Many times I drive by residential properties and see numerous deer residing nearby. This is literally where the big bucks hang out. Yes, they are on public lands but it's a waste of time trying for them there due to reasons that really don't need to be explained.

My question is how do you access these monsters? Whatmethods would you utilize after askingthe locals to let you park nearby giving you access and run into resistance?I have thought many times of just sneaking in there, and have done so already, but for obvious reasons it is a little distressing sitting there wondering if you will get busted.

It's ridiculous to me that bow hunters cannot get in these places when all they do is benefit the situation. Yes, I know I probably wouldn't be taking out a lot of does (I can do that on public land) but hey, at least a contribution is being made!

I am curios as to what other bow hunters are thinking regarding these matters and what experiences they may have had if any.

If it's public land and you have legal rights to hunt it and are being harassed for it, I'd hunt it and take a video camera with me to record the harrassers....there are laws protecting hunters against harrassment and you'd be doing yourself, the bowhunting community and hunters in general justice by prosecuting harrassers as well as having the opportunity for a bruiser buck...but that's just me.....good luck, tough situation.

I will tell you in the area of southeast PA where I am.. You basically have to take your chances with sneaking around. You can find a small patch of woods park close and jump in. The areas I had 10 years ago are all houses fetching prices between 500-750k.. Some guys will let you hunt here and there. The big thing though is they have "deer associations" that are now taking all of our spots.

I dont worry about being busted.. If its not posted play dumb!

In Texas, if you're caught tresspassing on private land with a gun or bow, it's a felony. Even if it's not posted. I've not seen a deer yet that's worth going to jail over. Get permission or move on.

If you have permission to hunt it then I would suggest talking with the folks that live there to see specifically where and when, exactly, they are seeing the deer. I would then try to locate a spot that would allow me to capitalize on the situation.

It is more or less "community property" and I would never consider private property. But small parks and community properties adjacent to housing developments is where I am focusing.

It is these types of places that huge bucks and other deer live their whole lives with no hunting pressure. Consequently, they stay there and breed like rabbits!

I hunt some similar places in the suburbs here in Pittsburgh. I'll see a spot that looks promising and find somewhere to park. Then I'll survey/scout the area. First thing I look for of course are no tresspassing/hunting signs. If I cannot find them I check out the surrounding area. I'm always concerned that I am going to shoot a deer in one of these small pockets and it is going to run and die on someones property. Here in PA you're not allowed to recover that deer unless you have permission. So be sure to check your local laws as well.

The question to consider is potential.
What is the potential of a bystander getting injured?

I face the same issue, I have seen a nice 8 pt buck on a parcel of land that is city owned...no fence and no signs. I have seen him on the side of the road and have tried to pattern him to see where he hangs out. I wouldn't want him to run across the road to get to his place.

Fl says shooting anything over private land is a felony, but this is land bought and paid for by taxes...still in contemplation.

One side of me says to go and do it while bow season is on...

I would say check the laws...no sense in hunting if you are alway too worried if you should be.


Tim

Only potential for someone getting hurt is by these urban deer running out into the road and causing an accident. That is the beauty of bow hunting these types of places. No one gets hurt, less deer to inhabit their neighborhood, and me bagging a big buck!

I’m not sure what the deal is where I live in regards tocollecting a deeron private property. I wouldn’t want to deal with that but if I had to I would. I would just tell them I'm sorry and start dragging it out.

I'm with you there then.

I just did some more researching on my potential spot and found out it is state owned, and a good portion of it has been slated to be chopped up as horse trails, fishing, hunting ...
Good news is, it hasn't happened yet so it is all for recreational use...I thank you for putting the idea back in my head.
Hopefully it pays off.

Tim