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Guidance Needed for Killdeer Plains area

M

MattFromMichigan

New Member
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2
Hudsonville, Michigan
I am a bow and muzzleloader hunter from Michigan, and before I say anything else - I am a Michigan STATE fan, so please don't scream at me :)

I am hoping for some guidance on where to hunt in the Killdeer Plains wildlife game area. I stay at an AirBnB each January for the muzzleloader hunt, and it's been a very fun experience hunting at that property. It's only 4 minutes down the road from Killdeer Plains, and I've driven all through there but have NO idea where a good place to hunt would be in there. I can only hunt at the rental in the evenings, since the owners have mostly AG fields and I'll bust deer out of there if I try to hunt mornings. So I'd like to find a good spot to try for mornings over there.
I am also looking to find some private property to hunt, and am willing to pay a little bit or help out with chores, to earn the privilege.

If this is the wrong forum to post my request, I apologize. I am new to this, but willing to try anything. I've got an 8 month old boy that I look forward to taking hunting with me, but I don't have access to any good hunting property where I live in Michigan. I would love to find a place in Ohio that I can access for years, to build memories with my boy once he is old enough to go with me :)
I am looking outside of Michigan because we are a 2-buck state and so many guys shoot anything with antlers, then wait for a mature buck afterwards. It has really affected the amount of mature bucks we see, and I really appreciate Ohio for having a ONE buck limit.

Any help is greatly appreciated, and I hope everyone has a successful hunting season!
 
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Killdeer during Black Powder is probably a ghost town as the place gets hit hard from Early September through 3 different gun seasons due to the presence of CWD. If there is snow on the ground pick an area you think has good potential and find some fresh tracks, follow track until you find pinch point, where you think they are bedding, etc. If I were you, snow or no snow, each morning I would still hunt and cover lots and lots of ground, scouting, marking areas for the following years. Then in the evening go hunt the ag fields you have access too.
 
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Bigcountry40 said:
Killdeer during Black Powder is probably a ghost town as the place gets hit hard from Early September through 3 different gun seasons due to the presence of CWD. If there is snow on the ground pick an area you think has good potential and find some fresh tracks, follow track until you find pinch point, where you think they are bedding, etc. If I were you, snow or no snow, each morning I would still hunt and cover lots and lots of ground, scouting, marking areas for the following years. Then in the evening go hunt the ag fields you have access too.
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Thank you for the advice! I didn't realize how hard that area gets hunted, since every year I drive around there it's January for blackpowder season. I don't see evidence of hunters anywhere, but then again I haven't seen any deer either. I wonder if deer leave that area due to all the gun pressure, and return after muzzleloader season concludes?
As for your advice: THANK YOU. I needed the reminder to just get out there and put miles on the boots, scout for upcoming seasons, and stop trying to get everything done all at once. I have to remind myself to slow down and play the long game. Not to mention it is very fun to walk woods I haven't been in before. I appreciate your advice about following tracks to pinch points. I grew up hunting over ag fields, and need some development hunting timber. Following your advice will give me that needed experience.

Regarding KillDeer: I heard that I have to get a special permit to hunt there? Or is that only for regular firearm season and archery?
 
That place gets absolutely hammered during gun season. I'm talking truckloads of people getting dropped off and push everything. Seen a livestock trailer full of amish drive around and dump and run all day long over there once. I won't ever hunt it but it's definitely a sight to see if your ever bored. I know I couple of guys that hunt it so I'll do some asking around and see if I can get an area for you to look around at.
 
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giles said:
Lol, most of the usual posters here are non residents. Welcome, I have zero input on that property as I've never stepped foot on it.
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I've hunted it once on bow opener because I was bored and that county opens two weeks early, I seen a couple of does and then had a marine veteran walk under me at 830 am, nice guy he didnt realize the season was open.
 
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