RE: friends in Virginia
 

hey DPV, I am very near Chester (off Salem church rd.). I hunt a bit on Pocahantos. Maybe we can help each other drag some bucks. I have had some luck near Dale Memorial. What part do you hunt?

Was that you in my treestand last year? HaHaHa. I know not to leave a stand there now. I guess even though you walk a bit, someone else will be there.

I am learning more about A.P. Hill. It is an hour away but it is a heck of a place for $35 a year.

Dayton

RE: friends in Virginia
 

I have hunted ap hill for over 25 years, been in the majority of the areas and have found out that there are no bad areas, maybe a few bad hunters. there are roads around all the areas, with signs facing the roads so you will know which area you are in. one thing you need to know is how to play the game, drive around your area, find out where the other hunters have parked and then go in from the other side. when i first hunted there, there was no charge, now the post commander feels (quote) " we are running a business here" you are going to get your share of bad hunters there, normally this indicated by the number of beer cans stacked up in the woods. drive hunts are NOT permitted on the Hill. But you will find if you hunt there long enough that you will be sitting in the middle of a drive, has happened to me on several occasions. i normally hit the nearest range phone and call for the MP' s and that discourages them for the day or longer if they get caught. my recommendation is to get a good topo map of the Hill, drive up there and drive around the post and find out where the areas are located. One thing then probably did not tell you is that they have primater stands located around the outside of the impact area, there is a charge of ten bucks for the season to use these. not sure if they are going to have a per day fee on these yet or not. saturdays are the worst days to hunt the hill, these are normally DOE DAYS and it is nothing to have 4 - 500 hunters? standing in line. go there on buck only days and you just about have the place to yourself. last year they had a regulation that once you entered the post you were there for the day, not sure if they have it this year or not, but bring your lunch just in case. overall the post is a great place to hunt, there are lots of deer and you should have a great time. lots of luck.

RE: friends in Virginia
 

Thanks for the info, Lee...

I got myself all set for A.P. Hill this coming season. I went up there, scouted around, and saw that 10 minute safety video, then paid my $35 bucks and got my base permit to hunt. I' ll say this out A.P. Hill, from looking at the detailed map... THE PLACE IS HUGE!! :D[8D]

Like the WMA' s around the Richmond area, I' d be hesitant to hunt A.P. Hill on a Saturday or opening day or whatever. No sense in fighting with 900,000 hunters if you know what I mean.

Butch

RE: friends in Virginia
 

I feel the same way about Quantico, but if you hunt during the week, there are MUCH fewer hunters there.

BTW - how many acres is the Hill? Quantico is around 47,000.

RE: friends in Virginia
 

Hey Coolbrze0,

I think they said AP Hill has 43,000 acres. The other side of 301 is not open, as its the impact area and target range.

Butch

RE: friends in Virginia
 

Hey Ranger690. That wouldn' t be bad. My hunting buddy from last year isn' t planning to be out there much this year. I am going to try Amelia also. I usually drive down 60 and turn in on a little access road off of 60 to get in Powhattan. Instead of AP Hill I was thinking of trying to hit Ft Pickett this year. Lots of the reservists who usually hunt there are " working" right now so it should be opened up. Only thing is I lost my safety certificate so I am waiting for them to mail me a new one if they can find my records. I' ve also given some thought to doing a Camp/Hunt out in the western part of the state. Are you bowhunting, muzzleload, or just rifle/shotgun?

David

RE: friends in Virginia
 

Hey David,

You want to try Amelia? That' s cool.... I' ve been all over it many many times. Check the .pdf file on Amelia to see the layout of it.

http://www.dgif.state.va.us/hunting/wma/amelia.html

Hot tip: If you park at the second parking spot on the right (down the dirt road that leads to the small pond), slowly walk to your right, then just after you come to the shallow stream bed and cross it, look down. You' ll see dozens of deer tracks. Take a left and follow them into the woods. Hopefully you' ll jump a doe in there. All the bucks are well hidden though and REAL TOUGH to hunt.

Good luck!

Butch

RE: friends in Virginia
 

ButchA, just to let you know, there are areas on the other side of 301 that are open to hunting. areas 25-31 to be exact. not sure if you bow hunt, but area 31 is for bow only and i have shot a ton of deer in that area. there are primiter stands along the outside of the impact area that are available for hunting also for a fee of ten bucks, you might want to check these out.

RE: friends in Virginia
 

Lee,

Don' t give everything away. I was out scouting last week in a couple of my favorite spots, and all I can say is there will be rack on the ground early this year. I was there around 1500 and in one spot there were three bucks, none smaller than a 6 :Dfeeding away. I watched from afar with the binos and slipped out. I did this to 4 spots and saw a total of 20 deer and about 14 turks, and this is in the middle of the afternoon. Look out, bow season is near.

RE: friends in Virginia
 

Lee and 02bhntn.....

YEAH!!!:D[8D];) I' m a bowhunter too. I didn' t know about area 31 across the street! That is too cool.... I will check it out more and see the perimeter stands they have too.

Hey, if you guys want, maybe we could all hook up sometime and hunt it. Zing me an email if you want:

[email protected]

Take care and thanks for the tips!

Butch