New Hunter from Jersey City

[BowhunterNJ]

Nice hunt and that is hilarious, packing the meat in a suitcase! Awesome!

[zomborama]

I used a sealed Pelican case that I used for scuba and checked it from San Antonio to Newark. The hunt was in January so the hog was quartered and nicely chilled in the cargo hold of the plane 

[Hatchet]

Congrats on the pig! Welcome

[Gruntmaster]

Welcome

[zomborama]

So, can anyone recommend a good hunting area for deer? I'm reading a lot that Stokes is over-hunted. I'm an outdoors guy with lots of backwoods, camping experience but hunting is all new.

[BHC]

Stokes and the public lands aren't overhunted if you get in deep and away from crowds, also when hunting thses public lands get in early, and stay allday.....I hunt 10mins north of Stokes

[zomborama]

Is getting early mean before dawn? For a shotgun (slug) hunt do recommend a blind, tree stand or nothing? Thanks.

[Haskell_Hunter]

You want to be in your spot, settled, at least 1/2 hour before the official starting time each day.  Legal hunting time is usually (check the season and what you are hunting) 1/2 before sunrise.

 

You'll see a lot of guys get up at 3AM to get to their spots by 5:00AM.

 

The earlier you get in the better.  The lazy folks who like to hunt when the sun is warm may push deer your way, and if you've been sitting there all day and not making much noise, the deer won't realize you're there.  At least that's the goal.

[BowhunterNJ]

I'll be out tomorrow morning. Planning on being on stand 30-45 min before legal shooting time. Get in early and let things settle down.

 

 

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[Haskell_Hunter]

I'll also offer up another suggestion:  Scouting.

 

Find some nice public land and walk all through it on a regular basis for a few reasons:  First, you want to know the terrain.  Use Google Earth to get a "bird's eye" visual of the forest and where certain visual landmarks may be (lakes, streams, roads, etc.)  Plan a hiking day (or a dozen) and walk all over the place.  If you have a GPS, even if it's a basic one, bring it.  Your smartphone can double as a GPS (search this site for an app), just remember to bring a backup battery or charger.  Learn the forest and all of the bumps inside of it.

 

Second, look for signs of deer.  Again, if you have a GPS put markers where you find stuff like scat, rubs, oak trees (food source) and such.  You see that over time the deer will reveal their patterns to you, and this will help you pick your hunting spot.

 

In the late summer, during one of your scouting hikes, sit in a place you think would be a good spot.  Time yourself getting there from the parking lot.  That will give you a good estimate of how long it's going to take you to get there during the season (add about 30 minutes because the forest looks much different in the dark).  Go sit in that spot for a few hours and try glassing some wildlife.  If you can get them with glass, you have a good change of getting them in season.

 

If you can start doing those things as early as late winter, early spring, it may make for a very rewarding season next year.  Regardless, you'll be spending a lot of time in the woods, and that's the best part.

Edited December 18, 2013 by Haskell_Hunter

[zomborama]

Really great tips, indeed. Thank you.

[BHC]

I like to be ready to go least one hour before daylight....like it was said, get in deep while others walk in they will push game your way had this happen many, many times. I love to be in a treestand, but ground blind weather store brought or natural is fine as well. Scouting is key, look for game signs: droppings, rubs, scrapes, bedding areas, but hunt outside the bedding areas