backpack hunt NC?

[gringol]

I'm considering making the drive up to the NC mountains next year to spend a week or so on a backpack hunt.  These types of hunts are usually reserved for out west so the question is, is this type of hunt possible in NC?  Are there enough deer and bear up there to make it worth the drive?  Can anyone recommend a specific area?

[Dave Lay]

I am currently living in Arkansas and have done this alot here, but I am from Western NC,(bryson city and Asheville)  i would think game populations would be plenty high enough i would look strongly at the nantahala ntl forest area  its a big area... with plenty of places to get away from people and pressure

[BRITTMAN]

While backpacking in the mountians would be fun a lot better bear/deer hunting would be in the eastern part of the state . Alot of moutain guys lease land for deer around my area , they tell me there is more deer here and I know for sure there are more deer plus alot of bear east of me around the pongo federal game lands.

[Bud B.]

Croatan Nat'l Forest would be a good place. South of the New Bern area. Carteret, Craven, Jones, and Onslow Counties (160,724 acres total) My wife's family have been living there forever. Her uncle has had bear all over his land. Even had a 400 pounder get hit by a car and die in his ditch on Hwy 17 near Pollocksville.

Gators and cottonmouth moccasins are also in the area.

Mosquito heaven. Big-uns.

[far rider]

As has been stated, there is a more dense population of both species to the east, however, if a nice isolated backpack hunt is what you truly desire? Then there is PLENTY of isolation in the western mountains of NC. If you time it properly you can do Deer, bear, boar, and grouse on the same trek. It is as remote in areas as any part of the western divide. Not as high, but just as rugged. Heck, in the north west area you may even spot an elk or two.
I used to border A section on Thurmond Chatham game reserve. No bear hunting there, but lots of deer, and on the back side where nobody could reach from the road I never saw another person, and it is relatively small for game lands. Heck I talked to a wildlife biologist who swore the new state record would likely come out of the back areas there. These areas aren't nearly as remote as the far western regions though. I'm telling you, it has areas not filled in good on the map yet today.

Tim

[Pat B]

I live in Transylvania County in the Southwestern part of the state. Our county is almost 1/2 National Forest or State Parks. The Pisgah Forest, Shining Rock Wilderness area would have deer and bears. A bit more west would have Russian boars. Russian boars require hunting in a particular season but feral hogs can be hunted during any hunting season using the appropriate weapon for that season. Fortunately bows are used for all game, large and small.
 The Jocassee Gorges State Park has game lands and has some very remote areas. It is in NC and SC so both licenses will be required unless you stay in one state. A deer was killed in this area about 20 years ago that made North American Whitetail Book. It had a 36" spread with tremendous main beams. The deer was on the decline so the tines were relatively short.
 A month ago a state record bear(609#)was shot(gun) in the mountains of Northern Greenville County, SC just a few miles from my house.

[BRITTMAN]

While backpacking in the mountians would be fun a lot better bear/deer hunting would be in the eastern part of the state . Alot of moutain guys lease land for deer around my area , they tell me there is more deer here and I know for sure there are more deer plus alot of bear east of me around the pongo federal game lands.

[Bud B.]

Hey Pat, they deregulated the Russian Boar and now everything swine is considered feral with no season. Except on game lands another season of some sorts needs to be in for hog hunting to be legal (same as with coyote). Non game lands are year round for hogs and coyote.

North Carolina Wild Boars/Feral Swine
In the early 1900’s, wild boar were introduced from Europe to a private game reserve in Graham County, North Carolina.  Some animals escaped and thrived, spreading to other mountain counties and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  The wild boar persisted in western North Carolina and some interbreeding with domestic swine occurred due to free-range farm practices, releases, or escaped domestic stock.  In1979 the wild boar was given the status of game animal by the N.C.Legislature.  Wild swine have appeared in other areas of the state due to free-range farm practices and intentional stocking by private individuals.  Populations of free-ranging feral swine continue to grow and spread in North Carolina.  
Feral swine can significantly impact plant communities and wildlife habitat because they root through the ground’s surface in search of food.  Feral swine destroy agricultural crops and other property and pose a substantial disease risk for both domestic swine and wildlife.  Due to these factors and the invasive nature of feral swine, they are considered to be an undesirable species on North Carolina’s landscape.
“Wild boar”, “feral hogs”, feral swine, and domestic swine are all the same species (Sus scrofa).  In 2011 the status of all free ranging swine (including “wild boar” in the historic counties) was changed from a game animal to a nongame animal with no closed hunting season.  Thus the recognition of wild boar as a big game animal ended.  NCWRC biologists no longer tract the harvest of these animals thorough the big game harvest reporting system.  The harvest of feral swine is monitored through our annual hunter harvest survey that provides biologists with an annual estimate of harvest.
In counties of North Carolina where “wild boar” historically existed, many people still hunt the feral swine using traditional methods like hunting with hounds.  However, across NC people hunt using various methods and at all times of the year.   As the range and destructive nature of feral swine has expanded,management efforts have changed from managing a game species to attempting to contain and control the spread of a destructive species across the landscape.  

[Pat B]

Thanks Bud. I always wondered why a season was put on such a destructive invasive exotic animal anyway.

[gringol]

Thanks for the input.  I'm leaning toward the isolated backpack hunt, but I'm open to a less isolated hunt if the odds of actually scoring in the mountains are slim to none.  Anyone here actually hunted the Pisgah NF recently?

[Dennis Allman]

Real busy now, give me 2/3 days and I will get up with you. I have Pisgah all round me, but we had a EHD die-off last year (2012). Lots of bears. For the adventure of a life-time: Linville Gorge Wilderness Area.

There are huge, remote wilderness, semi-wilderness areas; most do not not know them, more than you can psck and hunt in years.

Dennis

[bartcanoe]

Originally posted by Dennis Allman:
Lots of bears. For the adventure of a life-time: Linville Gorge Wilderness Area.

There are huge, remote wilderness, semi-wilderness areas; most do not not know them, more than you can psck and hunt in years.

Being here in eastern NC, I'd love to hear about this.

[gringol]

[Centex]

I used to live in Brevard/Cashiers area. Linville would be my pick for deer.  A backpack turkey hunt could be had anywhere.

[Pat B]

When and where did you live in the Brevard area, Centex? We've been here for 23 years and owned our land for over 25.

[Biathlonman]

No reason not to.  Worst case you have a grand adventure and get to test out your gear and more importantly yourself.  Isn't adventure why we do it?  People told me I was crazy for trying it in Kentucky.  I did it anyway and had a great time!

[Wudstix]

Packing what you need to hunt for a few days is a blast.  Very good experience for anyone.            

[njloco]

Go for it, I just did it in Idaho for an elk hunt, had a blast, worth every dollar and all the trials and tribulations.

[riddleofsteel]

Uwarrie Forest has plenty of deer and in certain tracks deep woods. The Birkhead Wilderness area has a great North South trail that will let you hike in several miles from any road.