Blue Ridge WMA

[DasHaas]

I'm planning to head out to Blue Ridge WMA for some solo deer hunting this fall during rifle season. I've only hunted at lodges where they did everything for you - this would be my first solo hunt. My field dressing skills leave much to be desired so this should be interesting. I have a GPS but am not planning to go super deep into the woods. Any pointers on hunting this WMA would be greatly appreciated!

I'd love to hire a guide but all my play money is spent hunting in South GA at the aforementioned lodge. The hope is that eventually I can go out on my own and not spend so much hunting at lodges. That said, I own a cabin in Fannin County (22miles from the Blue Ridge WMA Check Station), I'd be willing to barter some time at my cabin for a guide this year or next.

 

[slow motion]

Get out there and scout. Look for buck sign from the past fall. Or even older. Bucks seem to frequent same areas other bucks did previously. A rub or 2 along a trail is promising but try and find a trail with several. Think about fall food sources. Hard and soft mast. Mainly I'd look for persimmon trees and white oaks early season. There are no absolutes but look for deer to move uphill to bed in the morning and downhill in the afternoon. Be concious of the wind direction. Trail cams can help but on public land can disappear. Also where deer are now may not be where they will be come fall. Field dressing isn't hard to figure out. Open em up and drag out the entrails. Or hang it. Skin it. Quarter and remove backstraps. There's also a way to get the inner loins but I haven't done it that way so no help. Just a few thoughts. Good luck and post up your adventure. We like pics too.

 

[livinoutdoors]

Get out there and scout. Look for buck sign from the past fall. Or even older. Bucks seem to frequent same areas other bucks did previously. A rub or 2 along a trail is promising but try and find a trail with several. Think about fall food sources. Hard and soft mast. Mainly I'd look for persimmon trees and white oaks early season. There are no absolutes but look for deer to move uphill to bed in the morning and downhill in the afternoon. Be concious of the wind direction. Trail cams can help but on public land can disappear. Also where deer are now may not be where they will be come fall. Field dressing isn't hard to figure out. Open em up and drag out the entrails. Or hang it. Skin it. Quarter and remove backstraps. There's also a way to get the inner loins but I haven't done it that way so no help. Just a few thoughts. Good luck and post up your adventure. We like pics too.

Its hard to describe but you kinda feel in there and break the loins free with a finger and then pull em out.

 

[NCHillbilly]

Its hard to describe but you kinda feel in there and break the loins free with a finger and then pull em out.

Yeah, I just cut it a little bit right in front of the hams and reach in there and grab 'em.

 

[DasHaas]

I've been watching plenty of field dressing videos - I'm sure I'll figure it out if I'm lucky enough to harvest a nice deer. I was at my cabin a few weeks back and was planning to go scout the WMA but the COVID got me so I spent the entire week in bed. I really wanted to scout but I'll have to go in blind this fall. I'm thinking hike in a mile or so then break off in to the woods and high ground. Then, look for signs of deer and wait

 

[basshappy]

@DasHaas you might score, but I wouldn't wait to scout until season is upon us. Get up for a weekend and boots on the ground. Find the indicators, draw your map, return in 1 month and see how your map plays then. Update as necessary. If you can get there the more time you spend the greater the probability you will harvest a whitetail.

 

[ScLowCountry]

I'm planning to head out to Blue Ridge WMA for some solo deer hunting this fall during rifle season. I've only hunted at lodges where they did everything for you - this would be my first solo hunt. My field dressing skills leave much to be desired so this should be interesting. I have a GPS but am not planning to go super deep into the woods. Any pointers on hunting this WMA would be greatly appreciated!

I'd love to hire a guide but all my play money is spent hunting in South GA at the aforementioned lodge. The hope is that eventually I can go out on my own and not spend so much hunting at lodges. That said, I own a cabin in Fannin County (22miles from the Blue Ridge WMA Check Station), I'd be willing to barter some time at my cabin for a guide this year or next.

The only way to learn to field dress, skin, and process an animal is do it. I don't care how many times someone shows you or videos you watch you won't have a clue until you do it.

Watch some videos online and get after it. The animal is dead. You can't hurt it.

And you don't need a guide to hunt public just get out scout and hunt. It's time in the woods that kills deer, more than skill

 

[livinoutdoors]

This is how i would do a deer if i aint never gutted one and am off in public mountain land. Quarter it using the gutless method. Get the deer on semi flat ground. Skin the deer one side then the other using the hide to keep the meat off the ground. Pull the shoulders first. Then get the neck meat. Next get the backstraps. If you did the hide correct you should be able to roll the deer one side then the other to work. Last get the hams/rear quarters off. You have just about zero risk off spilling guts/urine/bile on the meat doing it this way. After you get the quarters bagged you can then try and gut the deer to pull the ribs and or just practice gutting.

 

[1eyefishing]

I'm planning to head out to Blue Ridge WMA for some solo deer hunting this fall during rifle season. I've only hunted at lodges where they did everything for you - this would be my first solo hunt. My field dressing skills leave much to be desired so this should be interesting. I have a GPS but am not planning to go super deep into the woods. Any pointers on hunting this WMA would be greatly appreciated!

I'd love to hire a guide but all my play money is spent hunting in South GA at the aforementioned lodge. The hope is that eventually I can go out on my own and not spend so much hunting at lodges. That said, I own a cabin in Fannin County (22miles from the Blue Ridge WMA Check Station), I'd be willing to barter some time at my cabin for a guide this year or next.

Mountain hunting is great but it's a lot different than hunting in south georgia. The deer population is greatly less dense and will often be concentrated at lower elevations around human populations with fields, crops, fruit trees, clearcuts, etc... (not to say there aren't any great bucks killed at higher elevations/wilderness). And you will most often be alone (and out of touch) unless you find a good partner.
Dont limit yourself to BR wMA, though. Other WMAs and national forest in that area can be just as good.

 

[DasHaas]

Mountain hunting is great but it's a lot different than hunting in south georgia. The deer population is greatly less dense and will often be concentrated at lower elevations around human populations with fields, crops, fruit trees, clearcuts, etc... (not to say there aren't any great bucks killed at higher elevations/wilderness). And you will most often be alone (and out of touch) unless you find a good partner.
Dont limit yourself to BR wMA, though. Other WMAs and national forest in that area can be just as good.

I’m expecting mountain hunting to be challenging but rewarding should I be lucky enough to harvest. I’d like to start with blue ridge WMA because it’s fairly close to my cabin in Fannin County. Once I’m more comfortable hunting and harvesting alone I’d definitely checkout the other WMAs

 

[basshappy]

If ultimately you hunt alone up there;
- Get a satellite messaging device to save yourself as cell signal is spotty at best. Garmin has one on the iridium satellite network with an app you can use your cellphone to do the messaging on

- Give as much detailed hunting plan as possible to at least 2 people, maybe 1 family and 1 friend. Consider visiting local sheriff and providing one to them with a if I don't return by such date I may be in need of assistance

- Pack a small save your rear kit - heat blanket, bandaids, gauze, tourniquet, water, quikclot, protein bars, ensure, waterproof matches with tinder (I coat dryer lint with vaseline), whistle, headlamp fully charged, flashlight, compass, printed (laminated) topography map, and bear spray. And remember to get all of this gear outside of your cabin to air out and acquire native scent well ahead of your planned hunt

 

[whitetailfreak]

Be prepared for many many uneventful hours and days on stand but know that the joy is in the journey and the experience of huntin the mountains. You're paying big money to go to these lodges that you speak of so there's no way I'd leave the next one without knowing how to dress a deer. They'll show you, just ask. Even if it's not your deer ask if they'll teach you how to dress one. Good luck to you.

 

[DasHaas]

If ultimately you hunt alone up there;
- Get a satellite messaging device to save yourself as cell signal is spotty at best. Garmin has one on the iridium satellite network with an app you can use your cellphone to do the messaging on

- Give as much detailed hunting plan as possible to at least 2 people, maybe 1 family and 1 friend. Consider visiting local sheriff and providing one to them with a if I don't return by such date I may be in need of assistance

- Pack a small save your rear kit - heat blanket, bandaids, gauze, tourniquet, water, quikclot, protein bars, ensure, waterproof matches with tinder (I coat dryer lint with vaseline), whistle, headlamp fully charged, flashlight, compass, printed (laminated) topography map, and bear spray. And remember to get all of this gear outside of your cabin to air out and acquire native scent well ahead of your planned hunt

Thanks for the tips. I certainly understand the risks and would have a detailed plan & route.

 

[basshappy]

@DasHaas I have enjoyed hunting on Lookout Mountain the past 2 seasons and I love the terrain, the trees, the rocks, the ridges, the folds, all of it. Playing the wind, the thermal up and down drafts. Good luck in the BRWMA. Update us as your season unfolds.

 

[ddd-shooter]

I’m expecting mountain hunting to be challenging but rewarding should I be lucky enough to harvest. I’d like to start with blue ridge WMA because it’s fairly close to my cabin in Fannin County. Once I’m more comfortable hunting and harvesting alone I’d definitely checkout the other WMAs

Mountain wmas are tough. You’ve really got to want it.
Are you in decent shape? Are you up for killing a bear? Have you learned anything from hunting lodges? If so, what?

 

[bfriendly]

I've been watching plenty of field dressing videos - I'm sure I'll figure it out if I'm lucky enough to harvest a nice deer. I was at my cabin a few weeks back and was planning to go scout the WMA but the COVID got me so I spent the entire week in bed. I really wanted to scout but I'll have to go in blind this fall. I'm thinking hike in a mile or so then break off in to the woods and high ground. Then, look for signs of deer and wait

Yassss! If I can find my favorite video, I’ll post it. But in a nutshell, you do one side, then flip it over and do the other, NEVER opening the cavity! Pack a quartering bag and set it up before you start, then fill it up! I plan on going the extra step and debone, versus a simple quartering…….if I get lucky!

 

[bfriendly]

BTW-if I were any good and thought I could help, I’d guide you. But sorry, that’s not the case. I plan to search for feed trees and hunt them the same or following day. Just go and have fun. It is very possible you will even kill a buck! Best of luck!

 

[DasHaas]

Mountain wmas are tough. You’ve really got to want it.
Are you in decent shape? Are you up for killing a bear? Have you learned anything from hunting lodges? If so, what?

Hi, yes, I'll be in decent shape for the hunt - I have no issues killing a bear if its a life & death situation (May try bear hunting next year). I've learned a little bit from the lodges but mostly that there are no guarantees and to be prepared to sit in nature for many hours but, not much in the way of hunting strategy besides being aware of the wind direction. I'm hunting the same lodge in early November this year and am going to ask them to let me dress my own deer.

My concern in going solo is mostly around not knowing the land (I'm working on maps and charting a hiking path on my gps watch now) and not having enough experience in field dressing a deer

 

[RamblinWreck88]

I don't know how much you've been off-trail in the mountains, but I know that the biggest adjustment for me, having spent most of my outdoors time on the coastal plain, was the topography... The topography dictates a lot of how the game will travel, and there are topographical features that you simply cannot traverse... Learning to see both of those things on a topographical map will help your planning a lot.

 

[chrislibby88]

Hi, yes, I'll be in decent shape for the hunt - I have no issues killing a bear if its a life & death situation (May try bear hunting next year). I've learned a little bit from the lodges but mostly that there are no guarantees and to be prepared to sit in nature for many hours but, not much in the way of hunting strategy besides being aware of the wind direction. I'm hunting the same lodge in early November this year and am going to ask them to let me dress my own deer.

My concern in going solo is mostly around not knowing the land (I'm working on maps and charting a hiking path on my gps watch now) and not having enough experience in field dressing a deer

Get Onx for your phone. Runs off gps rather than cell signal.