Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting If you could hunt public land for Whitetail in the East - where would you go?

Actually, it's been easier than I could have imagined. For about half that time, I’ve been unable to user my rower because I’ve strained a knee again (apparently a Spring tradition for me), so it’s all been about what I eat, and some about when. I stay full on the keto stuff, and have given up bread, pasta, chips, ice cream, and beer. Seldom get hungry, and my well-controlled BP is dropping into the 115 over 70ish range.

One thing I’ve learned is that an old man will kill himself trying to lose weight by exercising alone; you gotta change your diet. Woulda done this years ago if I’d known how easy it is.

Yes. Only public land for me. Mostly the Moshannon SF in PA

Up on the Blue Ridge in VA. Got an old Navy buddy that grew up there and we did some hunting on his grandmother's farm which butted right up against public land. Some really big deer there on the public stuff.

I gotta say - this is good advice that I could apply to myself. Diet is 90% and if I’ve got a vice it’s slow BBQ chicken & whiskey old fashions.

Your BP numbers have got to be giving you a nice smile!

Mac, I’ve heard the same thing - doing some research into that area over the next few days. I enjoy dialing in my Fall travels then moving onto gardening season without needed to think much about the Fall hunt stuff until it arrives. Thanks for your post.

MM, Are the deer numbers as good as they once were there? Never hunted that region but always had a desire to.

BP was never really bad, just bad enough to show traces of protein in my pee. Still, like smoking and sugar, it makes everything else worse. Hope to get off the little pill, maybe next month🤞🏻

Ditto on those big Blue Ridge deer. I’ve seen some whopper bodies on Skyline Drive, huge does too. My son lived near Front Royal for a while, and killed a boomer on the little plot he lived on; 172 dressed and 12 points. Saw some huge, long-legged does in fields nearby. Public land in that immediate area gets a lot of pressure though, so weekdays are best, or farther West.

Couple of states I'd like to try my luck, are KY for the first couple weeks of archery season to try to get a velvet antlered buck. I'd also like to try Alabama if I could catch some of that January/February rut action.

You've not mentioned, Indiana, but there is quite a bit of public land to in the S/SW part of the state to hunt. Some of the more interesting are some of the old strip mines. Some of these were shallow mined a long time ago, making them a series of steep, low ridges. If one has a small boat, canoe it could really open up some areas around the reservoirs or smaller rivers that flow through public land.

No. They are there but the numbers are thin

I’ve heard that from a few folks that still run their hunting camps down there. Traditions in that neck of the woods run very deep it seems.

I hunt Pa public land a lillte farther east than MM but its the same here numbers are down But we still do well

Northern Maine

Not trying to stir up any trouble, but I look at the Georgia outdoor news quite often and as far as I can see, there are some damn nice deer shot there and not just a few. Also, it appears their fishing is outstanding.
I have never been there to check for myself!

jackman maine

I’ve hunted the Big Woods plenty - I track here in the Greens and am looking for something a little different than the norm. I gotta say that The Jackman area is very special.

Lots of land open to the public. Great country if looking for scenery and exercise but not so great if looking for deer.

Agreed.

Though, I've hunted northern Maine for over 40 years and shot enough mature bucks there to keep me coming back. Its the vastness of the big woods that holds the allure for me, not pulling the trigger. I have plenty of other places and opportunities to fill the freezer during the year, both back east and out west.

Lol

Solid advice if trophy pigmy deer are what you seek

The northern PA hunting Camp scene is all about tradition. Many of them are still hopping mad that Rifle season opens on Saturday instead of Monday

…and crossbows!