Freeman99d
Member
How is it to deer hunt at Paulding Forest WMA?
Welcome Guest!
Paulding Forest WMA
- Thread starter Freeman99d
- Start date
bfriendly
Bigfoot friendly
It’s very choppy…..little bit here, little bit there.
You are probably not going to get much info on any public land overall. I will say that from my experience of hunting public land, there is good hunting on most of them. What you put in for effort will usually equal the rewards you get back.
fishblister
Member
During rifle hunts there seem to be 10x as many animals walking on two feet as those walking on four.
Freeman99d
Member
Also you can’t hunt there everyday during the season right?
Toliver
Senior Member
Correct. There are select dates for gun hunts.
Dupree
Senior Member
You can bow hunt it until 11/8. The gun hunt is from 11/9-11/12. Make sure you sign in. Look for deer sign and not just “pretty woods” and you should see some deer. Crowded is an understatement for the rifle hunts.
bfriendly
Bigfoot friendly
Have you picked up a regulations magazine yet? I get mine at Walmart every year. I fill my calendar with any dates that affect my possible plans. I often refer back many times to make sure. Like the WMA, the dates can be choppy too.
Like this ^^^ for example is correct. But I think there may be another one in December. Most WMAs will have several 3-4 day hunts, but they all differ. Start with a regs magazine and go from there.
Freeman99d
Member
Ten 4 thanks
westcobbdog
Senior Member
The reality is if you bow hunt there are lots of open days and a lot of spots available. Went pretty far back in the WMA yesterday and saw 2 other bow hunters plus 3 more leaving the gate.
This was on a huge tract of land. Reference the WMA map, pick a few spots and go visit. Gun season is literally a weekend in Nov and a weekend in Dec., that's it. During gun it can get crowded depending on where you go. After working at it alone and with friends particularly over the last 3 years I have somewhat learned maybe 5 diff tracts / areas. Shot 1 decent buck so far from PF.
This was on a huge tract of land. Reference the WMA map, pick a few spots and go visit. Gun season is literally a weekend in Nov and a weekend in Dec., that's it. During gun it can get crowded depending on where you go. After working at it alone and with friends particularly over the last 3 years I have somewhat learned maybe 5 diff tracts / areas. Shot 1 decent buck so far from PF.
atltrafficisterrible
Member
I like to check out the previous years WMA hunt summaries. Gives me an idea of the % chance of success as well.
Paulding Forrest 22-23
11/10-11/13 Bonus Firearm day 15% success rate with 809 hunters.
12/08-12/11 Firearms day 3% with 393 hunters
Paulding Forrest 22-23
11/10-11/13 Bonus Firearm day 15% success rate with 809 hunters.
12/08-12/11 Firearms day 3% with 393 hunters
bfriendly
Bigfoot friendly
100%! I’ve been going to PF for a few years and am constantly going to new places. I don’t really go too deep unless I take the bike and park at a closed gate. If I’m on foot, I’m typically less than 1000yards from the truck…… but I’m lazy. I have my HuntStand app loaded with any point of interest. Even have a bunch of gates or other land marks marked as “check this one out too”, because I haven’t yet.
^^^^ second sentence above says alot. Pretty far back and saw 5 ppl!?! I don’t mind working Saturday and Sunday because I’m off and get to hunt/fish Tuesday and Wednesday. i seldom see more then 5 people even while I’m driving around. I’ll be hunting with the bow at PF til I go to Ky Nov 6. It’s worth spending time out there and I’ve yet to kill anything .
gma1320
I like a Useles Billy Thread
I use to hunt it a good bit. Haven't been in about three years though. Seems to be considerably more crowded now than in the past. Use to have an area that I hunted where that rarely had people orher than me and my friend. Last hunt I went on, got back to the truck and there were 7 more parked with me. And this was not a gate or a road or a walking trail. This was a place on the side of a county road away from those things. With that being said, there is still some good hunting to be had there, just be mindful of the crowd and have several plans in place.
Toliver
Senior Member
It's actually until 11/17 but be mindful that there are a few dates bow season is closed to accommodate the few gun hunts.
Freeman99d
Member
Can we drive through the yellow gates if they’re open? And if so how far can we drive?
Jonboater
Senior Member
Yes
westcobbdog
Senior Member
Yes just pull up an aerial and reference the WMA property lines. Be sure and sign in online or on paper.
Big7
The Oracle
And.. Check for "Buck Only" days.
I ALMOST found that out the hard way as I always try to get a doe first and then hunt does and bucks.
Good thing a doe didn't show her face opening weekend of rifle. Just sayin'.
Freeman99d
Member
Ten 4
