I have applied for years (never getting drawn) and actually was awarded a hunt this year, could be interesting but I suspect mostly frustrating HAHA. Anybody else put in this year and have success?
Controlled Hunt
- Thread starter Tysonhunter
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I drew Buck Creek. I put in for 6-7 in total every year, one being Salt Fork because that's a place I have hunted for many years, the others are all within 1-2 hrs of home so I can put some effort in to hunting it without being overnight trips. Honestly, never been to Buck Creek but looking at the odds there's a LOT of entries and only 8 hunters selected for these areas total. I am sure there's lots of hiking/horse riding etc but that is public land and doesn't concern me too much, these deer get conditioned to such activities in my mind.
This is my first draw in 4 years, guess I should buy a lottery ticket HAHA
Buckmaster
Senior Member
0-2 the past 6-7 years. I’ve been to Camp Garfield twice a long time ago and was overwhelmed with deer both times.
Bigcountry40
Member
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I posted a thread in the gun hunting section, my boy was drawn for Salt Fork archery in early January and Hebron hatchery youth gun. From my understanding the draw hunts opportunities for harvest vary greatly. My other twin was drawn last turkey season and the site administrator told me not to bother that odnr should not even have that particular hunt anymore, then the other extreme is Ravenna/Camp Garfield where deer are everywhere. Best advice call the draw hunt location admin/supervisor and ask no bullshit if the hunt is worth while if your driving couple hours.
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I went 0 for 8 this year, but have drawn some waterfowl hunts each of the last few years so I won't complain.
I'll second what Bigcountry40 said... call the office associated with the hunt. In my experience, the folks I've spoke with have always given me good information. At the bare minimum, they want you to have a good experience, and ideally they want you to be successful.
The September waterfowl hunt I drew last season I didn't hunt. It was a super dry summer and I knew the marsh was likely dry. Not being permitted to scout the unit ahead of the hunt, I called and spoke with a person who confirmed my suspicions. I saved myself a 3:00 am wake up, a long drive, the frustration of burning a vacation day, only to hike into a unit in the dark and find it completely dry.
I'll second what Bigcountry40 said... call the office associated with the hunt. In my experience, the folks I've spoke with have always given me good information. At the bare minimum, they want you to have a good experience, and ideally they want you to be successful.
The September waterfowl hunt I drew last season I didn't hunt. It was a super dry summer and I knew the marsh was likely dry. Not being permitted to scout the unit ahead of the hunt, I called and spoke with a person who confirmed my suspicions. I saved myself a 3:00 am wake up, a long drive, the frustration of burning a vacation day, only to hike into a unit in the dark and find it completely dry.
Thanks everyone for the feedback. This park is 1.5 hrs away and would be incredibly easy to scout. Wife and I will probably take a summer cruise that way at some point then I will take a quick trip over mid/late Oct and walk my area. If I see rubs/scrapes then I will throw some hunts at it. Side note, anyone from near Buck Creek? Curious if there's any recommended processors near there. I mostly process my own, but due to logistics of this hunt and the fact I would have to debone entire deer to get back to Indiana, I would be interested in using a recommended local butcher for this.
We hunt the public areas of SF every year. It is always mind blowing the amount of deer that pile out of the "Draw" areas right at/after shooting light. It seems their destination food source is literally the grass along the park roads or golf course. Best of luck to you and your son!!!!!
From what I have gathered from these type of hunts is that if you kill a doe or two you will get drawn again. Might want to consider that.
That is the plan!!! Family only eats venison as a red meat source, I always try to take as many does as I can from these types of scenarios over any local spots I hunt. That said, during the rut, I do struggle to take a doe not knowing what's behind her LOL
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Not the case in my experience at all. In fact getting drawn is nearly impossible, it seems. I’ve stopped putting in for them, at least this year.
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Not the parks. It was that way when New Albany started allowing hunts years ago but that is the only one like that I am aware of. Others may be as well but they are not on the controlled hunt lottery ran by the ODOW.
I do believe you must first harvest a antlerless on metro hunts prior to a buck, unlike the controlled state park hunts.
