Fun Eastern Hunts

[VAspeedgoat]

Don't waste your time or money on hunting in the Northeast, no offense to VASpeedgoat on his recommendation, but I've been living in New England against my will for the past 22 years, and it would definitely NOT be on my list of places to go and do a fun weekend hunt. There are many, many other places that offer much more to the hunter, and are more hunter friendly.

Good luck in your search and a way to extend your season.

Ha, no offense taken. But thats why I added grouse and snoeshoe hares to the list. Hunting in those north woods takes a desire to just be there. "Big bucks the benoit way", is very misleading because even they hunt more in Canada now.

 

[CornFedCoon]

Just had a thought, has anyone tried hunting bears with dogs in West Virginia? That could be a fun way to try something new.

Thanks again!

 

[MiStickSlinger]

Just had a thought, has anyone tried hunting bears with dogs in West Virginia? That could be a fun way to try something new.

Thanks again!

Nope, I did it in Maine though and it was a riot

 

[VAspeedgoat]

Both Maine and WV would be great, as well as Va. My only concern is that here and I assume in WV, the locals all have "their" area. Not that its right just may not be worth the hassle. I would think Maine would have a ton of open territory with nobody around if you have your own dogs.. If you are going through a guide or friends that live there it would be a great idea for WV. Plenty of dog outfits in Maine. Maybe don't overlook PA, BIG bears killed in the Pocanos every year. Many well over 500 pounds.

 

[Steiny]

If you are a whitetail nut, there are some great opportunities in neighboring and nearby states with economical, easy to acquire licenses; IN, IL, KY, MI, WI, etc.
I'd get a lease with a buddy for the season then hunt the place multiple times with various weapons. Combine it with camping if you like.

 

[Gut Shot]

Just had a thought, has anyone tried hunting bears with dogs in West Virginia? That could be a fun way to try something new.

Thanks again!

Yup, and it was a blast. But...I wouldn't do it without the help of natives. Everything you've ever heard about West Virginia is all 100% true.

 

[VAspeedgoat]

Not sure about dogs in PA though.

 

[RUT JUNKEY]

....Zero big bucks left in Indiana....nothing to see here.....

 

[Flatland Crusoe]

If you are a whitetail nut, there are some great opportunities in neighboring and nearby states with economical, easy to acquire licenses; IN, IL, KY, MI, WI, etc.
I'd get a lease with a buddy for the season then hunt the place multiple times with various weapons. Combine it with camping if you like.

What good is an easy to acquire, cheap license if the price of good deer hunting also includes a few thousand dollars thrown at a lease? At least when I buy a $1,000 elk tag out west it generally comes with a place to hunt.

I don't disagree if you are a whitetail guy or want a fun eastern hunt that private ground is the only way that makes sense, just that DIY public opportunities for eastern whitetails are tough across the board and that there are very few places that are even big enough to get away from people. The whitetail guys that are consistently successful under those conditions have become specialist in hunting around human pressure which isn't the definition of fun to me.

Managed waterfowl hunts in some eastern states can be very fun if you can stand being turned away because of a bad draw after showing up at 4 am for a CHANCE to hunt.

 

[MinnesotaHunter]

Cast and blast in NE MN. Lots of grouse, trout, smallmouth, walleyes, and public land to be had in and around the BWCAW. Once you get some familiarity you can get after some deer and black bears too.

 

[1_pointer]

What good is an easy to acquire, cheap license if the price of good deer hunting also includes a few thousand dollars thrown at a lease? At least when I buy a $1,000 elk tag out west it generally comes with a place to hunt.

I don't disagree if you are a whitetail guy or want a fun eastern hunt that private ground is the only way that makes sense, just that DIY public opportunities for eastern whitetails are tough across the board and that there are very few places that are even big enough to get away from people. The whitetail guys that are consistently successful under those conditions have become specialist in hunting around human pressure which isn't the definition of fun to me.

Managed waterfowl hunts in some eastern states can be very fun if you can stand being turned away because of a bad draw after showing up at 4 am for a CHANCE to hunt.

Not that I disagree completely with you, but one "good" would be proximity to home. If I can get to a place in handful of hours driving, I can hunt more often and spend less vacation time doing so. I spent more than a full week of vacation time in 2016 driving to a from western hunt destinations.

PS- I hope to burn a few vacation days again this year driving to/fro but doubt it'll be fewer than last year.

 

[AdirondackHunter18]

You may already be familiar with this neck of the woods but for what its worth; western KY wouldn’t be too far from you and I had a ball down there last fall. Their bow season starts at the beginning of September and there’s a good amount of public land near the Green River. If you’re intersted in heading there shoot me a PM.

 

[MN_Bowhunter4]

Late to the party but I'll throw my hat in. I'd throw your gear in the car and point it towards some public land you've never hunted in your home state. Combines the adventure of learning someplace new with the ease of not having to drive a bunch and spend time / money on car, gas, etc.

Or - venture up to Northern Michigan and hit one of the Nat'l Forests up there. Hunt, camp, and enjoy. I'd recommend going during bow season though, much less crowded. Bring a shotgun too and mix in some small game and grouse hunting too. I love hunting up there and try to make it back every year!

 

[PrairieHunter]

One place to look for hunting ground in Eastern states is on Corps of Engineers land. In many cases they own quite a bit of property around lakes and waterways that can be hunted.

 

[netman]

Sika deer in the Eastern shore aka Delmarva area. I sold a slug gun to a fella that hunts over there . We got to talking about the sika hunting and perk my interest. A guy can hunt waterfowl on the eastern shore, seafood galore and sika deer hunt all in the same area.