RE: WHICH TRACT IN DE HAS THE MOST DEER??
 

I used to hunt the islands on Primehook Refuge but they have shut boat access off. Used to be some giants taken out there every year. By boat it was doable. If you walked in, you better take a fork and some fire. The only way to get one out is eat it on the spot!!

My uncle has a farm down in Southern Maryland. We hunt the marshes down there with alot of success. The most difficult part is to get there in the morning before the deer do. Evenings are near imposible since the islands are small and deer are pushed out the back when you try and set up.

I hunt some swamp islands over in Dorchester Maryland. Same findings as Lemond describes. Bucks work the fringes of the little fingers that push into the swamps. I generally hunt some small patches of high ground that serve as staging areas for deer heading to the fields in the evening. Woks pretty good so far!!!

RE: WHICH TRACT IN DE HAS THE MOST DEER??
 

I'll stick to the Frindges. I've deer hunted along salt marshes all my life and I've pretty much come to the conclusion that if the deer get out there, they are safe from me. <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> Its not safe ground hunting out there during gun season unless you know you are alone. Even in a all hunter orange suit its tough to see others. And with the bow, it's I wouldnt want to risk a log drag to the nearest ditch.

The deer I got with bow last year made it into the swamp. Only 30 yds. If it would have made it another 20, it would have been REAL messy. :)

Any day spent huntin, is better than any day spent workin,,

Duckmastor2

RE: WHICH TRACT IN DE HAS THE MOST DEER??
 

when hunting these areas that we r describing u need specialized euip. archery: u need a fast fast fast bow...why??? because u need to shoot something that will put a BIG hole n the animal..hence: large muzzy or steelhead that opens to 2in..this will ensure a recovery. secondly...u better know someone with a canoe. if u can do both..recovery will not be a problem...after the shot..listen..if u do not hear alot of splashing...he is down:)

RE: WHICH TRACT IN DE HAS THE MOST DEER??
 

Fast bow? Naw...heavy arrows and big broadheads? For sure! My recurve is sluggish at best but I do use as big a broadhead as possible. Used to use 3 blade Snuffers but am switching back to 4 blade Zwickeys. Each cuts on contact and puts out one heck of a hole!

RE: WHICH TRACT IN DE HAS THE MOST DEER??
 

ok..i can go for the slow bow..if that is what i like, but remember..laurent fignon lost the tour de france in 1989 because he was reluctant to embrace modern technology...who did he lose to...an american named.....greg lemond. i am sticking with the mathews blk mx...thanks

RE: WHICH TRACT IN DE HAS THE MOST DEER??
 

Lemond, You lost me dude...there is no competition in bowhunting! It is (or at least should be!) a personal endeavor!! Since I have nothing to lose, nor no-one to loose to, how does the Tour de France scenario serve any point?

I'm already certain we are in the same sport for different reasons. My goals must certaily be as unrecognizable to you as yours are to me. Mine is simple....get as CLOSE as humanly possible, make a good killing shot on the deer of my choice! To do anything less will taint my satisfaction. I also enjoy knowing I've tipped the scales of the chase in as far favor to the deer as I can and still have a reasonable chance for success. I like to minimize my reliance on gadgets and increase my own personal skills (woodmanship and accuracy) to compansate.

My most rewarding hunt to date sent me home with nothing more that a spike. A runt by most anyone's standards. But I took him in the heat of the day, still hunting through a standing corn field. Shot distance...a little over 5 feet (that's less than two corn rows away)! No gadgets, no cover scent, no carbon clothing, NOTHING! Me, a beat up old recurve and a deer! Haven't topped the experience yet!!!

Now before I get a chewing out for being anti-modern equipment...I assure you I am not....only anti-modern philosophy! The philosophy that rewards the kill at any cost and settle for nothing less mentality that goes with it. That's was gets on my nerves! There should be no short cuts in bowhunting! Too many folks are trying to re-invent gun season...SAD!!!! This is a short range sport...25 yards give or take a few!!! To shoot father only increases the risk of making a unsatisfactory shot! At short range, equipment is irrelevant!!!

To each his own and there (for now) is room for everyone! Good luck!!!

RE: WHICH TRACT IN DE HAS THE MOST DEER??
 

I think its great that people still use traditional equipment to hunt and think its even better that they are proficient enough to take game with them. I shot a recurve for my hunters ed class 4 years ago. I didnt have a bow and it was the only thing DNREC had. The people there couldnt believe I actually hit the target at 10 yds. Neither could I. No sights, no release, no kisser but for a consistant anchor point and the arrow sitting on a flat wooden rest.

Im sure DEBob has a nice bow unlike the piece of sh*t i was shooting, but still, what a challange compared to the fast compounds of today.

Keep on em DEBob!!!

Any day spent huntin, is better than any day spent workin,,

Duckmastor2

RE: WHICH TRACT IN DE HAS THE MOST DEER??
 

I'd have to agree with DeBob, if you &quot;need&quot; speed, you're doing something else wrong with your hunting. My 27&quot; draw and 57lb bow ain't setting the air on fire, and in all my years it's the fastest bow I've owned. Never felt &quot;under bowed&quot;. If you think you're handicapped by a slower bow, something else is probably wrong. Shoot whatever you enjoy, but if you think it's &quot;necessary&quot;, you're mistaken. Never had a deer know the difference between a 240fps bow vs a 310fps bow, if you hit them right. I suspect a lot of the advantages are more common on the internet, not in the real world where I shoot most my deer.

&quot;In heaven, even the fish have antlers&quot;

RE: WHICH TRACT IN DE HAS THE MOST DEER??
 

Thanks for the concurrence guys...regenerates my faith in the bowhunting community!!!

I'll readily admit to using compounds in the late eighties. Shot pretty good with them at that! My confidence, however, was deminished as I always had a lingering doubt if the bow was competely &quot;in-tune&quot;. Perhaps a pin may be off, or the rest creeped or peep sights (YIKES!!) mis aligned of other such intolerances. So, I finally said the heck with it and went as simple as posible...hence the recurve. No pins to break, the rest will not creep, no peep sights...its either in tune or unstrung! Less things to worry about! I know I can't shoot far. Never wanted to anyway! Now I never even have to calculate distance. He's either in range or he's not! Last I added 'em up, my average shot distance was a little less that 11 yards. To me, that's the fun of bowhunting!!!

Now traditional is not for everyone. And I'm glad most folks realize that. Sounds like Duckmastor may have a natural tendancy to shoot one well...that type of talent is rare. Most folks don't have the time or willpower to remain proficient. That's why I perfectly comfortable with the advent of compounds!

It's sort of the extremist I could live without! 50 plus yard shot are reckless at best! Compounds may add greater effective range BUT a deer is a live critter with a mind of his own. The time an arrow takes to get there, even with the fastest of bows, at an extreme range will allow for alot of movement of the deers part! I would never risk a bad shot on a critter that means so much to me!

RE: WHICH TRACT IN DE HAS THE MOST DEER??
 

first of all, i was making an analogy:) it's all good. that is the problem with everyone that post...all u want to do is cause friction. i am here to get info and become better...gain more knowledge. i was not being offensive. i stated that with the blk mx..a 30yd shot is nothing...i began practicing at 60+..for fun.:) there is something else u must take into account...i am younger than u and most on here..i have never shot a recurve..and never will. for what?? i like modern technology..no harm in that.

now, let's talk hunting these swamp monsters. do the bucks that live in the swamps travel far looking for does during the rut?? i was thinking that they stay close to the tall grasses they hide in.