Hunting a Jungle....

[Fletch]

So I have a couple thousand acres of state owned property near my house that is open to hunting... Doesn't get hunted... Years ago I used to hunt turkeys there but gave up as the woods was taken over by undergrowth and downed trees... So yesterday I took a walk... How the hell do you hunt something that is impossible to even walk through??? Definately needs a good fire....

 

[Geezer II]

The edges

 

["J"]

There’s gotta be some game trails that lead too some openings somewhere in that tangled mess....

 

[Sgt Fury]

 

[Shotgunnwilly]

I had this problem in some areas I hunted in North Carolina, and along the river bottoms I hunt here in Ohio. I would look around for solid game trails and look for a fallen tree that punches a hole through the area. Or would look for small pockets to set up a blind or make one. Big deer love that heavy stuff!

 

[Big_Holla]

There have to be places where tall timber meets short thick stuff. Find the edges and that's where they will be moving through, might be your ways in too.

 

[Fletch]

There’s gotta be some game trails that lead too some openings somewhere in that tangled mess....

J.... Iced looked very few spots they can get through... As said earlier, on top of the hill there is a little more areas that are a little more open... I might put out a camera up there, buts it's a freaking hike, all up hill... We used to get a ton of morels in that woods but no more...

 

[Big_Holla]

Have you studied satellite images and topo's of the area? Might be able to find a route in and out that isn't killer?

 

[Fletch]

Have you studied satellite images and topo's of the area? Might be able to find a route in and out that isn't killer?

I the woods very well like the back of my hand, as I live there...Only reason I considered checking it out is the fact that guys that used to pound the shit out of it have either died or have up on hunting and it no longer gets hunted... As for access, I noticed not long ago that someone cut a quad trail in... Totally illegal to ride quads on state land as well as illegal to cut trees, etc... This quad trail presents a much easier walk up the hill to where I wished to go... After all this my main question is : After chasing 150+ deer in Illinois do I really want to put alot of effort into shooting a 100 inch deer??? You get spoiled...

 

[Big_Holla]

After all this my main question is : After chasing 150+ deer in Illinois do I really want to put alot of effort into shooting a 100 inch deer??? You get spoiled...

I have felt the same way by living here in Michigan, 6 hrs from the farm. I haven't hunted this state for the last 5-6 years or so now, partly because of the size of the deer as well. There are times, sometimes several weeks or more, where I know I cannot make the trip down so I'm starting to think that getting out and hunting is becoming more important than waiting til the next trip. Plus my son has started to ask about hunting around the house more since he realizes getting out is better than sitting at home wishing.

 

[Sgt Fury]

I agree with Chuck...hunting a 100” buck is better then hunting nothing. I have the same problem when I’m not hunting in Ohio or Canada. Getting used to shooting quality deer elsewhere makes it hard to hunt when you get back home...just try to get the biggest deer in your area...and enjoy the time afield.

 

[Fletch]

Oh, I always enjoy my time afield... Also laying in a hospital bed last fall, I made my self a promise to hunt more this year... Besides there might be a 101 inch deer in there....

 

["J"]

J.... Iced looked very few spots they can get through... As said earlier, on top of the hill there is a little more areas that are a little more open... I might put out a camera up there, buts it's a freaking hike, all up hill... We used to get a ton of morels in that woods but no more...

Killing a mature 100” deer There is just as hard as killing a Boone in Illinois, is it not?

 

[Sgt Fury]

Killing a mature 100” deer There is just as hard as killing a Boone in Illinois, is it not?

 

[Fletch]

Killing a mature 100” deer There is just as hard as killing a Boone in Illinois, is it not?

J.... You are so correct.... I've killed numerous 100 inch deer over the years and each one of them were as hard to kill as any deer I've shot in Illinois... And each one of those deer bring back fond memories and are trophies to m

e... Here is the quad trail they cut...

 

[giles]

I've sorta fallen down this same path with fishing. Alaska really did ruin me.

 

["J"]

I've sorta fallen down this same path with fishing. Alaska really did ruin me.

You sure it wasn’t the Busch lattes? Just sayin

 

[giles]

You sure it wasn’t the Busch lattes? Just sayin

Watchomoufff

 

[Big_Holla]

J.... You are so correct.... I've killed numerous 100 inch deer over the years and each one of them were as hard to kill as any deer I've shot in Illinois... And each one of those deer bring back fond memories and are trophies to mView attachment 107919e... Here is the quad trail they cut...

That's a substantial trail, could the state have put that in? Almost as good as a walking path.

 

[Jamie]

yes, that's what I was thinking. that took some time and effort. a couple of billy bobs didn't do that just for hunting access.