Destinations

Outfit My Rig!

BrianLynn — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:55:08 -0400

After being without a truck for some months, I finally bit the bullet and bought a used 2001 Chevy Blazer LT. While I'd prefer a truck, the Blazer fit the four requirements I had: four-wheel drive, big enough to haul the dog, room/a place to put the kiddo's car seat and within my budget (those aren't listed in any particular order, by the way...).

What accessories have you SUV (and truck/car guys) enjoyed the most? Are there certain brands you like better than others? Are there budget-saving brands/ideas out there? I want to hear some thoughts on how best to outfit this baby for hunting, fishing and dog training.

Below are some ideas on things I might want to add on, please let me know what, if anything, I'm missing and/or things that really aren't worth it.

Sunstein on Hunting and Animal Rights

BrianLynn — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:01:24 -0400

Enlarge Photo

In the Gun Shots blog, John Haughey, and by proxy, Alan Clemons, does a great job outlining the danger Cass Sunstein, Obama's pick to head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (for which he might be confirmed as early as today), poses to hunting and how/why hunting and firearm organizations oppose his nomination.

I thought I'd take it a step farther and provide you with the source material, straight from the horse's mouth, and some of the highlights from his University of Chicago White Paper (along with some of my own comments), entitled "The Rights of Animals: A Very Short Primer".

First Strike Hot Spots For Record Whitetail Deer

KristenKeys — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:31:14 -0400

Whitetail deer hunting season is six weeks away (or less) in many parts of the nation. Here are some thoughts to keep in mind, and things to look for, when scouting for those opening day, “first strike” hunts.

Raleigh

outdoorlife-editor — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 19:00:00 -0500

Turkeys, deer andmore are within two hours of North Carolina's capital

1 SANDHILLS GOBBLERS Amid the longleaf pines and sandy topsoil, turkeys have become a common sight and a sought-after trophy. The game lands encompass nearly 58,000 acres.

2 UWHARRIE WHITETAILS Though North Carolina deer can't claim trophy racks like Texas or Kentucky bucks, Uwharrie is still a good place to chase a bruiser.

3 CROATAN DUCKS Tucked away in the deep woods are plenty of swamps, creeks and small lakes that hold good numbers of wood ducks and mallards.

4 ROANOKE STRIPERS Providing the river level doesn't get too high, the striper run in May on the Roanoke can be epic. Spawning brutes run up the river hitting almost any bait they see.

5 CAPE FEAR SHAD Before the stripers show up on the Roanoke, the shad arrive in the Cape Fear River. The legendary waterway fills with the small fish by early spring. Anglers cast shad darts from shore.

6 HOLLY SHELTER BUCKS Much of the terrain of the 70,000-acre game lands is either bog, swamp or river bottom, perfect for hiding deer.

7 PEE DEE CATFISH Many Southern rivers have deep holes that fill with monster catfish. The Pee Dee is no exception. The boat ramp on a summer night is full of empty trailers as anglers seek big blues.

For Doug Hannon's Moon Charts, go to outdoorlife.com/besttimes

Breaking the Jinx

outdoorlife-editor — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 19:00:00 -0500

I'm firmly convinced that destiny plays a big part in the outcome of a hunt. How else do you explain the strange things that happen when we're afield? Case in point is a series of deer hunts I made in Alabama starting in the mid-'70s. Regardless of what I did or how hard I hunted, I was never able to get a buck. Obviously, I was jinxed. A black cloud swirled over my head, and I couldn't shake it.

The first hunt was on a plantation that had plenty of deer. I was with a group of hunting writers, and a number of bucks were taken, but none by me. What made it worse was the fact that pals who were in stands on either side of me took deer. The only animals I saw were a bunch of does and some button bucks. Of course, I figured this was merely the luck of the hunt. I had no clue I was embarking on a series of failures that would persist for almost three decades.

FROSTBITE IN DIXIE

One of the most memorable hunts (and one that I'd like to forget) was at Westervelt Lodge, a famous hunting outfitter in the South. If my memory serves me correctly, it was my fourth Alabama hunt, and I was told that the jinx would surely be broken at this venerable place. The area is well known for plenty of fine deer, but at this point I wasn't trophy hunting. Any old whitetail buck would do.

I was accompanied by two writer buddies, John Phillips and Nick Sisley. Both had hunted Westervelt many times and had never gone home emptyhanded. They assured me I'd tag a buck in less than two days.

I should have realized that perhaps this would be the exception to the rule when a brisk wind accompanied a fast-moving cold front on the first day of the hunt. It was unseasonably cold, and no one saw a decent buck. By the next morning the storm had worsened, the wind had grown to gale force and the temperature had plummeted to the teens. Forecasters said the wind chill was below zero, and that travel was not advised.

Not inclined to wait it out, John, Nick and I thought it would be interesting to sit in the stands for a while. The guides, who were assigned to take us to our blinds, would have none of it; they strongly suggested we watch the football game, since it was Super Bowl Sunday. I'm a rabid football fan, but we had several hours to hunt before the game started. We whined and pouted to the point where the guides gave in and took us to our stands.

Now, as a person who was born and raised in the North, and having worked in the woods as a forester all my adult life, I used to think I was reasonably prepared for whatever Mother Nature could dish out. Unfortunately, I had left my winter clothes back at home. After all, I was hunting in the Deep South, where late January weather should have been hospitable. Why would I need heavy winter clothing?

When I got to my stand—a raised blind in the middle of a food plot—I smiled feebly at the guide as he waved goodbye. Alone, I quickly discovered that the searing wind stung like fire and I couldn't keep my face exposed to look out into the field. I found small comfort lying on the floor of the blind in the fetal position, getting up every five minutes or so to see if any retarded deer had decided to enter the opening. The stand had no windows, just cutouts that allowed the wind to whip about freely. There was virtually no shelter.

My eyes were watering so much I could barely see, but at one point I made out a deer standing at the edge of the field. My binocular revealed it to be a nice buck, but he was gone in a flash, obviously not interested in feeding. Shortly afterward I saw four does enter the field from the woods. As soon as the full force of the wind hit them, they immediately retreated and vanished into the brush.

The next movement in the field was a vehicle, as my guide drove up and insisted that the hunt was over for the day. It was not a question, but a statement. I was happy to oblige, but I knew that yet another Alabama hunt was doomed to failure.

THE KEVLAR BUCK

Several more hunts over the years continued the string of bad luck, and I started to think there was no end to the jinx. I hunted with people who guaranteed I would score, even tried a couple of hunts on my own in public areas. Whatever I did, the deer always won.

Last year I was invited to hunt deer with Monroe Payne, who owns a parcel of land that holds a good supply of whitetails. Monroe was sure I'd finally break the jinx, but I had no confidence.

The first evening in the stand was drawing to a close when I watched a doe and a modest eight-point buck stroll into the meadow. I was absolutely astounded. Here, finally, after more years than I cared to count, was my Alabama deer. I found a good rest, directed the cross-hairs to a point just behind the shoulder, and squeezed the trigger. Meat on the table, I thought. Backstraps on the grill. But wait. The buck stood there after the shot and looked at me. There was no reaction indicating a hit. The deer added insult to injury by taking a last bite of grass before heading to the woods.

I reflected on that unbelievable miss later in the evening as I was called to the stand in a kangaroo court presided over by Monroe and several of his cronies. I was found guilty, and the tail of my favorite shirt was cut away.

I had one more day to hunt. That afternoon, I watched as six does fed in the field. Then, to my delight, I saw a buck march out toward them. He had a spike on one side and four points on the other. Monroe said that was a common genetic trait, and that I should shoot such a buck if I saw one. Here he was, and indeed I was willing to shoot it. Which I did. And it was good. I smiled all the way to the deer, and all the 2,000 miles on the drive back home.

For information about Jim Zumbo's books, go to jimzumbo.com.

For more on hunting, go to outdoorlife.com/hunting

BOONE AND CROCKETT RECORD BOOK

It's been six years since the last edition of B&C's Records of North American Big Game. This latest version includes 12 new world-record animals, 5,000 new record entries and many special features, including essays by Jim Zumbo and OUTDOOR LIFE Editor-in-Chief Todd Smith. ($50; boone andcrockett club.com)

Tall-racked bucks in Alabama may be as plentiful as fleas on a hound, but theyeluded Zumbo's crosshairs for decades.

(Deer) Camp David

outdoorlife-editor — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 20:00:00 -0400

Camp David isn't your typical deer camp. Instead of trail cams, there are high-tech surveillance cameras. Instead of tree stands, there are sniper posts. Then, too, the President probably isn't hunting at your deer camp, but you could be hunting at his if you're a National Park Service sharpshooter.

In April, public comment was sought on ways to manage the deer herd around the famous presidential retreat in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains. Deer are rapidly destroying seedlings, plants and other vegetation on the forest floor. This has experts worried about the health and sustainability of the woods in the 9.1-square-mile park. Some new-growth woods in the area have been severely damaged by the deer herds. The park service has studied the herd over the last 20 years and determined that the deer density is roughly 112 to 192 per square mile—significantly more than the target herd density of 25 per square mile.

One solution the park committee is weighing is to bring in sharpshooters to take out much of the herd. Of course, animal-rights activists, led by the Humane Society of the United States, are crying foul. The organization would like to see non-lethal methods such as repellants, fences and contraceptives used.

Sharpshooters were enlisted at nearby Gettysburg National Military Park to thin deer numbers. In 1991 the Gettysburg herd was so large that counts put the density at 447 per square mile (another count estimated as many as 721 deer per square mile). Since 1995 sharpshooters have killed almost 2,000 deer, donating the meat to shelters and processing facilities. —W.S.

Tattle Tails

If you hear squirrels suddenly begin to bark and you've done nothing to upset them, be alert. It may signify that a deer or turkey is nearby.

[HIT the ROAD]

outdoorlife-editor — Sun, 31 Jul 2005 20:00:00 -0400

2 BLACKTAIL DEER: Southwest Washington

Washington, the smallest state in the West and the second most populated, boasts three subspecies of deer–whitetails, mule deer and blacktails. The latter live along the highly congested I-5 corridor, where hunting pressure is heavy. I've taken a number of bucks on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in the southwest region.

The forest has a decent road system that allows good access, but some roads are blocked by locked gates. My favorite strategy is to park at a gate hours before other hunters arrive and walk up the road in the dark as far as I can. There's usually a clear-cut at the end of the road. I'll climb a slope where I can look down into it as soon as it gets light enough to see. Deer feed in the clear-cuts all night and are often still visible at legal shooting light.

On one hilarious hunt I watched my buddy sneak up to a buck that was at least 600 yards away. He couldn't see it as he advanced, but I could, so I kept giving him hand signals. After he got 50 yards away from the buck, he still couldn't see it, in spite of my frantic waving. I was so frustrated I started shouting to him as loud as I could, trying to describe precisely where the buck was. The deer looked at me and stayed riveted to the spot. After about 10 minutes of shouting, the buck calmly walked off into the brush. My pal never even saw it.

Resident licenses are $39.42; nonresident are $394.20. Seasons run from mid-October to the first week of November. Contact: Gifford Pinchot National Forest, 360-891-5000; Washington Department of Wildlife, 360-902-2200.

3 ELK: Southern New Mexico

You've probably heard that New Mexico has plenty of big elk…and that they're all on ranches you can't afford to hunt. Happily, that's not true. There are lots of great public hunting grounds, such as the Lincoln National Forest. I like to camp in the forest and hike up to ridge tops early in the morning. If you're really adventurous, you'll carry a lightweight tent, sleeping bag and gear on your back, and camp up where the elk are. There are some really big bulls here, some that will make therecord books. This country is choked with thick brush in the mid elevations, but up high the timber is more sparse. Here the elk bed in the evergreens. A good strategy is to watch a water hole late in the afternoon. Stay until the last minute of shooting light; elk often move just before dark.

On one hunt, I was solo on a ridge and saw a big bull walk by. My muzzleloader had a hang-fire, causing me to inadvertently push the firearm forward. When it went off, the projectile struck about a foot under the bull's belly. Later that day, I centered another bull perfectly but had to shoot through some brush. The bullet was deflected and missed the bull cleanly. It was not a good day.

As elsewhere in New Mexico, this is a lottery draw for everyone. Bull tags start at $69 for residents, $481 for nonresidents. The season runs five weeks, from late October to early December. Contact: Lincoln National Forest, 505-434-7200; New Mexico Department of Fish and Game, 505-476-8000.

4 ANTELOPE: Northwest Wyoming

In a good year, there are more antelope than people in this sparsely populated state. Pronghorns live everywhere in Wyoming, except for the forested regions. Millions of acres of BLM land offer free hunting on federal property. My favorite region is in the northwest, where there are plenty of animals and good access on public land. I like the country from Thermopolis to the Montana border and east to the Bighorn Mountains. There are several units here, and a lottery draw is required for a tag.

This is big country where you can often see more than a hundred animals in a day. Use a good binocular and a spotting scope to evaluate the quarry. Don't be afraid to park your vehicle and walk into hidden pockets and basins where there's no road access. The biggest bucks are in places where they aren't disturbed; most hunters drive and spot. Antelope know the road systems and avoid them. Wyoming micromanages wildlife; each unit has a specific herd management objective and a different season. The units open in September, October and November.

I like to scout before the season and look for an oversized buck. A few years ago I located an honest 15-incher with thick horns and long prongs. It took me three weeks, but I finally caught up to him. I was fishing when I located him. He walked up to the water for a drink, and I eased to my truck, exchanging my flyrod for my rifle. I took him home along with a mess of fish.

A resident tag is $27; nonresidents pay $226. Contact: Wyoming Game and Fish Department, 307-777-4600.

6 PHEASANTS: South Dakota

This is the top pheasant state in the country, with a liberal limit of three birds per day and 15 in possession. To avoid crowds, don't hunt the second week of the season if you're a nonresident; only residents can hunt the first week. Nonresidents pour in the second week, but I prefer hunting a month or so later when there are still plenty of birds and more farmers willing to give permission. South Dakota has walk-in areas where you can hunt private land for free. I like to hunt these as well as national grasslands near Pierre.

Birds that have survived the first weeks are wary. If you use a dog, make sure you can control it so it works close. Birds will begin flushing when they hear a car door slam. Enter the field quietly and concentrate on heavy cover such as cattails and thick switchgrass. If your party uses drivers and blockers, be extra careful when the drivers move close to the blockers, since action can be chaotic when trapped birds erupt.

On one hunt, my pal had a dog that he was really bragging on. When we turned it loose, the dog charged into a brushy field, flushing literally hundreds of pheasants. An hour later we finally caught the dog, a half mile away. There were easily 300 birds in the field, but not one of those wily ringnecks hung around for us to get a shot.

Resident licenses are $29; nonresidents pay $110 for a 10-day license. The season runs from mid-October to early January. Contact: South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, 605-773-3381.

9 COUES DEER: Arizona

If you want a different hunt with plenty of challenges, try hunting Coues deer in the Coronado National Forest in southern Arizona. If you've never tried them before, you're in for a unique adventure. Plan on a lot of hiking, much of it up and down rocky rims and ridges, but don't expect to see a lot of animals. Coues deer are commonly referred to as “gray ghosts,” and for good reason. They're well camouflaged by the brushy cover they inhabit, and they don't move much in the daytime. Most deer are spotted in their beds only after some hard looking with a high-powered binocular or spotting scope.

On one of my most memorable hunts there, we camped in tents and made long hikes of at least 10 miles a day. The biggest buck I ever saw flushed a few yards away from me out of heavy cover. I was so startled I threw my gun to my shoulder and fired a quick shot. The bullet took the animal in the ear; at least it appeared that way since the deer wiggled its ear vigorously as it bounded off. I looked for that buck for the rest of the hunt and settled on a smaller animal on the last day.

There are several seasons for Coues deer in Coronado. I prefer the last, which runs in December. Residents pay $25.50 for a license, $24.50 for a tag; nonresidents pay $113.50 for a license, $130.50 for a tag. Contact: Coronado National Forest, 520-388-8300; Arizona Game and Fish Department, 602-942-3000.

10 ELK: Colorado

Colorado is the only Rocky Mountain state where a nonresident can buy an elk tag over the counter. As a result, the state has more elk hunters than any other. It also has more elk–upward of 300,000, which is about a third of all the elk on the planet. There are millions of acres of national forest and BLM land to hunt here, but one of my favorite spots is the White River National Forest. Don't expect to find much solitude here, or anywhere in Colorado, for that matter. There are no secret spots, unless you can draw a limited-entry tag.

The key to success is to hunt smart. Leave camp early in the morning and hike away from the road, positioning yourself on a distant ridge where you have a good view. The idea is to have other hunters work for you, pushing elk your way.

I did exactly that with a buddy years ago. We left our pickup by the road and hiked about a mile and a half into the woods the night before opening day. By the time legal shooting light arrived, hunters were pushing elk everywhere. My pal and I scored on two nice bulls.

Colorado has four elk seasons. I like the last one, November 16–20, which has the best potential for snow, but a lottery draw is required for this season. Residents pay $33.25; nonresidents pay $488.25. Contact: White River National Forest, 970-945-2521; Colorado Division of Wildlife, 303-297-1192.

Southern and Midwestern Hunts Worth the Trip There are a couple of other intriguing places I intend to hunt. One is the Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota, which has more than 3 million acres of land. I fished this region and am looking forward to hunting deer there, as well as ruffed grouse and snowshoe hares. Contact: Superior National Forest, 218-626-4300.

I am also very interested in the Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky. I hunted squirrels there a few years ago and can't wait to go back and try deer. Contact: Daniel Boone National Forest, 859-745-3100.

1 TURKEYS: Wyoming, South Dakota and Montana

If you really want to take out your frustrations on a bunch of turkeys, try the Merriams in this tri-state area. You can hunt them on public land without seeing many other hunters. In Wyoming you can base out of Newcastle or Sundance, and in South Dakota out of Custer. The nearby Black Hills National Forest has plenty of birds, and access is better than in years past due to recent logging. This is mountainous country with steep slopes that can make you think you're elk hunting, but there are plenty of birds in the rolling terrain. Visibility is good in the sparse ponderosa pines, and most birds will roost on the ends of ridges that plummet into deep canyons and valleys. Once you've had your fill of the Black Hills, turn your rig north and hunt birds in the Custer National Forest in Montana, where smaller parcels offer good hunting over a wide area.

I had an unforgettable experience when I heard a turkey gobble across a canyon with sheer cliff walls on each side. I yelped and the bird responded. I could see him through my binocular, strutting and gobbling on the edge of the cliff fully a half mile away. I knew it was futile, but I played with him for a good hour since he was hot and kept responding. Finally, he shut up and I decided to try another bird. After walking 100 yards I happened to look back and saw the gobbler flapping across the canyon. He landed 15 yards from where I'd been calling.

In Wyoming you can take only one bird, and only two in Montana. You can take several in South Dakota if you want to venture away from the Black Hills and hunt in other areas. Contact: Black Hills National Forest, 605-673-9200; Custer National Forest, 406-446-2103.

5 WHITETAILS: Montana

There are two distinct types of whitetails in Montana–those that inhabit the eastern region, where they live along river and stream corridors and in ranch and agricultural areas, and those in the dense forests of the northwest. Most of the deer in the east inhabit private land, but those in the forests typically live on public land.

The Kootenai National Forest is my favorite spot, particularly in the last week of the five-week season. There's more chance of snow then; if it's deep enough, deer will be forced out of the higher elevations. This is steep, heavily timbered country where you might expect to see elk instead of whitetails. It's tough to pattern deer here, because they roam throughout such big country. A good option is to find a well-used trail and watch it in the early morning and late afternoon.

I had a wild hunt there in the early 1990s when there was 3 feet of snow on the forest floor. The heavy snow toppled many trees, and deer were feeding on the long strands of moss that were normally out of reach. The only way I was able to travel was by following deer trails punched in the deep snow. I ended up with a nice nine-point buck.

Residents pay $16; nonresidents pay $340.25. Contact: Kootenai National Forest, 406-293-6211; Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, 406-444-2535.

7 MULE DEER: Southeast Idaho

This is a choice spot for the muley of your life–the Boone and Crockett record book lists many huge bucks from this region. Many are taken on public land, specifically in the Caribou National Forest, adjacent to the Wyoming border. There's good access in this area, but most big bucks are in the higher country, away from roads. To find them, you'll need to do some hiking, the closer to timberline the better. Most deer will be up in the rimrock, where they have a good view below. I prefer to set up camp in one of the many draws close to the area where I want to hike up.

The Caribou National Forest is no deep, dark secret. Many people are aware of the big bucks, but most pressure is in the lower elevations and close to roads. I like to do a lot of glassing from one ridge to another. If I spot a buck, there's a good chance he'll stay in that area for days unless he's spooked. Once I know where he is, I can then spend a day or two moving close enough for a shot.

On one memorable hunt I located a big buck just below thetimberline about an hour before dark. He was unique, with a long tine angling off his left antler. I went after him the next morning but couldn't find him–that is, until I looked back to where I was the day before. There he stood, 100 yards from where I'd been glassing. I tried, but never got him.

Residents pay $11.50 for a license and $18 for a tag. Nonresidents pay $128.50 for a license and $241 for a tag. Residents simply buy a tag across the counter while nonresidents get theirs on a first-come, first-served basis until the quota is met. The season is from early to mid-October.

Contact: Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 208-334-3700; Caribou National Forest, 208-557-5760.

8 WHITETAILS: New York

The Adirondack Mountains in northern New York state are not the place to hunt deer if you want to see a lot of animals without a lot of hiking. This huge area, which is nearly as big as Yellowstone Park, offers around 2 million acres of public hunting on state lands. I cut my teeth on whitetails here and saw some bucks that would easily dress well over 200 pounds. My favorite technique is to hike into black spruce swamps, find a fresh deer trail in the snow and track it.

My writing career began here. Many years ago, while attending forestry college, I hunted a legendary whitetail buck named Old Joe. I never got him, though I crawled through some of the nastiest swamps in the country. I wrote a story for the college paper about the buck. It was well received and I wrote more. I've been writing about hunting ever since.

If you use a GPS, make sure you've got a compass and map as backup. There are few roads, if any, in some of this country. Most hunters who are unfamiliar with the region stay close to roads, but you'll find the biggest bucks in places well away from them. Don't forget to check out thick spruce-fir thickets. I once jumped a giant whitetail in such a place within a quarter mile of a road.

The northern New York deer season runs late October to early December. Residents pay $19; nonresidents pay $110. Contact: NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, 518-402-8919.

Whitetail Wonderland

outdoorlife-editor — Sun, 31 Oct 2004 19:00:00 -0500

Like an old sweet song, Georgia's always on my mind in November. More specifically, the Georgia rut. And as in so many places in the South, it gets underway between November 1 and 21. For a few wild weeks, bristle-haired bucks scrape, grunt, fight and slobber their way through the annual whitetail lovefest with gusto, providing the best chance of the season to bag a trophy-grade deer.

This should be an exceptional year for Southern hunters for two reasons. First, rainy weather across much of the Southeast early last year kept hunters out of the woods and dropped the harvest significantly. That means more deer of both sexes survived. Second, states such as Georgia are now starting to reap the benefits of quality deer management (QDM).

MANAGEMENT PAYS OFF

Beginning last year in Georgia, one of the two bucks hunters were allowed had to have at least four points on one side. The doe bag went to 12, allowing hunters to trim overall herds and also improve the buck-to-doe ratio.

Hunters typically take about 450,000 deer annually from a herd estimated at more than 1.2 million. More important for rack hunters, some 70,000 mature bucks 2 1/2 years old or older were taken last year.

Even prior to the QDM efforts, Georgia had produced far more Boone and Crockett bucks than any of its neighbors, with the all-time tally at 93. Archers have also done remarkably well, taking over 200 Pope and Young bucks since 1980—more than any other Deep South state except Mississippi.

GEORGIA WALL-HANGERS

I usually hunt a friend's lease in the rolling hills of Spalding County along the banks of the Flint River; the clear-cuts and bottom country here rarely fail to produce a shooter. The area is also loaded with turkeys, so it's good for scouting for the spring season. (I once had 17 longbeards lined up like circus elephants strolling under my stand.)

Like much of Georgia, the land sports thought-provoking remnants of its past—you'll find flint arrowheads left by hunters who shared your passion 500 years ago, and you may choose to set up a stand over an antebellum family cemetery where the vines trace the history of pride and honor and loss. Look hard at counties where special antler restrictions will generate a disproportionate number of nice bucks this fall. These include Hancock, Meriwether and Troup in the north zone, where all bucks must have at least four points on one side to be legal.

Of the WMAs, if you want to bring home some venison, the low-country quota hunts at Ossabaw Island and Sapelo Island are always tops, though the deer here aren't as impressive as in the piedmont counties. You'll see better bucks in the foothills; some of the top producers include Rum Creek, Joe Kurz and J.L. Lester. All of these are quota hunts.

Ray Charles had it right about Georgia as far as I'm concerned. Especially come November.

BUCKS IN THE BLUEGRASS

If Georgia's not on your radar screen for deer season, hopefully Kentucky is. The state has seen an explosion of big—make that gigantic—bucks in recent years. Also benefiting from antler restrictions and increased limits for does, Bluegrass hunters are putting more and more bucks in the record books.

In the east, the expansive 60,000-acre Daniel Boone National Forest offers a whole lot of land and plenty of deer to boot. The area around Lake Cumberland WMA is fast becoming a trophy spot along the southern edge of the state. For the real bruisers, though, turn to the west, in such places as Peabody WMA and the Land Between the Lakes.

SWEET HOME ALABAMA

If you can take time off from chasing whitetails, this month is also a great time to start hitting big stripers on lakes throughout the South. One sleeper is Alabama's Lewis Smith Lake, northwest of Birmingham. Perhaps the clearest and deepest fishery in the state, the 20,000-acre impoundment has produced stripers to 40 pounds, and as water drops into the mid-60s during the fall, these fish will feed on shad over main river points and submerged islands. Your best bet is to net a few shad and fish them live, but you can also do plenty of business with big wobbling plugs like the Bomber Long A, white bucktails, vertically jigged chrome spoons and big topwater lures when the fish are busting bait at the surface.

If you can't make it during deer season, go during spring turkey season instead. Bankhead National Forest provides great access, and mid-March through early May is also prime time for striped bass.

For more regional information, go to www.outdoorlife.com/destinations

Public-Land Bucks

outdoorlife-editor — Tue, 31 Aug 2004 20:00:00 -0400

Mention public hunting to many modern whitetail chasers and their noses curl, their brows knit, and they quickly change the subject to how much they're paying per acre for their choice private deer leases.

For millions of American sportsmen, however, hunting public land is the only option. And in many regions across the nation, it's not a bad deal—not by a long shot. In fact, for those who are willing to do a little research and learn how to negotiate the frequently bewildering bureaucratic pathways to obtaining licenses and permits, public whitetail hunting can be superb. The proof is the numerous reports of big bucks tagged on public land every fall, including some of record-class proportions. The chances of tagging a trophy buck on public land are only going to get better as more states switch to quality deer management practices and institute more stringent antler restrictions.

Here, then, is a list of top whitetail public-hunting states scattered around the nation and contact information that will help you get started in your quest for a public-land trophy. Some of the lands in these states are in remote wilderness areas; others can be found near big cities. Regardless of their location, all offer access to some remarkably good whitetail hunting.

ARKANSAS

Arkansas is reducing deer harvest because state biologists have concluded that recent liberal doe seasons resulted in an overkill in the mountain region of the north. But the state still boasts plenty of whitetails and good hunting. About 650,000 gun hunters down 100,000 animals a year from a herd of around 800,000 animals.

The southern region has the most whitetails, with both the White River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and Trusten Holder Wildlife Management Area (WMA) being popular public spots. The state leases the land that makes up the Casey Jones WMA, near the town of Monticello, from the Georgia-Pacific timber company; for a $10 permit, hunters can comb the WMA's 83,000 acres. It's wide open to public hunting through the state seasons. State deer coordinator Cory Gray says its whitetail density is 30 to 35 animals per square mile, and the odds of tagging a deer are good.

The western Ozarks is the place for better bucks, especially in the Ozark National Forest, Buffalo National River, and the Gene Rush, Hobbs and Madison County WMAs.

GEORGIA

With nearly 100 WMAs and prime federal deer-hunting land such as Fort Stewart and Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, the Peach State is a deer hunter's dream spot.

Georgia still produces bucks of Boone and Crockett Club quality, but not as many as it did during the heyday of soybean field production a few years ago. Still, plenty of 130- to 150-inch whitetails are tagged each fall, and a few of them are taken on public land. The Piedmont and Upper Coastal Plain areas have the largest deer herds, but lots of whitetails (1.2 million) populate the state. About 275,000 firearms hunters shoot 400,000 animals each season.

Among the WMAs known for producing big bucks each season are B.F. Grant, River Bend, Flint River, Joe Kurz, Di-Lane, Berry College, Lake Russell, Ogeechee, Ossabaw Island and Rum Creek.

IDAHO Montana (with limited nonresident licenses) gets more press, but Idaho offers over-the-counter whitetail tags and superb public hunting. Prime areas are agricultural lands along the Idaho-Washington border north of the Salmon River and the many national forests from the Salmon River north to Canada. Mature bucks are found throughout the region, and in recent years trophy bucks have been harvested in all areas north of the Salmon River. The Clearwater and Kaniksu national forests are recommended.

KENTUCKY

The hunting spotlight has shone on the Bluegrass State for the past decade or so, and no wonder: Since 1987 Kentucky has produced over 150 B&C bucks from more than 60 counties, making it one of the best states in the nation for giant whitetails. The state averages about 10 B&C bucks a year. Last season 170,000 hunters tagged 116,500 Kentucky whitetails from a herd of 800,000. The tally includes 16,400 deer taken with muzzleloaders. There's plenty of excellent hunting available on Kentucky public land. For example, 8,000-acre Ballard WMA, a short drive west of the Ohio-River community of Paducah, is prime. Ballard requires hunters to pay a fee and apply in advance for access. It isn't overrun with deer (20 per square mile), but it has a one-to-one buck-doe ratio, and there are plenty of 140-inch bucks, according to Kentucky big-game coordinator Jonathan Day.

Upriver, public lands in Union and Henderson Counties annually produce some of the biggest bucks taken in the state. Peabody WMA and Fort Campbell, a bit east of Ballard but still in the western part of the state, are also top public spots. Each WMA has yielded B&C bucks.

LOUISIANA

The Pelican State touts itself as "the sportsman's paradise," and deer hunters certainly have reason to agree. Each year, 200,000 firearms hunters harvest nearly 250,000 whitetails from a herd of 1 million deer.

Abundant mast crops the last few years have made for large, healthy whitetails throughout much of the state. Statewide, cool weather is the biggest regulator of deer-hunting success in Louisiana. If temperatures drop and autumn rains fall, deer generally stay on the move more during shooting hours. Top public hunting areas administered by the federal government include the Tensas River NWR and Lake Ophelia NWR. Other good options include Jackson Bienville, Red River, Three Rivers, Sherburne and Union WMAs. Also, consider these facts: Two years ago a 19841/48 non-typical was harvested on Camp Beauregard WMA, and a typical buck scoring 14011/48 was taken by a bowhunter on Fort Polk WMA.

MAINE

Maine possesses a special mystique among deer hunters in the Northeast. It's heavily timbered north-woods country where big-bodied bucks roam. Although 97 percent of the state is privately owned, much of the wild and woolly northern tier belongs to large timber companies that open their lands to hunters. According to state deer biologist Gerry Lavigne, a good winter carryover of whitetails from last year should translate into an increased harvest this fall.

Whitetails are not as abundant in northern Maine as they are in the southern, mostly private part of the state. But wilderness bucks in the north grow old from light hunting pressure, and there are some bruisers available. As a bonus, hunters may also tag a black bear while hunting whitetails. Clear-cuts are choice hunting locations for deer and bears in big woods regions. The North Maine Woods Association (207-435-6213) keeps tabs on public hunting lands, which are generally found north of Greenville and Millinocket and west of Ashland and Fort Kent.

MARYLAND

Though small in size, Maryland is big in the whitetail world. The mid-Atlantic state gives up about 50,000 whitetails a year to firearms hunters, and some bucks are of record-book size. WMAs off the beaten track offer some extraordinary whitetail hunting. Among them, the 3,300-acre Idylwild WMA, on the eastern shore near the Delaware state line, is a good choice.

"Idylwild WMA is open during a long archery and shotgun season, which a hunter might need to take his limit there," says state deer project leader Doug Hotton. "No more than two antlered whitetails can be harvested, and no more than ten antlerless deer are allowed."

Other good public hunts are held on park land in Montgomery and Howard counties, near Baltimore and Washington, D.C. They're shotgun hunts where you need to draw a permit, but the bucks are huge, with animals in the 140-to-160-inch range.

NEBRASKA

Although heartland farm-belt states get plenty of publicity for giant whitetails, Nebraska goes somewhat unnoticed. It shouldn't, considering that every year some of the biggest bucks come from this Great Plains state, though usually from private land.

There are plenty of public places to hunt in Nebraska, however. Some of the best management areas are small, overlooked public tracts regarded primarily as waterfowl habitat. But enough high ground remains in these wetland areas to attract deer, which grow huge, as they usually wander out from cottonwood bottoms to feed in cornfields and soybean fields adjacent to the public hunting land.

The 70,000-acre Valentine NWR is a good spot for Nebraska whitetails. Recommended WMAs include Thomas Creek, Bobcat, Pine Glen and Long Pine. The Niobrara Valley Preserve, which sprawls over 12 miles of the Niobrara River watershed, is another spot for wallhanger bucks. Permits are required to hunt it but it's owned by the Nature Conservancy (402-722-4440), so that's no problem.

Nebraska big-game program manager Kit Hams also recommends the 115,000-acre Samuel McKelvie National Forest and the 90,000-acre Nebraska National Forest. Mule deer and wild turkeys are also fair game in the fall. Hams notes, too, that extraordinary (but generally ignored) shooting for sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chickens can be experienced in the two national forests as well. Each year 90,000 gun hunters harvest 50,000 animals from Nebraska's herd of 300,000 whitetails.

NEW JERSEY

Tony Soprano probably doesn't hunt deer, but that doesn't mean his home state isn't a hot spot for whitetails. With a whitetail population approaching 200,000, and 70,000 firearms hunters collecting about 40,000 animals annually, New Jersey offers some surprisingly good hunting. There are over 750,000 acres of public deer hunting land available, including 117 WMAs.

Many worthwhile opportunities for archery, shotgun and muzzleloader hunts are available, and liberal limits for antlerless deer are in effect. Good hunting can be found in many areas, including more populous settings where deer overpopulation is a problem. Some of the most popular and largest public hunting areas include the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (70,000 acres), the Peaslee State Management Area (25,000 acres) and Wharton State Forest (110,000 acres).

OHIO

The Buckeye State produces some huge whitetails, especially in its southern counties. Ohio ranks eighth in the country for all-time number of Boone and Crockett bucks, as well as being the No. 4 all-time Pope and Young state. The state's healthy herd approaches 700,000 animals, with an annual hunter harvest of 185,000 deer.

An arrangement in southern Ohio between the state, American Electric Power and the MeadWestvaco timber company allows for top-notch public hunting. State deer biologist Mike Tonkovich says such lands are not as popular with hunters as state forests or WMAs, because an additional permit is required, although there is no additional cost. But these properties in Game Districts 4 and 5 offer some of the best public hunting in the state.

VIRGINIA

The Jefferson-Washington National Forest, along the West Virginia border, is a good bet for a wall-hanger. Likewise, Amherst County has plenty of public national forest land inhabited by good bucks. Animals sporting racks in the 140-to-150-point range are not uncommon for riflemen.

Key spots for trophy buck hunters in the forests are wilderness areas managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Trail access is excellent, but limited to foot travel only. Hunters can access wilderness areas by canoe off the James River. Consider backpacking two or three miles into a wilderness area and establishing a primitive tent camp for several days of hunting.

WISCONSIN

The Badger State grows some monster bucks, but Wisconsin has been wearing the sackcloth of chronic wasting disease (CWD) for a couple of years and has fallen out of favor with many nonresident hunters. CWD has been confined chiefly to the extreme-southern part of the state, where it continues to be monitored. The disease has had little impact on the state's 600,000 deer hunters, who collect upward of 300,000 animals from across the rest of the state annually, from a population of more than 1.2 million whitetails.

There are many public hunting spots throughout Wisconsin, ranging from wildlife areas of just a few hundred acres to sprawling state forests comprising hundreds of square miles. The middle third of the state has the highest deer population. It's "fringe" country, with farms and heavily wooded areas interspersed. Many exceptional tracts can be found in the region, both state- and county-owned. The northern third of the state boasts the most public-hunting property, including the sprawling Nicolet and Chequamegon national forests. Hunting is also allowed on smaller state-park lands, where special regulations are usually in effect. Even in small spaces, however, a hunter might see an eye-popping buck during the rut.

ARKANSAS

Trophy potential: 7*

Where to Stay: Several motels are available in nearby Monticello. (Monticello Chamber of Commerce: 870-367-6741; www.montdrewchamber.com)

License fees: Resident, $35; nonresident, 3-day permit for $100. (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission: 800-364-4263; www.agfc.com)

GEORGIA

Trophy potential: 6

Where to Stay: Nearby Macon offers hunters a full range of accommodations. (Macon Chamber of Commerce: 478-751-7400; www.cityofmacon.com)

License fees: Resident, $9; nonresident, $118. (Georgia Department of Natural Resources: 770-918-6416; www.gohuntgeorgia.com)

IDAHO

Trophy potential: 6

Where to Stay: Small towns bordering the Clearwater National Forest, like Orofino, offer motel accommodations. (Orofino Chamber of Commerce: 208-476-4335; www.orofino.com)

License fees: Resident, $29.50; nonresident, $363.50. (Idaho Fish and Game: 208-334-3700; www.state.id.us/fishgame)

KENTUCKY

Trophy potential: 8

Where to stay: Paducah is within a half hour of Ballard county and offers many different accommodation arrangements. (Paducah Chamber of Commerce: 270-443-1746; www.paducahchamber.org)

License fees: Resident, $40; nonresident, $140. (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife: 800-858-1549; www.fw.ky.gov)

LOUISIANA

Trophy potential: 5

Where to stay: Tallulah, near the Tensas River NWR, offers the deer hunter several hotels and motels. (Tallulah Chamber of Commerce: 318-574-5627)

License fees: Resident, $29; 5-day nonresident, $75. (Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries: 225-765-2346; www.wlf.state.la.us)

MAINE

Trophy potential: 7

Where to stay: Everything from camping to motels and lodges can be found in the North Woods in the Moosehead Lake region. (Moosehead Lake Chamber of Commerce: 888-876-2778; www.mooseheadlake.org)

License fees: Resident, $21; nonresident, $87. (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife: 207-287-8000; www.mefishwildlife.com)

MARYLAND

Trophy potential: 4

Where to stay: Baltimore and Washington, D.C., near Howard County both offer a range of accommodations. (Baltimore Chamber of Commerce: 301-725-4000; www.baltwashchamber.org)

License fees: Resident, $24.50; nonresident, $130. (Maryland DNR: 877-620-8367; www.dnr.maryland.gov)

NEBRASKA

Trophy potential: 6

Where to stay: The Keeney Stockade Motel is located in Halsey, which is close to the Samuel McKelvie National Forest. (Keeney Stockade: 308-533-2240)

License fees: Resident, $26; nonresident, $176. (Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: 402-471-0641; www.outdoornebraska.org)

NEW JERSEY

Trophy potential: 4

Where to stay: Finding a place to stay in New Jersey isn't difficult. Everything from camping to hotels is available close to Hammonton, which is near the Wharton State Forest. (www.hammontononline.com)

License fees: Resident, $27.50; nonresident, $135.50. (New Jersey DNR: 609-292-2965; www.njfishandwildlife.com)

OHIO

Trophy potential: 8

Where to stay: Primitive camping is available in the Ohio Power Recreation Area, and a motel is also available a few miles away in McConnelsville. (Morgan County Chamber: 740-962-3200; www.morgancounty.org)

License fees: Resident, $35; nonresident, $149. (Ohio Division of Wildlife: 614-265-6300; www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife)

VIRGINIA

Trophy potential: 5

Where to stay: The town of Amherst provides plenty of places to stay for a few nights. (Amherst County Chamber of Commerce: 434-946-0990; www.amherstvachamber.com/county.htm)

License fees: Resident, $24; nonresident, $140. (Virginia Game and Inland Fisheries: 804-367-1000; www.dgif.state.va.us)

WISCONSIN

Trophy potential: 8

Where to stay: The town of Rhinelander, near the Nicolet National Forest, has several motels. (Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce: 800-236-4386; www.rhinelanderchamber.com)

License fees: Resident, $20; nonresident, $160. (Wisconsin DNR: 608-266-8204; www.dnr.state.wi.us)

* On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being excellent.

Western Whitetails The biggest buck of your life might be in the Rockies

outdoorlife-editor — Sat, 31 Jul 2004 20:00:00 -0400

When I first relocated to the West in 1960 to study forestry, I thought I'd left whitetails behind. I was eager to hunt the mule deer that I'd read about for many years. And I did.

Most of those early bucks were in Utah and western Colorado, where muleys were the exclusive deer species. But as I extended my hunting horizons, I learned that whitetails were very much a part of the Rockies. I soon discovered that they lived in environments unlike the hardwood forests in which I had pursued them in the East.

My first Western whitetail hunt was in eastern Montana in the mid-'70s. I hunted them in and around fertile croplands along the Yellowstone River and was amazed at the number of visible deer. The fields were full of them early in the morning and late in the afternoon, and it wasn't unusual to see herds of 50 or more. On that hunt, my pals and I worked slowly through pockets of brush along the river, jumping deer as we moved along. I ended up with a dandy eight-pointer.

Compared to their Eastern cousins, these river-corridor deer were much easier to pattern. They have no choice but to bed in cover along the river, and they're often visible as they walk from feeding to bedding areas. The latter are usually cottonwood forests laced with willow or other dense underbrush.

RIVER-BOTTOM STRATEGIES

When hunting these deer, a smart early-morning strategy is to find a vantage point overlooking the river and wait for deer to filter in from the fields. Well-used trails indicate primary travel routes. In late afternoon, reverse the procedure, watching for deer leaving their beds on the way to the fields.

A unique variation is to use a boat to float downstream and hunt along the way. A boat is especially helpful where there are islands in the river, allowing access to these brushy spots that are often loaded with deer. Whitetails are strong swimmers; it's nothing for them to swim to islands when pursued. It's best to hunt islands with a group of hunters, since deer will quickly run to the far side, jump in the river and swim to shore. Standers can intercept them, but wary bucks will often lie low and not leave the island at all.

Large river corridors aren't the only habitats where Western whitetails live. They're also at home on ranchland--a stream running through the bottom is a bonus. For example, just north of Cody, Wyo., where I live, whitetails are numerous along a small creek, sharing the area with mule deer. Interestingly, the muleys typically don't venture very far from the edge of the sagebrush bordering the fields. That's true throughout the West where whitetails and muleys live together in lower elevations. If you want a whitetail, look in the brush along the stream; if you want a muley, check out the rimrock and high sage above the fields.

DEEP-TIMBER BUCKS

Then there are the mountain whitetails that inhabit northwestern Montana, northern Idaho and northeastern Washington, a region known as the Inland Empire. This area is characterized by wetter climate, steep mountains and dense timber. Here, whitetails know only heavy forest, much of it unroaded.

I recall a whitetail hunt on a national forest near Libby, Mont., when the snow was an honest 3-feet deep on Thanksgiving Day. I found deer in the forest by slipping up to trees that had fallen under the weight of heavy snow. The evergreens were magnets for deer looking to browse their moss-covered branches. Though it was tough getting around in the snow, the nine-point buck I took made it worth the effort.

Many whitetails in this region are taken by elk hunters who also have a deer tag. Some hunters are savvy about these mountain whitetails and have learned how to pattern them by noting rubs, scrapes and activity along trails. Since there are no croplands to determine feeding patterns, and bedding cover is virtually everywhere, these are extremely difficult deer to hunt.

Some huge whitetails live in this country, and the Boone and Crockett Club lists many trophies from the region. Most are earned the hard way, in unforgiving mountain country.

Elsewhere in the West are whitetails in ponderosa pine forests, which are nothing like the timber country of the Inland Empire. Pine forests are far more open and arid, and their whitetails are easier to hunt.

The next time you think of hunting the West, don't discount the whitetail. Not only is he well-entrenched, but in many areas he outnumbers the muley. And don't be surprised if the biggest buck of your life comes from within the shadow of a glorious snow-capped peak. It happens all the time.

For information on Jim Zumbo's books, visit www.jimzumbo.com.

Hot Spots

COLORADO There is good whitetail hunting along eastern river bottoms, especially along the Platte and Arkansas rivers. Much of this is private land, but there are some state WMAs that offer public hunting. (303-297-1192; www.wildlife.state.co.us)

IDAHO The area around Grangeville has superb whitetail hunting. Look for good bucks around agricultural areas as well as in the surrounding forests. In northern Idaho, check out the timbered country of Panhandle National Forest. (208-334-3700; www.fishandgame.idaho.gov)

MONTANA Enormous numbers of deer roam along the Missouri and Yellowstone river bottoms. Much of this is private land, but there are also areas of federal BLM land as well as the Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge. In the northwest region, the area around Seeley Lake has produced monster bucks. (406-444-2535; www.fwp.state.mt.us)

WYOMING Black Hills National Forest in the extreme northeastern region has a large whitetail population. This public forest has plenty of roads, providing good access. (307-777-4600; www.gf.state.wy.us)

For more on hunting, go to www.outdoorlife.com/hunting/whitetails