• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Virginia group chat/possible meet up?

TomMorrow said:
Hey everyone,
new hunter with a crossbow in Loudoun, but frequently travel to VA beach as well. Saw the meetup post

I also want to learn the one stick climbing method. I have whatsapp/groupme but not telegram. I am a noobie to hunting but can't seem to find a how to climb/repel lesson or all in one kit. If there is a meetup day hopefully it gets posted in here!
Click to expand...
Garrett does a great job showing how to one stick and rappel and goes over his kit.
Josiah shows how fast one can one stick climb once you get the hang of it. His form is how many folks climb and how he pins the stick to the tree with his tether as well.
 
Virginia folk, I hope you all are getting out and getting after it. Hopefully some of you have made it happen already! Judging by what I’ve seen on social media and talking to friends, it sounds like Nov 9th was HOT in SW Virginia. Has peak rut already passed? Or is this weekend into the beginning of the week going to see a ton of daylight movement as well?
 
VaBruiser said:
Virginia folk, I hope you all are getting out and getting after it. Hopefully some of you have made it happen already! Judging by what I’ve seen on social media and talking to friends, it sounds like Nov 9th was HOT in SW Virginia. Has peak rut already passed? Or is this weekend into the beginning of the week going to see a ton of daylight movement as well?
Click to expand...
I saw a lot of chasing on cell cam on the 9th in my area, so I took the afternoon off and was able to connect on a 7pt. Saw 3 other bucks, they were definitely on the move. Activity on cams is down some now, but looking forward to this next cold front coming in.
 
bowhuntr09 said:
I saw a lot of chasing on cell cam on the 9th in my area, so I took the afternoon off and was able to connect on a 7pt. Saw 3 other bucks, they were definitely on the move. Activity on cams is down some now, but looking forward to this next cold front coming in.
Click to expand...
Activity was definitely picking up last week. This week and next should be great.
 
VaBruiser said:
Virginia folk, I hope you all are getting out and getting after it. Hopefully some of you have made it happen already! Judging by what I’ve seen on social media and talking to friends, it sounds like Nov 9th was HOT in SW Virginia. Has peak rut already passed? Or is this weekend into the beginning of the week going to see a ton of daylight movement as well?
Click to expand...
Everything seems a bit early this season. I noticed this back in September. Yesterday we were coming back from vacation through Salem and seen a buck breeding a doe. There were 4 other does standing around, I guess waiting there turn.
 
I had the best sit of my life on the morning of the 10th. This morning, though, I only had a single deer walk under me in the dark. Unsure of the sex. I imagine it's still on here, I just wasn't in the right spot. It can't have cooled off that hard in just two days, right?
 
First off, this has been my first year in the saddle. I’ve spent about 10 -4 hour sits and really like it. However, after nearly 40 years of bowhunting, I’ve decided to pull the plug. I have hunted nearly 100 days over the past 3 years and have not had the opportunity at a decent buck. Granted I could have shot small bucks and does but elected not to do so. I hunt Ft AP Hill and have to travel 2 1/2 hours to get there. I stay on post at the campground which is cheaper than off post, but still $35 a night. I assume that just between fuel and lodging I’ve spent well over $7.5k. So with that said, as much as it sickens me to give it up, I can no longer justify the time and money with nothing to show for the effort. I may do some gun hunting locally but not thrilled about the prospect. Anyhow, if thins change I may jump back in the saddle, but for now, I need to walk away.
 
I do, but dog country where gun comes in on Oct 1 with no early bow. Brown it goes down in front of the deer dogs. No chance for buck to mature. At least it’s a good turkey spot.
 
Vahunter23322 said:
First off, this has been my first year in the saddle. I’ve spent about 10 -4 hour sits and really like it. However, after nearly 40 years of bowhunting, I’ve decided to pull the plug.
Click to expand...
Just take a breath. You are burnt out. You set your expectations and goals too high.

I'm guilty of this. I used to think I had to carry 50lbs of gear and buy every fad accessory on the market. Couple this with getting up at 4:30am and balancing life responsibilities and doing this a couple times a week, the fun goes out the door. Quickly!

Take a small doe or buck and enjoy the meat. Lower your expectations. Tell yourself I'm just going to have fun and enjoy what nature gives me. You don't have harvest something to enjoy the outdoors.

My brothers and I would always tell each other, even to this day, once the shooting ends the fun is over. It's a lot of work field dressing, dragging, caring for and then processing the meat.

If you do the math, venison is one of the most expensive pieces of meat, so a store bought ribeye works. If you want a trophy, just book a trip to one of the big buck states with a guide.

Ultimately, I think if you approach with fewer goals and lower expectations for those goals, then you will have lot more fun and enjoyment, and that is the sole purpose for the outdoors.
 
Vahunter23322 said:
First off, this has been my first year in the saddle. I’ve spent about 10 -4 hour sits and really like it. However, after nearly 40 years of bowhunting, I’ve decided to pull the plug.
Click to expand...

For public land, I pulled the plug on both bow and saddle hunting (tree hunting all together). It's just not like the midwest as far as public land goes in Virginia IMO - so I feel yeah. Had same result of no results with a bow vs a gun. If you are willing to camp, you could just hunt gun season west of the blue ridge (no dogs). Longer drive but those big mountains are an experience of their own and they are so big they just don't get hit as hard. Deer numbers are not as high due to the lack of habitat for whitetails, but they are there. If you want some more info or have spots in mind let me know, I may have hunted there and can share some insight.
 
So I went out Nov 8th in Shenandoah Co. and found some pre rut sign (lots of rubs and one community scrape), but no bucks really out checking does. I'm going out this Thursday same place hoping to get near some does I found bedded last week that had some nice rub around them. Maybe the owner of those rubs will be up and moving. Rut for the Valley north seems to be 2nd or even 3rd week in November. Another spot I have in Frederick Co. seems to be first and second week of November and the game cams my friends have up there showed daylight back activity last week.
 
Vahunter23322 said:
First off, this has been my first year in the saddle. I’ve spent about 10 -4 hour sits and really like it. However, after nearly 40 years of bowhunting, I’ve decided to pull the plug. I have hunted nearly 100 days over the past 3 years and have not had the opportunity at a decent buck. Granted I could have shot small bucks and does but elected not to do so. I hunt Ft AP Hill and have to travel 2 1/2 hours to get there. I stay on post at the campground which is cheaper than off post, but still $35 a night. I assume that just between fuel and lodging I’ve spent well over $7.5k. So with that said, as much as it sickens me to give it up, I can no longer justify the time and money with nothing to show for the effort. I may do some gun hunting locally but not thrilled about the prospect. Anyhow, if thins change I may jump back in the saddle, but for now, I need to walk away.
Click to expand...


The fact that you took the time to write this tells me that you care an awful lot about saddle/archery hunting.

Let me just say that you are not alone in your frustrations; I have not killed a deer since 2013 (nine years, WOOF) and have never killed a deer with a bow (this is my 5th season archery hunting). In that time I have missed a doe and a monster buck; I finally connected on a doe this season and couldn't recover due to crappy shot placement and losing blood after 500 or so yards. It definitely pricks my ego to admit this to people, because it seems like everyone else has somehow figured it out in ways that I haven't. It makes it really hard to keep a positive attitude about my favorite time of the year, but I know that quitting isn't in the cards for me. I look forward to deer hunting all year long, even if it is frustrating. It's my favorite excuse to get outside...plus, I have no idea what else I would do during the fall...I don't watch football!

You already have all of the gear and 40 years of bowhunting experience. There are a LOT more public opportunities than AP Hill in VA. It seems to me like you are 80 percent of the way there. Do you really want to give this up? What are you going to do during the fall instead?

I second pancreas broke's offer to help you figure out some other public hunting opportunities! Best of luck either way!
 
Vahunter23322 said:
I do, but dog country where gun comes in on Oct 1 with no early bow. Brown it goes down in front of the deer dogs. No chance for buck to mature. At least it’s a good turkey spot.
Click to expand...

You just be near me haha. I’m 23321. Dogs are beyond frustrating around here for sure.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Vahunter23322 said:
Yes I'm in Chesapeake also.. Hickory.
Click to expand...
You hunt Ft AP Hill? You retired military? If you have a “get on to base” connection you could throw a rock and hit Navy Northwest Annex from your house. I whack a couple out there every year in a few short weeks. Got this one on a string for when I get back from my current rutcation. He’s good enough for the freezer.111A99A4-5CF7-43F1-A0F9-9DF311937630.jpeg
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top