RE: i may have scored
 

lol sorry guys, been busy. but heres the deal. called him and he said he has a 50 acre farm in North harford county, MD. he told me he needs to cut down about 50 small trees (for some reason) and if i help him do that, i can hunt. i am going tomarrow morning to look at the land and get to know the man a little more. hopefully it already has some nice deer (or any deer lol) since it is a farm of some sort. he didnt really have much time to talk so detail was limited. i just hope its not like i have to hunt with him, when he hunts, you know? i mean dont get me wrong, im happy for any opportunity and i am greatful, but in my opinion i would rather pay some money and be able to hunt when i want, with who i want ya know as long as i respect his land, which of course i will. but we will see, either way it cant turn out that bad ya know. it can only get better really, if he says i can hunt when i want basically and still dont have to pay :), thats a double wammy. im going to hunt alot this year, much more than last, so i need somewhere that allows me to do so. but BOYYYY am i siked lol. im not even going to do anything on this nice friday night, go home watch a movie and wait for morniing. he said one other man hunted there last year, but he doesnt know if he will be back - which wouldnt really bother me oo much ya know - especially if im not paying. i just want a place where i can make a friend (if thats not too corny). i want him to feel like he can call me when he needs help with anything, not just this one time ya know. and i hope i can hunt how i want

Thanks for asking guys. i will post first thing tomarrow after i get home, hopefully with a big ol smile on my face. u guys have a wanderful friday

RE: i may have scored
 

well all, heres the news. went and saw the land. the man said he needs someone to help cut up some fire wood and they can hunt. but, he said he talked to me and another man he met, and he is going to make his decision in a week or so (im not sure what the decision is based on (maybe how many muscles we both have lol, or maybe just personality) but thats what he said. so far so good for the most part. he then shows me around his 50 acre farm, we talk about some things, he shows me where he killed a deer or so. i then ask about bowhunting (which is something i plan to do alot of this year, i mean alot) and he says "i dont bowhunt here b/c too many deer get maimed", which is where my heart missed a beat lol. i cant really see his point, a gun can maime an animal also, but its his land, his hunting ways. so i would only be able to gun hunt. i guess if he calls me i will cut the wood and have a definte place for gun hunting this year, but i was really disapointed about not being able to bow hunt. im gonna still look for another piece of land and hopefully find somewhere that allows both (like most people i would think). also, i feel like i wouldnt be able to make any changes to his land. he already has stands, feeders and all, which is great, but i kind of wanted somewhere that i can do things my own way so i feel a little more proud when i killa deer, that i did it and i wasnt jus sitting in this guys stands. i dont know, so thats the story, i guess he will be calling me this week and tell me. i hope i get it, but if not i wont be that depressed lol. i also saw alot of other farms around him which i will go this weekend and knock on their doors to see if they would lease. when i left his farm, i knocked on about 10 and they all either said "we have family who hunts", or "its already leased" so i guess its just a number game and getting lucky. also, this man got my ad from a newspaper, where i said "lease" land, and he just wants me to do some work - which is cool - but i honeslty would rather pay some money and be able to hunt how i want, with what weapon i want, in the stand that i hung. but either way, maybe i will have a place to gun hunt, but i really dont know why he doesnt allow bows. so thats the scoup, sorry for the long post, just thought i would share.

RE: i may have scored
 

Be gratful and gun hunt the place if he lets ya. 100,000 of us are jelous of you.

I don't know about MD, but in New Eng, bowhunters get allot of good opportunities gun guys don't have. So you should have no issue getting a bow spot on open land thats good.

RE: i may have scored
 

Well, I hope everything works out for you. I know here bow hunting is not as popular as other places but, people are starting to accept it more all the time. We have the problem of some that lacks an interest to hunt and they spread rumors of how they saw a deer running with an arrow stuck out of it. They claim to see that same deer for about 2 weeks. I have only shot 4 deer with a bow but, we can only shoot 1 deer a year in this area. I have never lost one yet and have shown some the damage a bow will do to a deer. That means less rumors about things they do not understand. Perhaps that is why he does not allow bow hunting on his land? Also if other farms around the area allows bow hunting perhaps this will cause more deer to move into the area that you are trying to hunt on... Anyways good luck on getting to hunt it.

RE: i may have scored
 

Brent,

You really should consider going to the North Tract of the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge. A permit is $50 (plus Md. license and hunter safety card), and you can get in any area you want during bow season. You do have to pass a proficiency test, but if you fail (shots at a 3D target at 23, 19 and 15 yards or so, 3 out of 5 in kill zone), you just get in line and shoot again until you pass.

I have VERY little problem with other hunters there, as there are 8,600 or so acres to hunt. Also, hunting is not bad at all. You can go and scout all you want as of September 1, I believe. Keep in mind the 6 points or better rule for bucks there, which may rule out some shots. However, it has been in place for about 4 years, so it has led to some nice bucks in there.

Shoot me a PM if you want any more details.