help

[headhunter300win]

Hi to all this is my first post on this forum.....seems to be some good info being shared. Just so happens im in need of some advice. This year i am hunting some national forest land here in north ga and the lay of the land is rather choppy with ridges and valleys. i usually do my hunting in south ga where tha land is flat so im not ucustomed to the ridges and such can i get some advice on how the deer will move through such land? will the deer stick to the ridges or the valleys? Also the land was control burned last year will this affect the hunting
thanks

[cardeer]

Welcome to the board,control burn should create some good young sweet food for the deer. Ridges,valleys??????? really would have to know more. I alway s found that the thickest areas is what the deer use to go between the ridges and valleys. And seek the water source. Good luck

[huntnma]

controlled burning only helps....had one yesterday, didnt go well, too much humidity and then we have 1,000 acre one to do on wed., can't wait.....it's so benefical to the animals and the land.....welcome to Huntingnet

[Coastie]

Where in North Georgia do you hunt? Since most of the area is mountainous and most of it is National Forest (unless you are on a paper company lease or private land) you are stuck with a mix of mature hardwoods and Pine. Hunt the saddles where two ridges meet as these are natural travel ways. You can also try the bottoms along streams where there is good cover and food. If you can find an area that hasbeen cutover in the not so distant past, hunt the edges of that. The Sierra Club, World Wildlife Federation et al, have pretty much assured that you won't find too many areas like that though. The best bet is the WMAs, we have some extremely dedicated Wildlife Management Biologists and Technicians here in North Georgia and they do a fantastic job maintaining the food plots and roads on the management areas. There is a hunt starting tomorrow, Nov. 17 on the Dawson Forest (25,000 acres) WMA. This is a Quality Buck and Bear hunt and with the weather we have had for the past two weeks it is promising to be a good one. There was a Pope and Young buck taken from Dawson Forest last year that scored 146 6/8 and several others that were nearly as large. There have been 12 Bears taken so far this year as well. Next week the Blue Ridge WMA has a 4 day hunt, this is a 39,000 acre area that has some really good deer as well but you have to work for them a bit harder than on some aother areas. If you have more questions, send me a PM and I will be happy to try to answer them, or if you are in the Dawsonville area over the next few days, stop at the check station on Hwy 53 about 7 miles west of town and talk to one of the guys there. I am working part time for the DNR this year and will be at Dawson Forest the rest of this week and at Blue Ridge next week Wednesday through Saturday, I'll be the old fart with the white beard.

[metalback]

This season I've been hunting the very edge of a controlled burn along a logging road and am seeing more deer than I ever have....you're doing the right thing---IMO

[headhunter300win]

thanks for the input guys, i hunt in the shanty creek area in murray county ga, not many people know about the area. i found out about it through a friend of mine. If your familiar with n ga it is right smack in the middle of the cohutta wilflife managment area. national forestry has taken over and put in a few food plots but the deer havent been moving through them yet(atleast i see no sign)but if you ask me there not in the correct locations for the best outcome but thats my 2 cents i guess. I know there is a decent population of deer and hogs, and i have seen some convincing bear sign but i am new to the land so i havent found the hot spots yet. guess i spoiled myself hunting the clubs in hancock co ga. But thanks for the info guys im sure its gonna be helpful.