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Public Land Hunting

Zddog

Zddog

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2015
Messages
226
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Hey everyone.

I just moved to Northern Virginia this year and haven't had a ton of time to scout. I've been out a few times, but wanted everyone's thoughts of where they would setup for deer if hunting this piece of land.

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Also the whole thing is hardwoods


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Those VA big woods can be tough. There's usually Acorns EVERYWHERE and not much else to funnel the deer. I'd concentrate on saddles near Ridge tops.
 
Thanks BC I do like the hunting beast but haven't been on there for a while I'll definitely check it out

G2 yeah it's much harder. I've always hunted pa/Ohio for years and the blue ridge mountains are one tough task. You're right acorns all over. I was thinking saddles are my best option


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FYI. For any of you that are wondering what app that is its hunt stand. It's free and really nice.


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I know I'm getting picky but any chance you can change the date on the aerials like on Google earth? I'm just going through what I would do trying to find thick areas with transitions
 
Terrain looks just like here in western NC, saddles and ridgetops where three or more ridges join are great during the rut! If the pressure is like it is here I'd walk 45 minutes to an hour before I even started looking!
 
I hunted in VA for 4 years in college. The big woods around the Blue Ridge mtns were really tough hunting. Some good deer for sure, but nothing like the urban opportunities. My best spots were the edges of thick cover and saddles in Ridge tops.

Once I found a few urban spots I quit going to the big woods.
 
g2outdoors said:
Once I found a few urban spots I quit going to the big woods.
Click to expand...

LOL that is great :)!! I don't have much hilly country in my neck of the woods. Swamps and heavy laurel are always hot spots. We don't nearly have the acorn drop but early season early morning and in the afternoon the oaks are always a good bet.

If I was to take a wild gander I would look at some of the funnels and ravines that empty out onto a saddle or ridge. I would probably start at a higher elevation if hunting the morning and work down. In the evening the opposite direction. Hills cause the wind to do some wild things therefore watch the thermals.
 
I would start right around this red circle. Gotta be some way they prefer to travel that area. Several points come together nearby. And it is far enough in that it may discourage other hunters.

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Thanks for all the help everyone
I'm going to try and look at the progression of the trees on Google some time this week


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Redsquirrel I was trying to figure out how to see the progression of trees on Google maps but couldn't find it. Do I need to download google earth to see that?


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Zddog said:
Redsquirrel I was trying to figure out how to see the progression of trees on Google maps but couldn't find it. Do I need to download google earth to see that?


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Click to expand...
Yes. When you are in google earth, once you get zoomed in to a certain point a slider bar will pop up to show a date range of images. Some of the images go back to black and white in the 90s. Every area is different and you can zoom out and see where they stitched different aerials together. You can scroll through until you find a range that was taken over the winter, this will enable you to see more detail about what is going on at ground level. Remember if you're looking at older images that things could have changed since then.
 
Thanks squirrel I need to get on that I've been so busy haven't had time. Once I do I'll post some pictures


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I would start on the edge of the areas where there's those two patches of trees that look too small to be climbable. The deer in the Conservation Areas around here tend to gravitate toward areas thick and with smaller trees once they start getting pressured.
 
Hey bud.... welcome to northern va. Where are you living?

I hunted Thompson WMA in college. It was an absolute nightmare. Between the yuppies from DC walking around smoking pot and running through the woods to the drunk rednecks shooting 12-15 times, I'd stay away. I have permission on 800 acres that butts up to that and I still won't touch it.

Let me know where you live and I'll give you some options
 
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