Any KY public land suggestions for 2008

[Slasher]

Me and a hunting buddy are looking to go hunt KY next year.. We are looking for public land as we are looking for nicer deer than what we've been seeing around our neck of the woods... a chance to take some 4-5 day hunting trips 3-4 times during the season-sorta a dream season to bowhunt a buck of a lifetime so to speak... Since its not too terribly far from GA we sorta settled on Ky for some reason...

We wanted to do LBL this year, but kids, work, life have gotten in the way...

Anyone want to give some suggestions for a good opportunity to get on some good public land deer without a bunch of hunting pressure? Camping is a plus...

[bluegrassbowhunter]

Originally posted by Slasher:
Me and a hunting buddy are looking to go hunt KY next year.. We are looking for public land as we are looking for nicer deer than what we've been seeing around our neck of the woods... a chance to take some 4-5 day hunting trips 3-4 times during the season-sorta a dream season to bowhunt a buck of a lifetime so to speak... Since its not too terribly far from GA we sorta settled on Ky for some reason...

We wanted to do LBL this year, but kids, work, life have gotten in the way...

Anyone want to give some suggestions for a good opportunity to get on some good public land deer without a bunch of hunting pressure? Camping is a plus...

LBL is the only  public place I've hunted that I never seen another bowhunter,from what you said your looking for it's probably your best bet in Ky.Can't promise no giant buck but can promise they are there.....& they have camping just about anywere you go....it's about my favorite place to hunt in Ky.......when ya planning on going?

[Slasher]

lets see early season... pre -rut... and hopefully the rut... any suggestions?   We're trying to put together a couple days of spring turkey hunting/scouting trip/// right now we are trying to pick part of the state to focus on...

[Gurn]

Have you tried this board? They should be able to help also.

 http://www.kentuckyhunting.net/forums/

[bluegrassbowhunter]

Gary sent ya a P.M......

[jeff w]

Not trying to steer you away from my neck of the woods, but I would concentrate on on the central & western part of the state.  More deer, bigger deer, and more public land to hunt on there.   If you wanted to hunt more to the east side, I would cross the river into SE Ohio for opportunties.   Let me know if I can help you out.

[Jeff Holchin]

Slasher, I know of a couple Georgia trad bowhunters who tried the LBL area this past fall and were disappointed.  I second the suggestion about going a little further, into Ohio.  If you have any doubts that the extra driving is worth it, consider the numerous public hunting areas and the 4 month long bow season that offers the serious and hard working bowhunter chances at bucks like this every year.....

 http://www.dnr.ohio.gov/wildlife/dow/Photos/PhotoSearch.aspx?Gallery=Hunting&SubGallery=Deer

If you really want a chance at BIG whitetails, do your research now and select several areas, then buy the Ohio NR license just before the spring turkey season and hunt your 2-3 areas (you can kill 2 gobblers).  This hunting/scouting will help you select your best area to focus on in the fall.

Good hunting.

[bluegrassbowhunter]

There's not no guarantee when you hunt free ranging whitetails on public ground.You can talk to 100 different people & get 100 different answers.I know some people that were disappointed in Ohio but that doesn't mean I'm not going some day.What were your Georgia friends disappointed in,number of deer sightings,terrain....?

People have to understand just because were one of the top states for B&C that there isn't a big buck behind every tree....you have to put in some tree time......& usually lots of it....

[John Scifres]

Higginson-Henry WMA is pretty good  http://fw.ky.gov/kfwis/arcims/wma.asp?strId=132

[stick flipper]

The only public land I have hunted in KY was in the northern part of the Daniel Boone NF, in the pioneer weapons WMA. In this WMA rifle hunters are not allows and no in-line muzzleloaders and no scopes. So you have only bowhunters and cap-lock or flintlock muzzleloaders with iron sites allowed to hunt. But as others have posted if you were willing to travel to Ohio you would get into bigger deer and more deer. Nothing bad about east KY, I did see some decent bucks but I would suggest western KY or Ohio. Ohio is a little cheaper on non-res. lic. I think it is right at $150 for hunting lic. and deer tag. KY is a lil bit more, not much maybe $20-$25 more. But if you are set on going to eastern KY check out the Pioneer Weapons WMA.

Chris

[Slasher]

Thanks everyone...

I nor anyone who does a fair amount of hunting should ever expect any deer to to be any easy or sure thing... I usually take 2-3 deer a year for the freezer and then I always try for a nice buck... I always see a decent buck or two, but being able to harvest them or even wanting to harvest them... I have let plenty of shooters walk, because they weren't the trophy I was looking for yet... Unfortunately, many of these deer are harvested as soon as they meet the minimums required where I hunt... I see several 3.5 y.o. bucks each year...

However, I am looking for a nicer deer... and lets face it.. its relative to where you hunt... I do not want to hunt an outfitter or even some trophy managed clubs as some of these practices don't sit with me well...

I enjoy to hunt deer... for me, that means scouting.. in season and out... walking in farther, earlier, sitting longer, even when it's not the easy thing to do... It's the challenge!!! The end doesn't justify the means always...

However the difference in rack size of the average 3.5-4.5 deer between two areas can be great,,, and I don't believe any deer that age is easy to hunt, unless I recall a disturbing video which included some fishing bozo hunting drugged deer, with drivers, inside a 3 ac fenced pen... (if you haven't seen it, pm me I'll send you the link...)

Thats why we are not looking to lease.. no outfitter... just looking to go hunt deer and have the opportunity... Pretty scenery, good times, don't even mind sharing the woods with good people... just not wanting to scout someplace out before season, only to find that your best 3 spots are already taken and then when a decent stand sight is found- only to have a dozen folks walk by your stand each day... (done that... frustrating...)

No illussions of grandeur here... I seem to take a decent buck only every 4-5 yrs... Its not a concern to me too much, but while I am still young enough to go farther and work harder, I should go after them... Nice deer teach us humility and more about ourselves than anything else... I am just looking to deelop a lil more character I guess...     We can call it a mental defect...

[dorris]

after our bout with bluetounge this year which was reported as the worst we have had in 30 yrs you may be disapointed next year . I have a good freind that has one of the top guide services and his clients did not do well at all this year . I know if at least 100 deer found dead because of this in a 2 county area and garuntee there are alot more that didnt get reported or found . LBL is hard to hunt and the deer are not the heaveist racked buck in that area never have been . hopkins , muhlenberg ,ohio , christan are one of the better choices if you come down near hopkins county next year let me know would like to meet you guys .

[jeff / sc]

Gary, sent you a PM