Long Cut
Senior Member
I agree. I feel everyone would benefit from shorter general public rifle hunts, be it a “meat hunter” or “trophy hunter”. Hard for anyone to kill what isn’t there...
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- Thread starter BULL MOOSE
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I agree. I feel everyone would benefit from shorter general public rifle hunts, be it a “meat hunter” or “trophy hunter”. Hard for anyone to kill what isn’t there...
C.Killmaster
Georgia Deer Biologist
We have to provide a variety of opportunity across the WMAs collectively, some are maximum opportunity which does equate lower deer populations but others are a lot more limited. Some people just want a place to go any time during the season. Not everyone wants the same thing, so we have to accommodate a wide range of interests.
mallardsx2
BANNED
If someone just wants a place to go tell them to go to the National forest.
If someone wants a place to go hunt deer. They should be able to be successful on a WMA. Especially WMA's that are holding limited hunts.
WE all pay (as license holders) to trust that the WMA's are managed correctly.
If the DNR has to shut the season down on a WMA for 3 years to bounce back the population to a huntable numbers then JUST DO IT.
DNR will upset far less people by doing that (Because it has some common sense rationale behind it) than letting people continue to shoot the practically non-existent deer populations further into the red. People are scratching their head trying to figure out why they are even holding hunts when the deer population is so ridiculously low that it doesn't even make sense to hold a hunt.
Its pitiful how few deer there are on some of these WMA's. Lake Russel is a prime example. That COULD be a great hunt. It USED TO BE a good hunt. But it isn't because they have it open (No draw) and let people shoot the place to pieces.
Are they providing opportunity for people to get outdoors at lake Russel? Yes.
Are they providing a quality hunt where people can be successful? NO The statement that there is 50-60 deer per mile in that WMA is so far from the truth it sickens me. lol
If someone wants a place to go hunt deer. They should be able to be successful on a WMA. Especially WMA's that are holding limited hunts.
WE all pay (as license holders) to trust that the WMA's are managed correctly.
If the DNR has to shut the season down on a WMA for 3 years to bounce back the population to a huntable numbers then JUST DO IT.
DNR will upset far less people by doing that (Because it has some common sense rationale behind it) than letting people continue to shoot the practically non-existent deer populations further into the red. People are scratching their head trying to figure out why they are even holding hunts when the deer population is so ridiculously low that it doesn't even make sense to hold a hunt.
Its pitiful how few deer there are on some of these WMA's. Lake Russel is a prime example. That COULD be a great hunt. It USED TO BE a good hunt. But it isn't because they have it open (No draw) and let people shoot the place to pieces.
Are they providing opportunity for people to get outdoors at lake Russel? Yes.
Are they providing a quality hunt where people can be successful? NO The statement that there is 50-60 deer per mile in that WMA is so far from the truth it sickens me. lol
Long Cut
Senior Member
I respect what y’all do and applaud you for taking your personal time to come on here and help educate us. But I respectfully disagree, folks going hunting want to at least see deer.
Why hurt the overall deer herd and severely limit the quality of hunting for the small group of people that want to hunt the same place October through January?
There are ways to offer the general public hunting opportunities October through January by staggering the rifle/primitive hunts on different WMA’s.
Public land hunting is challenging already, why further that? You’re going to discourage the average guy from ever going back.. Or the new hunter who has no idea what they’re doing, they’re going to become frustrated and quit.
Look at it from a public land hunters perspective, we’re probably walking at least 2-3 miles to scout and hang stands. Most guys are carrying climbers in and out that distance. That’s A LOT of effort to kill a deer. Imagine hunting 7 days straight and only seeing 1 deer. Would you go back or find another place to go?
MewsicLovr
Member
This. Yes, you can find it, but having it in an easier to consume format would be nice.
livinoutdoors
Goatherding Non-socialist Bohemian Luddite
Good grief! Never thought id see people complaining about too much deer hunting oppourtunity on wmas. If you dont want to hunt a wma with a long rifle season, then dont! Just hunt all the short season ones(there are plenty!) As to the complaint about lake russell, it has one buck only rifle hunt that lasts 4 days! How is that too long of a season? If you feel bad for the deer then dont go hunt em!
BULL MOOSE
Member
That is great!
Uninformed complainter again. The do not resuscitate department did exactly what they wanted to by reducing deer as now they don’t have to do anything and not having any game doesn’t provide a variety of opportunity or a wide range of interests. Also agree about Lake Russell as this is the first time I didn’t hunt it in over 25 years after not seeing a deer in the last 4 years and it wasn’t the thanksgiving hunt that hurt the deer as it was all the doe days on the adult child that the adults could hunt and the other hunts. But I agree with you so I didn’t buy a license or hunt this year because of seeing so few deer the last 10 years.
mallardsx2
BANNED
I went over to Russel and did a 10.8 mile walk on Russel on Saturday. I literally cleaned up about that many miles of ribbon and red duck tape that was strung through the woods, trash, tinks spray bottles, scent wafers, doe pee bottles, cans, twinkie wrappers, even found a camo hat. I looked like Santa Clause coming out of the woods.
Thanks to the IDIOT who left the black plastic trash bag tied to a limb by the tree they like to climb (Which is being girdled by the climber from being climbed so many times...)...It gave me something to putt all of their trash in. I hope they get lost in the dark now that there isn't trash spread through the woods leading them to a tree that I could literally re-find in the dark without the aid of a flashlight.
There must be some real winners hunting over there. What a shame because it could be such a good WMA. The claims that there are 50+ deer per square mile on that WMA is laughable at best. Did they draw that number out of a hat?! lol
Thanks to the IDIOT who left the black plastic trash bag tied to a limb by the tree they like to climb (Which is being girdled by the climber from being climbed so many times...)...It gave me something to putt all of their trash in. I hope they get lost in the dark now that there isn't trash spread through the woods leading them to a tree that I could literally re-find in the dark without the aid of a flashlight.
There must be some real winners hunting over there. What a shame because it could be such a good WMA. The claims that there are 50+ deer per square mile on that WMA is laughable at best. Did they draw that number out of a hat?! lol
C.Killmaster
Georgia Deer Biologist
Where are you reading 50 deer per square mile?
Buckman18
Senior Member
Why do you just continously and mindlessly log on to this forum and poo poo on the State of Georgia? In turkey season, you endlessly make ridiculous claims that turkeys are becoming extirpated because you cant kill them. Me and mine never have a real problem finding turkeys... We almost exclusively hunt CNF and the mtn WMAs.
In bear season you claim that Chattahoochee WMA, at only 2500 acres, probably only has 3 or 4 bears on it at a given time. Well, Chattahoochee is 27,000 acres and there were 49 KILLED in 9 days during the dog hunt.
Now its deer season, and I'm reading where you, who transplanted into my state, cant find a deer to hunt on Lake Russell? Are you freaking kidding??? You really cant find a deer to shoot on Russell? You do know there was a day during the Thanksgiving rifle hunt that produced over 70 dont you? This happens most every year. Perhaps this is the year they killed them all??? Lol. Im not sure why you cant seem to have much success in this part of the state but im betting a whole bunch of it is on you.
Im not so sure Georgia is the state for you, pal. Good luck trying to read the regs.
mallardsx2
BANNED
You assume a lot and for the record I wasn't looking for a deer to kill.
But make no mistake about it pal, I can kill turkeys. Choosing when not to pull the trigger that makes a true sportsman. Well that an cleaning Ribbon and tape up on WMA's....
I should also note for anyone interested, in all of my weekend travels on the WMA I didnt see a single place on the WMA that had turkey sign. Not saying they are not there but thats pretty bad when you cover that much ground and dont see any sign.
But make no mistake about it pal, I can kill turkeys. Choosing when not to pull the trigger that makes a true sportsman. Well that an cleaning Ribbon and tape up on WMA's....
I should also note for anyone interested, in all of my weekend travels on the WMA I didnt see a single place on the WMA that had turkey sign. Not saying they are not there but thats pretty bad when you cover that much ground and dont see any sign.
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freedomlives
Member
That's great! I'm starting to learn Python, and thought to myself, when seeing these lists, spread over 5 pages, that it would be something to write a program to extract that data, if only I knew enough right now to quickly write that sort of thing.
mallardsx2
BANNED
“Lake Russell WMA has historically produced lots of deer,” said WRD Biologist Kevin Lowrey. “The management has always been geared toward maximum sustained yield, and that has not changed. What has changed is deer density and hunter pressure. This area from 1980 to the early 2000s maintained a high deer density of 70-plus deer per square mile. Due to lack of significant timber harvest, the habitat has matured, and the area cannot support a deer population that high. So the deer density is noticeably lower now at 30 to 40 deer per square mile, but it’s still much higher than typical mountain WMAs.”
I had originally posted 50 which I did read somewhere but the above is straight from the quoted biologist.
From what I have seen over the last few years there is NOT 30-40 deer per square mile on this WMA. Not a chance. There might be 15-20 deer/Sq mile.
I think there an extreme lack of understanding from biologists on what truly exists on Georgia WMA's. The only true way would be to do a thermal study of the WMA. (Which should be done yearly on every WMA before the quotas are set for WMA's with a quota) I realize Lake Russel is not a quota hunt and it is open to the public as sign in and check in hunts.
Again, I may be a "Transplant" but I assure you that the population of animals in North Georgia is extremely low in most circumstances and is in my opinion WAY below the carrying capacity of the land.
Apparently, I am the only one who feels that way or who isnt affraid to voice concerns.
Having hunted various states for a ton of different animals and seen what bad, fair, good, and great hunting looks like, I guess I always look to ways to improve things. Others are simply happy with having opportunity to get outside and walk around.
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splatek
UAEC
I don’t find the website all that cumbersome. It’s an alphabetized drop down menu... and even I know the alphabet. That being said, I only worry about a few WMAs so I check them as soon as the refs are released, mark them on the family calendar and I’m all set.
I’ve been looking the interactive maps that the DNR put together. Maybe I’m just still too new to find something to complain about, but I’ve been impressed.
I’ve been looking the interactive maps that the DNR put together. Maybe I’m just still too new to find something to complain about, but I’ve been impressed.
BULL MOOSE
Member
Where are you finding those daily kill numbers???
I don’t even think I saw a WMA with kill numbers anywhere near that for 2018-2019. https://gamecheckresults.gooutdoorsgeorgia.com/
The WMA guide does not even tell you in what county it is. You have to look up the number on a map to figure that out.
There were a lot of open firearms hunts last weekend that I missed. Pine Log and Paulding are this weekend, but the Pine Log numbers are extremely low, in my opinion, for an area of that size.
Good conversations and I look forward to a more user friendly WMA guide/calendar in the future.
I don’t even think I saw a WMA with kill numbers anywhere near that for 2018-2019. https://gamecheckresults.gooutdoorsgeorgia.com/
The WMA guide does not even tell you in what county it is. You have to look up the number on a map to figure that out.
There were a lot of open firearms hunts last weekend that I missed. Pine Log and Paulding are this weekend, but the Pine Log numbers are extremely low, in my opinion, for an area of that size.
Good conversations and I look forward to a more user friendly WMA guide/calendar in the future.
Buckman18
Senior Member
Maybe you should've walked a little further, i saw 4 hens in a handicap access plot from the FS road on Sunday on Russell while scouting for my daughter this weekend.
I always enjoy taking my 12 year old daughter on this late hunt. Its an easy hunt for her to pop a doe. If youre still having trouble finding game before the weekend Im sure she wouldnt mind showing you around?
