Hey guys, new to the forum. Stumbled on this page while trying to do some research for a late season hunt, I'm a PA hunter from Pittsburgh. I am looking to fill a tag i have left over from an early season hunt in Athens Ohio, which was semi guided on private land, on some public land a bit closer to Pittsburgh. I have been looking at the Egypt Valley Wildlife Area near lake Piedmont, that is number one choice, number two is Jockey Hollow, which is close by. I understand both have some very big bucks, but also get a good bit of pressure during gun season. We are looking to go sometime mid January, I’m leaning towards MLK weekend, as i could then hunt Monday as well. The plan is to arrive early Saturday at first light, scout a few areas we think look good from topo maps and take a cruise through, and essentially pic a place, hang out stands, check into our motel, eat then hunt Saturday evening. Hunt as much of Sunday as possible depending on how cold, at least first and last 3 hours of light, and play Monday by ear, at least hunting morning. I know that’s not necessarily the best recipe for success, but i want to get out and explore with the chances of getting a shot. Late season I’m thinking there will be little or no pressure. We are young and in good shape, so i am going to try to get well off the beaten path. If any of you know these areas, have any advice or observations, i would much appreciate your input. I am not looking for someone’s honey hole, it’s a pretty big area. Thanks in advance for any input!
Late Season Ohio Public Land Hunt
- Thread starter riley045
- Start date
I have a buddy with a cabin that borders jockey hollow. He hunts there quite often and has never taken anything over 115". Not saying they aren't there, as I'm sure there's bigger, but my guess would be that a lot of these older bucks are on private land by now. I don't know anything about Egypt valley, we planned on hunting it a couple weeks ago just for the hell of it but plans fell through.
Thanks for the input. Obviously late season is challenging to begin with, and public land isn't going to make it easier, i would just rather not waste time in a bad area, especially if other tracts are close.
Really??? I don't know of any public ground that you can't hunt on Sunday.
Best of luck to you. Since you're only hunting two full days, I wouldn't expect to see much. Don't get me wrong... You could get lucky... But pinning down a good spot on public land, after three gun seasons, in only one morning of scouting, is a pretty tall order to say the least. That all being said, I myself prefer to hunt public land for deer in January. Hunting pressure is at it's lowest of the season and the deer are getting desperate to put on fat. It just usually takes more than one day to find them and put a gamelan together.
I just looked online and couldn’t see anything about it. I know I’ve seen the signs all over though stating no Sunday hunting. Not sure why they wouldn’t post that info online or take down the signs. Whichever it is.
Can’t remember the last time I saw a no Sunday hunting sign, if I’ve seen one at all... Used to list no Sunday hunting in the Regs until that changed, and I believe that was in 1998.
Your gonna make me drive over and take a pic...red sign, white letters. Posted about every 100 yards.
Sure you’re not confusing this with the NON SALE OF BEER LAW some places have on Sunday?!?!? rotflmao
I completely agree, but my motto is always "cant shoot em from the couch", well my stolen motto lol. the nice thing is, only being 90 min from Pitt, assuming were I am looking allows sunday hunting, I can make it out a few times before your season closes. I am by no means an expert archer or pro hunter, but I am persistent and determined. So hopefully that, combo with a little luck, may produce an opportunity. Either way, ill be outside with a bow, win win!
Yep some are closed on Sunday hunting. Paint Creek is one that comes to mind. Part is open on Sunday and part is closed or at least was ten years ago when I hunted that area.
Bigcountry40
Member
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Its safe to say that you do not have to worry about any other hunters or pressure, late season is a ghost town, probably be a ghost town for black powder as well.
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thanks for the input guys. I got some info from a fella on my hunting PA Forum and the gentleman said the deer or there, but hunting is super slow, and he was 3 miles back near the lake and only saw 6 deer over most of late season, all moving slow, using the wing, which doesn't surprise me. I dont know that the odds are going to be better anywhere else. im debating if i should sack up and follow through with the area or look somewhere else, it is going to be rough anywhere for sure, so maybe one area is as good as another...
Getting down to the wire. You might as well start putting all your eggs in one basket, nail down a good spot, and stick with it.
cspot
Member
If nothing else at least you can do some scouting for next year. Maybe you will get lucky and have some snow cover to help.
agree with all you folks said. im stickin with egypt valley. as was said worst case scenario i learn some new land.