Advice on where to hunt (Western NC)

[Nantahala Nut]

There is one week of bow season left here in the mountains of western NC.  I am really trying to get a deer next week before the gun hunters hit the woods. Next week is also the last week I can take a doe so after this my chance of encountering a legal deer goes down drastically. Bucks are just starting to lay down sign right now and I think the rut will be kicking off in two weeks. Any advice would be appreciated. I hate to wing it this late in the game but I need to re evaluate.

Spot 1. I have been hunting a game land that is about as good as it gets out here.  It has a food plot compliments of the state.  I have spooked deer in the morning walking in. The problem is the only access is from the food plot side so it is near impossible to slip by them unseen.  They aren't moving during daylight in the evening.  I'm starting to feel like these deer are just not very "huntable".

Spot 2. I was squirrel hunting a couple days ago on another GL in the big woods and came across a line of rubs. One was fresh and rubbed on both sides. There are also two scrapes about 75 yards apart. This is the first time I have explored this area so I have no idea if any does use this trail or if it's just bucky and he may only be checking this sign at night. The trail leads to a brushy area with a couple oaks that didn't drop much. This whole area is at the foot of a ridge and is thick with rhododendrons.
 
Spot 3.
Green River GL.  I know absolutely nothing about this area.  Its two hours east of me. The deer density maps show 30 - 44 per sq mile in this county.  I think its probably a little less since its still big woods and not much ag in this part of the county.  Nevertheless this is probably triple the density than way out west where I am. I looked at one section on the maps that has a large food plot but if i can see it, so can the other hunters.  Theres another area that looks like it had some clear cutting done a few years ago and borders what looks like pastures.  I dont expect to see other hunters around this area.

[mangonboat]

Barry, I"d probably try option 2 and see if you can get in there in the morning. Mountain bucks cover a wide territory but if there are fresh rubs and scrapes, they must be in the area checking those and there other sign trees regularly and there must be does in the area. It's the first quarter of the moon so they should be more active in the morning .

I've considered Green River, GL, myself, but havent scouted it and because its big ridges with deep ravines and moving water, you could spend your time hunting with no deer within a mile of your stand.

[mangonboat]

Barry, I"d probably try option 2 and see if you can get in there in the morning. Mountain bucks cover a wide territory but if there are fresh rubs and scrapes, they must be in the area checking those and there other sign trees regularly and there must be does in the area. It's the first quarter of the moon so they should be more active in the morning .

I've considered Green River, GL, myself, but havent scouted it and because its big ridges with deep ravines and moving water, you could spend your time hunting with no deer within a mile of your stand.

[Michael Arnette]

#2

[Doc Nock]

Now, if you ever figure it out, then we'll have to figure out the E. TN region I'm in... lOL

I wish you well... 2nd fall here and the first I was NR all the way and didn't / Could NOT afford to spring for NR license.

This year, I got all the Sr. stuff, the permit stuff on another license and still haven't hunted worth a flip!  

Every avenue to tie up with someone in the NE TN area has failed... Doh!

It can be frustrating and when you hit Sr. status, the pressure of knowing there are finite "next year" looming ahead, really increases the stress levels!

[mangonboat]

Doc Nock, I always assumed that all the veggie farms along the Nolichucky would draw a ton of deer but never thought about who owned that land. Cocke County between Del Rio and the NC state line is overrun with deer if near-misses in the car are any indicator.

[Nantahala Nut]

Doc, maybe look for public land around roan mountain. Theres a lot of cattle pastures and farming around there if I remember right.

I'm getting ready to head to spot 2 this morning. I had the foresight to throw in a quick brush blind and clear a shooting lane towards the rub. If he stops to check it his head will be right behind a tree.

[Doc Nock]

Mark,

I've gone down 70 toward Ashville a few times.  DelRio is off 25 according to Google...and there is a lot of country down 107 to NC or down 25 somewhat less.

there are some public lands along the Noli, but you have to have a boat to get in there! Interesting...

Barry,
no clue on Roan mountain... I'll try to check it out...

This season is toast as I head for major surgery mid December and much to do here to ready the place

Good luck on your #2 spot...! There is a reason they call it "hunting' and not "getting!"    :rolleyes:    

[mangonboat]

Doc Nock, Good luck with the to-do list and your surgery. I hadn't thought about a boat..you can put a sit-on-top kayak or canoe in at the new US 25 bridge over the Nolichucky and float downstream to Del Rio. My observation /experience has been that deer are mighty sparse in the Paint Creek basin / along 70 / Viking Mountain near the NC line but more likely to be found in the agricultural lands, e.g, Houston Valley or along the river.

[Doc Nock]

Till I'd buy a sit on top kayak and TRY not to get wet, I could likely buy a john boat and stay dry...    :rolleyes:        

I used to have a canoe...

Tell you what, Mark, I'd love to continue this line of discussion with you for SURE, but I don't want to steal Barry's thread!

PM or email???

[Nantahala Nut]

I think I have a game plan now.  I'm gonna hunt Spot 2 and occasionally check out Spot 1. I saw one random rub near Spot 1 and it was nice so I will probably go back in a couple weeks to hunt for a day and leave a camera to reevaluate.  If no luck by the time the western season ends I'm gonna throw a Hail Mary and head 4 hours up to Thurmond Chatham.

Side note: Any advice for hunting the buck sign at spot 2?  Theres about a half dozen rubs all within 20 yards of each other and of varying degrees of freshness. There are two scrapes along the trail.  The trail runs along a 5 foot wide bench near the foot of a ridge.  It makes a semi circle around a low area with a creek bottom and rhododendrons.  It looks like this buck is stopping in on his way to and from bedding/feeding. Trees are rubbed up on both sides.  I got a camera on the freshest rub right now so we will see what that tells me.  I was thinking of dropping some buck urine in the scrape to see if he will increase his visits to check things out.