Got some bruisers here on Navy property, but the local base doesnt allow hunting. Not enough acreage really for anything but a select few on some type of lottery hunt anyway...

No one tagged the "herd bull" here this year atIndian Head, MD(Naval Surface Warfare Center), but not for lack of trying. Some nice shooters still bit the dust, we're just up just the road, an hour or so away from Pax Air Station...

-fsh

fshafly2, when I used to live in VA, I hunted across the river from you over at Quantico. Never did score but did see some nice deer... usually when armed with a baitcasting rod from my boat or from my truck though

I'm feeling pretty proud here since that is the base I'm stationed at now...and sending this from (shhh). I belong to that rod and gun club and really enjoy it. Much to my dismay, none of those brutes are mine as I hunted on private property this year. By barber, Shannon is shown with a good size buck that she never let me hear the end of. This is her first year hunting and she took him at 15 yards with a bow shot. The unfortunate part about the base is the tremendous pressure and competition for hunting spots.
You have to be active duty, retired military or a dependant to hunt. Of course...I can sign people in as "guests". If anyone is close by and wants to talk about next year, give me a shout.
Craig

Hey there Navydeer,
I was in the navy for 23 years and I must say that the best thing about it was the hunting. I hunted in some places that the aveage joe only dreams about. I was stationed in Va. (of course) for a large part of my career and some of the best bow hunting I ever did was on Oceana. It was bow hunting only and was open from 1 Oct-first sat in Jan. and you singed out an area so you didn't have to worry about some one messing you up. Dam Neck was also good as was North West rddio Sta. Which is the first place I hunted deer with dogs. And my oldest son shot his first deer when he sas 12. Any way enjoy it while you can it sure is a quick 20 years and you are retired for a long time (hopfully). Mike

RIStrutStopper- I got my start hunting the Quantico Marine Base back in 1960, when my dad was stationed there. Got my first deer there in '64. Great deer and quail hunting backin those days, and there were lots of turks around.

NavyDeerHunter- I used toconduct testing at Pax Air Station in the 80's and 90's, so am somewhat familiar with the base. I've hunted withChuck Stevenson who is stationed down at Pax River; the club pics show Chuck with a doe he had picked off - I think he got an 8 ptr too (no pic). Chuck has mentioned thepissin' contests over areas/sites that folks will get into down there...

-fsh

Hey Mike,
Yeah, Oceana has some fine deer.I hunted there a couple years back when I was stationed on the USS ENTERPRISE.
I've been in just about 24 years now and will stay for two more as payback for a recent promotion. After that, I'm punchin out and staying put in one place for more than 2 years.
Best of luck,
Craig

Should have added....
fshafly, it does get tough. The base is broken down to about 29 areas of various sizes. Some are archery only and some are open for both bows and guns. Besides the tension of getting a good zone we have had problems with stands being stolen, blinds being destroyed, etc. You'd think that with all of us being brothers in arms that we'd look out for one and other, but it's not always like that. I'm sure these acts are carried out by a select few, but it makes it bad for all of us. Once I found the private property that I now hunt, I have not hunted the base much since. It's very convenient as I can literally hunt within 15 yards of my office, but I like to get away from the traffic, plan fly-overs, etc. I still hunt here if I'm in a pinch for time, but other than that I don't.
All that said, we do have some bruisers here. They have wonderful agriculture support by the farmers how come on base and farm the fields. There is an abundance of corn and soy beans. In contrast, my private property has none of that so the deer are not as huge. It's give and take.
Craig

NavyDeerHunter
- all too familiar with the stolen stand problem;toss in poachers (we have more than our share) and it makes you wonder what the (hunting) world is coming to. I have lots of farm land to hunt, including my own farm, but I still hunt the Navy base since I was one of the instigators that got the formal program established in the late '80's. I did all the planting on the main base last year, but much of it was a waste of time because of the overpopulation of groundhogs, of all things, lol. It is still nice to slip out into the county, not deal with the sign in/out procedures, or having to listen to steam traps popping off every 10 seconds - so I know what you mean.
-fsh

fshafly2 - Is it true that whatIhave always heard that the antlers on the bucks at Indian Head glow at night, due tothe many years anddifferent types ordinance testing? [8D]

NavyDeerHunter- thanks again for letting me take a look at the Equalizer treestand. I ordered mine last night.

Maybe the three of us can get together and do an afternoon bowhunt next year.