hoosier national forest

[stick flipper]

I am thinking about trying to deer hunt the hoosier national forest this fall. I live in ohio and I would like to make a few 3-4 day hunting trips to a bordering state this year. Last year I went to kentucky and it was alot of fun. I was looking at the northern section of the hoosier nat'l forest near monroe lake. If anyone has experience with hoosier as far as hunting pressure, deer numbers, advise on anything I would greatly appreciate it.

thank you,

chris

[hawk22]

There is a lot of hunting pressure in hoosier national.  The only way to get away from it is to get up early and hike way back into the sticks.  I've had excellent success just getting away from the roads and all the people.  Grab a topo map and get out there. Good luck!

[John Scifres]

You would be better off to try somewhere that is not within the reach of Indy.  The area you ask about is about 1 hour away from us.  Therefore, it is pretty crowded.  However, during bow season, camping and packing in a ways, you shouldn't have much problem.  Most folks have to stay within striking distance of the roads since they are day hunting.

[Steelhead]

Pretty much what John said.I believe you would find plenty of elbow room farther south than the Monroe lake area.I have seen a desent amount of deer sign down their but only turkey hunted down their on public land.Thier plenty of public land.Thats for sure and the habitats pretty diverse

[longbowman]

I just returned from a weeks vacation in Indiana and we spent most of it hiking the Hoosier National Forrest!  We got back in pretty far and on one particular morning came across 2 buck watering at a small stream.  The one buck was a drop tine N.T. that I'm sure would score in the 180's!  The other was a shooter too.  We saw a bunch of good buck and all in the far off the road places.  We were near Mitchel.

[Dustin Waters]

you saw a 180" non typical already this year.  He must grow his antlers really fast compared to all the other deer.

[Brad Davis]

I would go during the week and try to avoid weekends if thats possible. Too bad we cant quarter them and haul them out here or I'd go alot further in.

[IndianaBowman]

If you have access to a boat, you can access some pretty decent areas off of Patoka Lake. Thins out the crowds quite a bit.

[JiminTexas]

There is a tree in Indiana? The only thing that I ever saw was corn, soy beans and Larry Bird. I don't remember seeing a tree though.

[hawk22]

You must have missed the bottom half of the state! up north is pretty boring but south of indy is definately more scenic.

[Flinttim]

Try down around the Maumee area. Your map should show it and the Boy Scout Camp area. Just north of there is some pretty wooly areas.The Kentucky Avenue and adjacent Waymansville areas get a lot of pressure

[Brad Davis]

I got my maps out and found a few places Im going to try this year. I look for places that are fairly easy to navigate in my canoe, paddle across the waterway to an opposite piece of land which is quite a bit of walking distance from trail or road if not accessed by canoe in the first place. So far I have found a few spots like this. HNF and Deam Wilderness would be accessible. The canoe would make transporting the deer a lot quicker. This is really getting me excited for fall.

[John Nail]

Good luck. I'm afraid what you'll find more than deer, is people riding horses and ATVs where they're not supposed to.

[John Scifres]

Like on almost all public land east of the Mississippi, you need a healthy dose of tolerance and patience.  There will be others using and misusing the land.  But the deer and turkeys are there too.  And you can sometimes use the presence of other humens to your advantage.  Bottom line, it is beautiful country and you can use it all for pretty much the cost of gas and some tags.