Originally Posted by
7.62NATO
I have no real desire to hunt with a bow. Buzzing insects, green leaves and warm weather don't mix with deer hunting IMO. But you may be pushing me in the that direction. The four times I got to hunt in our two weeks of muzzleloader season were awesome. Saw deer every time and killed two. They don't let you run dogs during muzzleloader season. Thank God.
Now that the dog hunters run their dogs through every cotton-pickin' inch of Pocahontas State Park, it really, really makes the deer extra prone to going 100% nocturnal. Yes, even on the weekdays.
Got to hunt some private land this past Saturday for the first time. Thought it would be awesome. But I found that the surrounding properties run deer dogs. And guess what? Those dogs came onto the property where I was taking my sister hunting for the first time. What's that you say? You can't control where the dogs run, and dogs don't know the property lines? NO KIDDING!! That's the point.
So I might just have to take up bow hunting, simply to be able to hunt without your invasive critters crawling over every inch of woods known to man.
If you start bowhunting you may find that you really like it. I started years ago because I got tired of all my buddies getting an extra month in the woods. I now find bowhunting to be my favorite time of year....even though hunting during the rut is much more exciting.
Now to address a couple of your concerns about bowhunting.
Buzzing insects can be controlled with Permithrin, DEET, or a Thermacell.
Green leaves have to be dealt with in my part of the state during blackpowder season as well, so I just look at it as more available natural camo!
Hot temperatures are something you just have to learn to deal with.
There is also something else you could consider. You could find property to hunt in counties that are east of the Blue Ridge but yet they are still west of the dog running line.
Now I need to get my son on the school bus and hit the woods!