Hunting & Fishing Trying to hunt in KY or PA Hunt ... Please advise

[Big Dog Steel]

Hey fellow Hiders,

A good friend of mine and myself are trying to plan a hunt for modern gun season in Kentucky or Pennsylvania, for this season 2010. We thought we would be able to hunt with another member in Kentucky, but unfortunately those plans fell through. We are back to square one without much time to get a trip planned.

I've done my research on both states and both have decent numbers not far from the Ohio Border, which is where we would be coming from. If anyone can chime in and point us in the right direction towards public or private hunting lands I would be most grateful.

We are also trying to do this hunt on the cheap, but I would be happy to share the spoils or even deliver some targets if anyone is willing to guide or help us out.

Thanks!
-Ryan

Big Dog Steel
www.bigdogsteel.com

 

[LSOSGT1109]

Re: Trying to hunt in KY or PA Hunt ... Please advise

As far as here in Kentucky, your best bet on this short of a notice would be public land. The Daniel Boone National Forest covers a huge amount of land here in KY. It runs from the south central part of the state all the way up to the north east part of the state. Deer desities will be higher in the north east part of the DB National Forest than in the southern parts of it. I had two farms in Shelby County Ky that I have hunted for the last 6 years that were awesome but the got leased out from under me this year and I'm scrambling for a last minute place to hunt myself or I'd be happy to have you come down and hunt with me! I'll have a good lease next year and you're more than welcome to come down next year if you like!

 

[Big Dog Steel]

Re: Trying to hunt in KY or PA Hunt ... Please advise

Thanks for info and the invite KSP!

 

[sourdough44]

Re: Trying to hunt in KY or PA Hunt ... Please advise

Good luck, I could steer you to public access land in the U.P. of MI or Northern WI, but it's a good drive for you. I'd do some research for larger blocks of public land & try to hunt week days. Look for tucked away spots blocked in by water/swamp & not easy to get to from normal parking. Look for a spot to benefit from the movement of other hunters. I know, easier said than done.

I'm new here too.

 

[Tripwire]

Re: Trying to hunt in KY or PA Hunt ... Please advise

If I ever go to/through PA again, for ANY reason....it'll be too damn soon.

Hate the place on too many levels...

Stick with Kentucky if you can, PA has some of the most f'd up deer hunting issues there ever was.

 

[Big Dog Steel]

Re: Trying to hunt in KY or PA Hunt ... Please advise

Tripwire - Like what issues, care to expand?

 

[HOGGHEAD]

Re: Trying to hunt in KY or PA Hunt ... Please advise

I live in WV. But I hunt a good bit in PA. I hunt in Greene County, which is southern most in my area just across the state line. Greene County went to antler restrictions a few years back, and the bucks have improved greatly. And there are also great deer numbers. Along with alot of state game lands in certain parts of Greene County. Look on the map for a small town called JollyTown. There is a ton of game lands in that area. They are hunted. but not real heavy. The best part is there are smaller tracts of game lands in the area, so it is dotted in amongst a lot of private land. So you can find some good areas to hunt in, that are close to private ground as well.

It is also not too far of a drive to some decent hotels if you want to stay in the Morgantown-Blacksvile area in WV. Check out Greene County. You will see deer. And possibly have a decent chance at getting a buck. And at a lower expense. Check out JollyTown. Tom.

 

[buckey]

Re: Trying to hunt in KY or PA Hunt ... Please advise

I would look to hunt in Greene County, Pa (close to the town of Waynesburg). There are 2 PA game lands in that area that are open to public hunting & have alot of deer. Greene County is known for big bucks!!

Not sure what # the Game Lands are (they number them here in Pa), but do some research & befriend Google - you'll find them along with directions to that area.

 

[buckey]

Re: Trying to hunt in KY or PA Hunt ... Please advise

Just read HOGGHEAD's post after I posted mine - he's given some real good info for Green County!!

 

[Big Dog Steel]

Re: Trying to hunt in KY or PA Hunt ... Please advise

Thanks guys...this info will help

 

[Tripwire]

Re: Trying to hunt in KY or PA Hunt ... Please advise

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: osuarchitect</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Tripwire - Like what issues, care to expand? </div></div>

No skin off my nose but the discontent between the PAGC and the PA hunter borders on stupid ++P.

The PA hunter can't figure out how to control the PAGC via the ballot box, and the PAGC can't figure out how to manage a deer herd.

The Cherry Trees and the Gas Wells sure are nice though........

 

[jayd4wg]

Re: Trying to hunt in KY or PA Hunt ... Please advise

I hunt PA and have no issues. I have not taken a buck in the past 3 yrs but not for lack of deer, but for lack of trying. I'm primarily a meat hunter and you can't eat antlers. I could really care less about a rack on the wall but this year is the first where I am really contemplating taking a buck when rifle season comes in. I've seen ALOT of mature bucks running the farms I hunt in Armstrong and Allegheny counties. City of Pittsburgh hunting with slugs is really a deer hunters paradise and the hardest part is securing permission to hunt private land.

Most of the discontent between teh PGC and PA Hunters rests in all the hemming and hawing of the armchair quarterbacks that think they know how to manage a deer herd. Our herd is HEALTHY, particularly in the areas I hunt.

I took the 22mag for a walk for opening day of fall turkey yesterday and despite putting nearly 4.5 miles on my pedometer and covering ALOT of gasline roads, i saw nary a bird. Alot of sign, but no turkeys. At the same time, I simply stopped counting deer. I "shot" 3 good shooter bucks (raised rifle, checked rack size, mouthed the words "boom, you are dead", and lowered the rifle again) and saw i have no clue how many does. I had the 30 deer counted before the bell rang 9am = just 2 hours in the woods. The rut is ON, HARDCORE right now. the does are tired, bucks are walking around with their heads hung low and they all look exhausted. Things are going to slow down a bit over the next 2-3 weeks and opening day of buck will put the Orange Army sludging around in the woods stirring things up.

Us local folk LOVE out of staters coming in and stirring up the herd. you will not be able to get a doe permit for anything but for pittsburgh and philly areas. all other WMU's are sold out.

Since the antler restrictions went into effect, we are now seeing some of the best trophy deer this state has seen since the herd was nearly decimated in the 20's.

just a sampling of the bucks taken this year in pa archery season state wide. All pics taken from another post haunt of mine, HuntingPA.

there's plenty more, and some bigger, doe photos come in about 1.5 to 1 for buck pics. Alot of guys helping Gary Ault manage the herd by herd reduction to benefit herd survivability and mast crop management. I can't say i necessarily agree with the methods, but deer numbers are still up, and the quality of the herd is fantastic. I have yet to see an undernourished deer and most of the 8-12pt bucks are 2.5-4.5 years old with a couple older BRUISERS running around.

PA is NOT a bad place to hunt at all...come on over

Couple more antler porn - these last couple were taken within 15 minute drive from my northern allegheny spot near Wexford/Warrendale area.