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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Carpdaddy on September 24, 2016, 08:00:00 AM
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Anyone familiar with this area? I'm headed that way tomorrow to hunt the forest surrounding it for a week. Any tips, thoughts on what to expect, or warnings appreciated.
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I have never hunted that area but I have worked around there many times. Your in a good location.
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Thanks; that's encouraging.
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Good insect repellent and lots of cold water. Chiggers and oak mites rule this time of year and temps will be favorable for the parasites.
Good news it is a very nice area with lots of ground to cover.
Best of luck!
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Chiggers & oak mites oh my, that sounds fun. Permethrin & thermacell prepared.
Thanks
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Good luck Tony!! :)
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Well, I don't want to discourage you but you asked about those who have experience there. Four of my friends and I have hunted there every year for over 30 years. Last year we regretfully decided we would not be going back for the foreseeable future. Almost no deer sighted in a week of hunting several areas of the state forest and little sign (except some around the cabin areas that can't be hunted). In years past some of our group would always see some really nice bucks and everyone saw deer but haven't for a long time. Most of the guys we talked with last year were having about as much success as we were. I love that place--it's been part of my life all those years and it's hard not to go back this year. Even after I moved to WV I have gone back to hunt with my buddies every year....I sure hope it comes back. I am sure you will enjoy the area....hope you have great success.
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Thanks David even though I didn't like the sound of that! I have been taking a trip to KY's Land between the lakes for near thirty years now but this year they took away the extra tags. One of our group must have heard good things about the place and talked us into changing this year. Oh well; we always have fun and I got an Elk trip coming up soon.
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Well, no doubt there are a lot of deer there somewhere and I hope you are very fortunate to locate the sweet spots. It's a great place. They have great food at the lodge dining room--lots of smoked meats from a wood smoker! :thumbsup:
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Hope you connect Tony .
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Thanks Graps. Now I'm excited again David, food does that. Lol
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I'm with David. The public land hunting has taken a hit. We have private property in that area and it has went down too. You can't keep people off of it. Poaching has gotten out of control. I love the area but went to another area last year. Good luck.
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I hunted there just once a few years ago. I Saw lots of deer on the roads around mid day. :dunno:
From my experience; hunt the fingers. There are a lot of them. Good luck.
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Never hunted that area, but fairly close by. Experience says make sure you follow the speed limit to the T, park rangers run radar in there and right speeding tickets like crazy, or the did about 10 years ago.
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Hunt report: No deer were harmed in the making of that hunt. Had an enjoyable trip, everyone saw deer and most of us five had opportunity to fling an arrow but didn't in hope of a good quality buck. There does not seem to be the number of deer that we see here at home but that could be us. I saw what appear d to be a decent buck from a distance but not sure on its size due to it being so far away. One friend got on an active point and had several opportunities at does and small bucks. Rain set in Wed evening and washed us out finally, didn't even go out Friday as it was pouring at daybreak. I can endure it if I'm already in a tree like Wednesday & Thursday but it will keep me in the truck if I'm not already out there! Getting old has made me soft!
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Do keep in mind that last year was a very poor acorn year. I saw very few deer relating to mature timber and oak trees. This year looks to be the opposite and I'm seeing deer going/coming from the oaks and bigger trees.
Eat at Lake Hope Lodge. The flatbread pizza is phenomenal. Most of the dinner entrees are really first class.
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I'm one of the folks who has hunted with Dave Mitchell at or around Lake Hope for 30 years. I understand the number of deer in any area can be a bit cyclic, but a series of things has happened over the last 15 years that has dramatically reduced the number of deer and big bucks in the area. Here's a few examples.
A number of years ago a national hunting magazine published an article relating the hunting experience of one of it's contributing authors while at Lake Hope. The number of in and out of state hunters increased dramatically. Lots of hunting pressure. (Even last year, we saw license plates from Minnesota, Maine, Vermont, Kansas, Arkansas, etc. ). Not complaining about out of state, simply showing what one well intentioned article can do in terms of attracting a large crowd.
Second, inclusion of cross bows seemed to increase the number of hunters by more than 50%. Eight out of ten hunters I saw last year had crossbows. Again, not complaining, just trying to show how a regulation change can affect the number of hunters.
Third, about 15 years ago the State forest folks began a program of clear cuts, and also pulled out a lot of logs for lumber sales. I think small clear cuts can actually produce a 'food plot' kind of situation, and that's usually a good thing. But the clear cuts were not small. They often included 100 acres or more. And they were often located right at the edge of the forest next to private land. Within a couple of years these spots became a thick, impossible to penetrate area. Great for deer, but not people. It's possible these thickets became the preferred bedding areas and the deer had little or no need to travel through the huntable woods when they could go from the thicket right on to private land where all the crops are planted.
Fourth, the number of commercial stands, the free standing type with a small cabin on top, on private property next to the forest increased dramatically. One of the Park Rangers told me most of the surrounding private land was taken up with hunting leases and the number of hunters active right next to the park increased.
So, you might ask, how were the number of deer affected? Well, here's a non-scientific illustration. Many years ago, one of the things we did to see where the concentrations of deer might be located, was to drive the park roads at night and count deer. We would drive a 15 mile loop around the park and usually see more than a 100 deer. Last year we did the same thing and saw three small deer all at the park entrance eating grass around the welcome sign.
Like Dave, I hope the area rebounds. I have 30+ years of fond memories of hunts and fellowship at Lake Hope. But, right now, it's simply not the premier spot it used to be.