If you want bow only, go to Raincliffe and Slacks for State land. Raincliffe is about 35 acres of woods and Slacks is about 135 acres but most of it is crops. You have to call early to get Raincliffe since it only has three slots and fills up quickly.

If you qualify with your bow at Meade, Shafer Farm is bow only and has some nice deer in it. It is off of 197 going towards Bowie.

Only problem with schaffer farm or the central tract is you have to use a tree stand. I am a ground hunter. And being new to bowhunting not sure if i could qualify. I am confident only out to 20 yards. I tried 30 yards but was all over the place. So i went back to 20 and gonna ease up to 30 gradually.
Why am i a ground hunter you might ask. Well i'm a big boy. 6'3" and 330lbs i fall hard, lol. I use to be a roofer and i use to take down trees. But over the years i have put on alot of weight and now i try to avoid hieghts.The only climbers i have seen for my weight only go up to 350lbs. I would like at least a 50lb cushin if you know what i mean.
I have never used a tree stand and am quite comfortable on the ground.

im about 360 myself (really need to lose some but thats another discussion) and i hunt out of an API grand slam MAGNUM rated for 350lbs. its quite comfy, and i get in it, move all around, jump up and down and its not going anywhere.

stand manufacturers rate the stands at 350lbs but in order to rate them at that weigh they must repeatedly test and prove the stand can hold more than double the weight. meaning the stand is tested to 700+lbs and can not fail. they just dont tell ya that kinda stuff.

You have to make three shots and I believe they are 18, 20 and 22.

If you want to try a climber, I know two guys that use the Summit Goliath and really like it. It is rated for 350 but like getblown5.9 said, they can handle a lot more than what their rated for. If you want to stay on the ground, try hunting the two State land areas I mentioned.

Don't know if I'm going out this weekend. If it is raining then no. I might be going out Friday cause I get off for Veterens day. I've noticed that Saturdays at Browns Church can get NUTS!!!! Last Saturday I was there, it was only bow season but there were at least 7-10 cars parked.[:-]

If I go out Saturday at all it will only be for half the day (dawn - noon).

I was told to qualify you had to shoot at 10, 20 and 30 but this was from a friend who does not bowhunt. Thanks for the info on the stands. Maybe i'll get 1 in the spring and try it when no one else is in the woods. so they won't laugh.

G2 is right about the distances. Qualified myself again this year.

i 2nd shafer farm some nice deer come out of there and I meen nice deer dont worry bout qaulifying its easy

Thanks Guys, i qualified at North tract today. I took 3 shots and he said i did not need to shoot anymore. Now i can bowhunt there. It was easier than i thought. being new i guess i just convinced myself it woulld be harder than it was.

DW,

That permit allows you to bowhunt North, Central, South and Shafer.