to learn the place is to get out and hunt it. That is the first step to it.

 

[AveryPC]

Thanks for the advice, I think it'll be a few years before I really have a good gameplay there. I did not know about the youth weekend, that sounds like a great event.

 

[Racknquack]

It may take a few years and that's ok. I promise that's when it will mean something. If someone told you a spot and you killed one it wouldn't mean as much as you hunting it for years, learning the place and then killing.

 

[EastTNHunter]

Get away from the fields and areas that look like deer hunting videos. They have sign before hunts, but people flock to them during hunts. Hunt thickets and mind the wind. Look for areas that are rough or tough to get to. Hunt away from roads and maybe off of the edge of the mountain. Be willing to work for it and you'll probably earn a deer

 

[Hduke86]

There's ZERO deer at PC, trust me I know. Been all over the place and they're like a ghost.

 

[Hduke86]

The had 180 kids up there this weekend. Weather did not cooperate with there hunt. Think around 20 last I heard?

There was 180 kids at the "gathering" maybe cause when the gate opened maybe 10 trucks and when we came out of the woods at 10:30ish. We only saw probably 2-3 trucks still out there hunting.

 

[AveryPC]

They sure felt like ghosts last time I went

 

[CROW74]

I'll be there bright and early!

 

[Laserman1]

Sent you pm

 

[AveryPC]

I'll be there bright and early!

Good Luck!

 

[AveryPC]

I'll be there bright and early!

You have any luck today? I wasn't able to get out today, but I will be there tomorrow to test my luck.

 

[CROW74]

I bumped several deer when I walked in. But when the sun came up the wind went to rolling pretty good. I left around 1 or so and only 6 had been killed. Thinking I may go to South Cherokee tomorrow.

 

[CROW74]

Need some cooler temps

 

[Dully]

You have any luck today? I wasn't able to get out today, but I will be there tomorrow to test my luck.

Watch for snakes,warm as it is ticks probably still active

 

[AveryPC]

I bumped several deer when I walked in. But when the sun came up the wind went to rolling pretty good. I left around 1 or so and only 6 had been killed. Thinking I may go to South Cherokee tomorrow.

Was there a lot of traffic this morning and is there a check station, I did not see one at the archery hunt but supposedly there was one.

 

[AveryPC]

Watch for snakes,warm as it is ticks probably still active

I've been warned about the snakes multiple times, would have never thought that would have been an issue beforehand.

 

[CROW74]

Wasn't to bad. Yes there is a checking station there. Just as you enter into the WMA there on the left where all the orange cones and barrels are at. Good Luck !

 

[Heath423]

Good luck to all. PC is tuff to hunt but there are some tanks taken up there every year. I have yet to punch a tag there but hoping a few things I learned on my last trip or two will pay off soon.

 

[AveryPC]

I had a nice 8 pointer come in about 75 yards today, rushing the shot in combination with iron sights led to a clean miss. Board at the check station said a 12 pointer had been killed.

 

[encore06]

We used to hunt there in the early 80's when PC opened a week earlier than the regular archery season. It was a open, non quota archery hunt. We would camp in the camping area and would have to listen to drunken Rednecks all night. Hunted it several years and dinner ever remember seeing more than a couple of deer

 

[Heath423]

I had a nice 8 pointer come in about 75 yards today, rushing the shot in combination with iron sights led to a clean miss. Board at the check station said a 12 pointer had been killed.

This post nearly totally contradicts your opening thread starter . It sounds like you are starting to figure the place out. Good for you and good luck on your return.

 

[Racknquack]

Yep started out in the middle of things!

 

[AveryPC]

This post nearly totally contradicts your opening thread starter . It sounds like you are starting to figure the place out. Good for you and good luck on your return.

I wouldn't say figured out...I woke up late and did not have time to get to where I wanted so I pulled over at a gravel patch, walked back to what I thought looked alright on topo and when the sun came up there were rubs and scrapes all around me. I'd rather be lucky than good.