ok, here's the scoop.. planning on hunting in Virginia this fall with any kind of luck. i know that there is a very small herd of elk in VA., but i need specifics, like towns or locals, gun shops, etc that i can call. i have spoken with a couple of people already, but i only got a rough idea of where to go. i am trying to bring along 4-6 others, with the intent that if we get either an elk or deer, at least we don't go home empty-handed. looks like the Pound area may be a starting point, can anyone do any better on the info?
Pat

If you are planning on coming to Virginia and hunt elk forget it! There are but a very small handful killed each year, and those cross the border from Kentucky. I live in the Southwest Virginia region and only hear of about 6 being killed each year!

If I were you I would find some good deer hunting closer to home. The population in the Pound area is reviving, but is still very far from the rest of the herd in Virginia. Some people go for days without seeing a deer in that area.

Criggster is right. There isn't much of an elk herd here in VA, and they mostly drift across the KY border. At least for now, you're better off saving your $$ for a real elk hunt out West somewhere, until our herd matures (if it does).

I live in tazewell va. Its in the southwestern part of virginia. About 45 minutes away from pound. If i really wanted a elk I would go to Wise or Buchanan county. Each had about 10 elk killed out of it last year.
If I wanted a deer I would come to clinch valley wildlife management area or big tumblen same thing. youll find it on virginia game and inland fishery website. Its where we hunt and i killed a doe, my brother got a spike and a 5 point, my dad got a doe. But were some nicer deer taken in past years. Hell of a place to trout fish to. Good Luck!!!

thanks guys, but i guess what i should have said is that i heard someone from Pound had gotten an elk this year, instead of that i was going to hunt there. i think i am looking at hunting the national forest in wise county, that general area. if anyone could pass along the local wardens name so i could get in touch with him, i sure would appreciate it. also, how is the hunting for deer in that general area, and what are the limits, five deer i think, but is it buck only, and can you use a rifle? i know here in vt i can pull alongside the road almost anywhere, and start hunting without someone getting a hair across their butt, as long as it isn't posted. and i don't have to get the landowners permission, either, that's just an acceptable thing here, but what about down there? i have also heard that a 6x5 elk was shot in VA, and the picture hit the local papers, has anyone seen it, and how wide was the spread? thanks,
Pat

As I mentioned before this area does not have that many deer, some people go for days without even seing a deer. I used to work in that area sampling the strip mines and streams. And, the deer sign was few and far between. If you want to come here and hunt don't go on private property unless you get permission. It's the law and people down here are strict about it.

Consider going to some of the public land in the area instead. Good luck finding deer there too. Try the DGIF website to locate the warden in the Wise County area. www.dgif.state.va.us

Good luck hunting in our state. So you live in VT? Nice. My family lives in Maine, and you live in a very beautiful and bountiful state. I'll be skiing there this winter!

hey im from maine myself. my family owns the big moose inn right outside baxter state park at mt. katahdin. we have a like house on lake ambejejus. love it there. but anyway. elk hunting in va is about like playing the lottery. the elk that are coming in the state are getting taken as fast as they cross the line so good luck. the state wildlife dept does not want elk here in the first place. if they did then they would protect them till the numbers got up there to support hunting. they are viewed as a nucsense animal. plus the elk are small. if you want a nice bull then your going to have to pay the money and go with a good outfitter far west of va.

The Big Moose Inn - Cool! I'll be going back downeast this spring for my cousin's college graduation.

It's probably more fun hunting Sitka deer on the lower Eastern Shore, at this point, rather than our "elk herd", as it were. Maybe about the same caliber of hunt[8D]

hi guys,
i know that we aren't talking about an easy hunt, for either deer or an elk. that's half the fun of it, it's going to be a challenge. so far, i have heard of two herds numbering about 12 or more each. i spoke with one guy that works with someone who has had them bugling close enough that he can hear them from his house. lack of deer? hey, you don't know hard hunting for deer unless you have hunted in vt, n.h., or me. now that's difficult hunting, finding any deer, let alone a buck, so i don't see va being too hard, i used to live there myself and always saw plenty. i didn't find the local officer's name for the wise county area on the va website, anyone have a phone book handy? i was lucky enough to hunt moose this year in vt, and tagged out after having to hunt my tail off, after that experience, i feel that i can probably do ok anyplace. but, i have been invited to go elk hunting in wyoming, also for elk, the advantage of going to va is that i can drive there vs. flying. guess we will just have to wait and see, not going to rush into it, that's for sure. thanks again. hey, i have a sister in waterville, me. and hunt in edmunds. is either one of those places close to the big moose inn?