ORIGINAL: MarinePride
Hunting the Nat. Forest here in VA for the first time since moving here I can honestly tell you that most hunters will not go more than 1/2 from their vehicle. The reason for this in my opinion is because the terrain is rather hilly and it just takes a lot of effort to get around. A lot of hunters like to drive the roads in their trucks when it's cold and call that hunting too. The thing to remember is that most people are inherently lazy and will not put much effort into anything that doesn't guarantee a return. Real hunting requires effort and you cannot ever be guaranteed anything.
But what do I know, I've only been hunting for this season so far in VA and have no deer kills to show for it[:@].
I know the feeling, MarinePride.... I am from Richmond, VA. You should see the public WMA's close to Richmond on a Saturday!
I stopped by one recently, and didn't even get out of my truck! I sat there thinking to myself....
OH...
MY...
GOD... [&:][:'(]
I have never seen such a gathering of pickup trucks before. I probably would estimate that there is a sea of blaze orange upon every ridgetop or behind every tree out there.... I decided to drive on and head out further to the state forests.
I agree about the Nat'l Forest. It's great out there! Huge, rugged, steep terrain, and not packed to capacity with hunters. If you go in deep, you most likey won't see anyone at all!
As far as the
"I've only been hunting for this season so far and have no deer kills to show for it", I know exactly how you feel. I'm on my 4th year with no deer in the freezer yet. It takes tremendous dedication and determination to bag a public land buck and/or doe. The only "kills" I have to my name are 2 ducks and a single goose - when I went waterfowl hunting a few times with some guys I know. It was fun, but way too cold for this guy... [&o] I mean, hey... you think it's cold deer hunting? Pfffft!!! Try waterfowling in the sleet/snow on a frozen marsh... I gave up waterfowling... No offense to the guys I knew, but, I told them quote-unquote, "You all are crazy... I am about 3 steps from getting hypothermia or hospitalized with pnuemonia... Sorry guys, it's cool and all, but this is nuts...." [&:]