Fort Stewart Hunting Information Request

[ahab78]

I apologize if this is in the wrong thread. Please let me know if it is.

I'm seeking information about hunting in Fort Stewart. I have a decent sized property nearby in Georgia that I hunt, but another fellow leases from us and I'm afraid we may blow the property out before mid-season. I'm looking to take some of the pressure off by hunting on public land. This same guy said to look into Fort Stewart, especially during archery season. But when I was growing up here we heard horror stories about guys getting shot by other hunters and people sabotaging stands and all the other dangers of hunting public land. That said, people are now saying the hunting is very good and safe there, so I was just looking for some intel from anyone with experience there or on public land in general.

In short, what do you wish you knew before you started hunting public land?

Thanks in advance.

[Terry Green]

No worries on your thread...THIS is what Tradgang is about.

Unfortunately I can't help...never been to Ft Stewart.

[carbonflyr]

sorry to say i can't help either but welcome to the gang anyway!!

[Etter]

Ive hunted it a time or two and if I lived close, I wouldnt waste my money on a lease. The problems with it are only due to the mgmt. You have to check in and out of each unit when you hunt by phone. You have to pass an archery test to bowhunt it, you have to register all firearms to hunt with guns, and you have to pay a fee to hunt every year and get constantly harassed by game wardens.

Having said that, its absolutely loaded with deer, turkeys, and pigs.

Its a bit much for me to travel for, but it is definitely the best hunting in the state on public land.

[ahab78]

Thanks, Etter. I saw that they have archery only units. How big are the units you get to hunt for the day and are you the only one allowed in that unit or do they let a certain number of people in? This is really my primary concern, and why I'm thinking of sticking to the archery only areas. A lot tougher to get shot by another hunter!

[Etter]

You will not be the only person in a unit and the unjts are large but there is absolutely nothing dangerous about hunting on public land. Send RC a pm. Hes the king of steeart

[ahab78]

Thanks again, Etter.

[tracker12]

We hunt the Fort every year (6 years now) and always have a great time and successful hunt.  I actually just got back yesterday from a six day hunt with two friends.  It was another great time and I spent all day today butchering.  Only bad part is I had Ulnar never surgery 3 months ago and was unable to bow hunt.  

If you google  Ft Stewart hunting you will see the website page that will give you plenty of information.    After you do that PM me with your questions and I can help you out.  You do have to do a qualification with your bow to hunt there which can be a pain to get scheduled.  There are a lot of hogs there but you have to put in the boot miles to find them.  Saturday my buddy did 9.25 miles on his GPS track.  He did kill hogs.  I love it down there.

By the way we hunted six days and never shared a unit with anyone and rarely do.

[tracker12]

Lots of changes also coming.  Starting July they are doing all checkin online.  Pass and permit is going away.  Also all game wardens are going to be gone and replaced by MP patrols.  Gun registration can now be done online also.  While burdensome it did work for me.  Base yearly pass is $60.00.

[ahab78]

Thanks for your insights, Tracker12. I will be in touch soon.

[RC]

I have hunted it for many years. I have been checked by game wardens but never harassed. Its their job.
  I seldom share an area with anyone and I cannot remember ever hunting two days there that I did not have a chance a pig. I don`t hunt it as much as I did in the past but usually kill 4 or 5 a year there. I killed a 200 lb boar about a month ago there with my new Dave Johnson longbow.  
  the biggest precaution I can give you is do not speed through the populated areas and watch out for snakes. every hole of water as big as a bath tub will have a gater in it in the Summer. RC

[ahab78]

Thanks again for the advice, RC. My wife works for the MP unit in Stewart and almost hit a gater on her way home from work this evening on 119. I'll see if she can find out what the changes are going to be for hunting there this year, since others have said the MPs will be taking over patrols from the game wardens. Overall, the MP battalion is really a good unit from everything I've heard, so it may not be as bad as some think. MPs or Game Wardens patrolling is really not the issue -- we need someone out there to make sure everyone is being safe and following the law.

[Dendy Cromer]

I'm concerned a little. Mp's are good at law enforcement but how will they adapt to the game warden role? And I've only ever seen mps in cars. How in the world will they travel those roads in the hunting areas? We need a strong law enforcement presence at fort stewart or it will go downhill in a hurry when people discover that illegal activity goes unchecked.

[tracker12]

They have augmented the Game Wardens with MP staff for that last few years.  I have been stopped by them before and were just fine to deal with.  I do worry about the changes and cuts that are budget driven.  Our yearly trek to Ft Stewart is a trip I look forward to every year.  Just finished up casing a bunch of sausage from the ones we killed two weeks ago.