Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Any Virginia Guys in Here?

Anyone hunt any of the WMA's in the eastern part of the state? Are they packed with people? Are they worth a drive out with a week before my seasons come back in?

Not sure what part of the state you're in . Used to do some hunting in Madison and Greene management areas . Haven't been in there for quite a while though. Used to be decent at times, plus it borders SNP.

Bath County. You must be talkng about Rapidan.

Mostly packed.

Yep

I do know one of my uncles killed a nice 8 and 11 point there in the past several weeks.

I was really intested in the Powhatan one, but figured it would be packed being so close to Richmond.

Is Powhatan in dog country?
is dog hunting allowed on WMA's?

b I know they're allowed to run dogs on rapidan.

I really don't know but each of the WMA's has their own set of regulations. I just hate to get down there and have 250 people trying to hunt 4000 acres.

I would guess Powhatan would get hunted fairly hard but maybe not as bad this late in season?

It's really dependent on time of season. The first couple of days, doe days, and some Saturdays, along with the last part of the season can be lively.

If you hunt during those times, think along the lines of getting in early, go deep, and ambush escape routes.

That was kind of my plan, go deeper than most people would. Figure climbing mountains would translate well to the flat land.

Being from the western part of the state I cant speak for the eastern part, but will say our public land deer herd is on the decline. We hunt clinch mountain WMA where the deer numbers are far from what they once were. The other side of that is that the bear population has exploded in the last few years. Hope you guys in the eastern part of the state aren't seeing the same declining deer populations on public land

Coyotes and Bear have done the deer population no good.

Had a bear come within 10 yds of the cabin and take a day or two old fawn back in the spring. The old man ran for his 12ga in the bedroom but wasn't quick enough.

Hunted the Highland WMA and saw few deer but a lot of bear sign. Damn near every trail I took I found piles of scat.
Black bastards.

Yeah a lot of Va its easier to find a bear than it is a deer .

Same thing in the GWNF around Wolfe's Gap. This yr saw the fewest amount of hunters I've seen since going there.

Since they make us buy a bear tag now, they should have open season during early muzzleloader and rifle on thru. Ridiculous to have to spend money on something and unless you dog hunt don't have a full opprtunity to kill them. I would have killed bear the last three years but each one i have seen the season was out.

My SIL(Va.resident)had to pass up a shot at one on Thanksgiving. In WV the dog hunters,and I was for yrs,set the rules anymore.