Southern West Virginia Hunters

TDH · 10-12-2004, 02:07 AM

[>:] I am stuck in Iraq and will not get to hunt in McDowell County. I was wondering if someone could keep me informed about the hunting in the S. counties of WV. What does it look like for this year.

DougMD · 10-12-2004, 06:17 AM

TDH,

I posted your thread on the WVhunting forum and will cut and paste replies. Feel free to go there if you like, or just check in on this thread for updates I will cut and paste...

http://www.wvweb.com/www/hunting/index.html

I hunt in the eastern panhandle, where there are a lot of acorns this year. The past two years, we haven't had ANY, so hunting should improve as deer have food in the area. We are optimistic.

TDH · 10-13-2004, 02:38 AM

Last year I was at FT Bragg getting ready to go into Iraq and didn't get to go home to hunt. So what type of hunting tactics do you use in your area? I usally hunt saddles and funnels during the rut. Prior to the rut I hunt acorn flats. In McDowell the mountains a steep and deer usally cross the saddles moving from doe area to doe area. It has produced 6 chances to take P&Y bucks and have been blessed with taking 2 P&Y. The others 4 ran off with an arrow in the dirt above or below them.

DougMD · 10-13-2004, 06:33 AM

TDH, we pretty much do the same where I hunt. But you're obviously more experienced than I am, so could teach me a thing or two! Congrats on the P&Y's, and hope you stay safe and have many more years of hunting ahead. Here is a post from someone on that forum responding to your question:

Doug: Tell the McDowell Co. boy who is stuck in Iraq that deer hunting is "rock'n & roll'n" in southern Wv ! In 2003, the bowhunting only counties of Logan, McDowell, Wyoming & Mingo, accounted for 50 out of 80 of the state's top typicals killed with a bow and two out of 3 of the top non-typicals! We (the bowhunting "4") have 4 out of 5 of the all-time typicals(bow) and 4 out of 6 of the all-time non-typicals(bow)! The good news for McDowell is that they are "the best of the best". A quick glance shows that McDowell killed more deer with bows than maybe 90% of the rest of WV's counties...that includes the famous Ritchie, Wirt, Hampshire, Pocahontas and most all of the rest! No reason to think this year won't be great...we even have some white oak acorns this year! The leaves are turning beautifully, and I will be sitting over a scrape with 2 dozen rubs around it come Saturday morning! Wish "stuck in Iraq" could be here, too! Anyway, Iraq, cover your backside and when you do get back to Wild Wonderful WV and the McDowell County woods, plenty of deer hunting fun is waiting for you...best to you and all the other warriors...even the KY boys! LOL!

NHBuck · 10-22-2004, 06:39 PM

Not Southern WV but last year I hunted Lewis CO during rifle. Saw 200 plus deer in about 4 days. 95% does and a few spikes and 1 4pt my cousin took. I took a doe. My thoughts are with you and the rest over seas and thanks for the hell of a job you are all doing.

JLB.01 · 10-22-2004, 11:17 PM

TDH,
I did some scouting in the caretta,Big Creek Hollow area this weekand saw some really nice ones, and found a few rubs but it wont be long till the rut will get started. its still kinda hard hunting because of all the 4wheelers and poachers.

deerstaker · 10-25-2004, 09:20 AM

Hunting is going to be great, the acrons and hickorys hit good this year.When the rut starts the bucks will be running crazy. I've been out a few times and the Does are everywhere, this will be a good year for a Pope&Young buck. tell everybody we are real proud of what they are doing for us back home.

TDH · 10-27-2004, 01:47 AM

Hey guys and you cuz thanks for the outlook on S. WV hunting. Keep me informed on whats going on with the huniting.

jbl use the 4-wheelers to your advantage. find a thick saddle on the ridge line and hide from the 4-wheelers. So you can find a good saddle just ride on the ridge line till you find a the deepest dip in the ridge and walk through it to locate the trails. Set up and wait. The deer will cross. This has worked for me all through the rut. Which is about to kick in. Full moon mid day. 3/4 and New MOON all day till 1/4. Trust me. That is when I have seen most of my big bucks.

royak · 10-27-2004, 06:44 AM

TDH first thank you for what you are doing for our country. I wish you could be here to hunt this year. I dont hunt McDowell Co I am too disabled a bad heart condition but I do hunt in Mercer. There are more acorns this year then in the past several years combined,so it should help in the mountains of McDowell very much. I havent saw a lot of deer in the daylight nor has my hunting friends but after dark they are everywhere as usual LOL. I really think it will be a banner year during the rut. Again thank You and please be safe
Roy

JLB.01 · 10-27-2004, 10:27 AM

tdh,
i think most of the rutting activity is taking place at night it is so warm it was 74 yesterday at 1pm i found 3 fresh rubs 4 feet from my stand location this morning i dont think the does are moveing around much after daylight it seems like they are moving befor daylight and after dark the full moon (rutting moon) takes place on the 28th so i think it will really heat up the next 2 weeks but i havent found any paw places. im hunting a real good saddle there is a real good trail xomming up the hollow to the top right through the saddle and there is alot of horning comming up the hollow also.... take care and hurry home the deer are relaxed again this season they havent see you yet this season