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Post by 20francod on Jul 6, 2019 20:26:19 GMT -5
So my friend and I are from Pennsylvania and are planning on hunting Indiana very soon. The only problem is we have no connections in Indiana and don't want to spend the couple thousand for a guided hunt on a farm etc. We are looking for what you think we should do. We would like to try to find a farm to hunt on versus game lands, since in PA the game lands are over crowded due to the amount of hunters per square mile. We would like to do this, but are unsure of how we would due to the fact that we have no connections. What do you guys think?
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Post by medic22 on Jul 6, 2019 21:00:17 GMT -5
Opening weekend of gun season is about the only time i see public lands crowded in the SW portion of the state.
Its pretty common for me to go an entire season and not see another hunter.
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Post by 20francod on Jul 6, 2019 21:56:10 GMT -5
Would it be better to go to the public lands, or travel to the state a day early and ask permission on private land in your opinions?
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Post by whitetaildave24 on Jul 6, 2019 22:02:52 GMT -5
I’m going to say only a day early probably isn’t going to get you anywhere on private land, but you never know. Lots of public in the southern portion where you can get away and have places to yourselves.
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Post by scrub-buster on Jul 6, 2019 22:11:27 GMT -5
It can be very tough to get permission on private land.
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Post by greghopper on Jul 7, 2019 7:02:36 GMT -5
So my friend and I are from Pennsylvania and are planning on hunting Indiana very soon. The only problem is we have no connections in Indiana and don't want to spend the couple thousand for a guided hunt on a farm etc. We are looking for what you think we should do. We would like to try to find a farm to hunt on versus game lands, since in PA the game lands are over crowded due to the amount of hunters per square mile. We would like to do this, but are unsure of how we would due to the fact that we have no connections. What do you guys think? What part of the State are you wanting to Hunt? Are you Trophy Hunting or will any Deer work for you? What season are you wanting to Hunt Bow,Gun or Muzzleloader? |
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Post by 20francod on Jul 7, 2019 7:18:36 GMT -5
We’re planning on trying to hunt the eastern or south eastern side of the state. We aren’t planning on sticking it out for only a trophy but we both follow correct deer management and would pass on something we felt was too young. Also we were planning on doing archery/and or muzzle loader.
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Post by greghopper on Jul 7, 2019 8:00:28 GMT -5
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Post by beermaker on Jul 7, 2019 11:09:19 GMT -5
What are your plans for lodging? Camp? Motel?
Gaining permission for private land is probably unrealistic. Most landowners hunt and/or have friends and family that do.
You can likely hunt all of October and ML season without seeing another hunter on most public land. I would not travel to hunt the firearms season on public land under any circumstance.
Our weather is very unpredictable the later you get into the Fall. The highs in October can still be in the 80's and not cool off much until towards Halloween. We've taken the kids trick or treating in shorts, and also it's also been so cold that the kids wanted to go home. It's been 70 in mid-November, and it's been 15. Some years see flooding rains in November, and then sometimes it's too dry to have a camp fire. December gets even more questionable with regards to precipitation, but does trend cooler.
Knowing what I know after living here my whole life and hunting for 30+, I'd focus on south-central public lands. The further south you go, the more rugged the land is. Study the DNR maps and find secluded blocks of public land that border or are near farms. If you have a hand held GPS, I'd invest in a program that has property boundaries. I think On-X is what I have. I'd come for as long as possible starting the first or second week in November and get out of here before firearms season starts. For what its worth, I've killed several deer the day before firearms season starts.
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Post by greghopper on Jul 7, 2019 11:28:36 GMT -5
What is it about Indiana that lures you here while driving though the heart of Ohio which some claim is a better Deer state to Hunt?
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Post by freedomhunter on Jul 7, 2019 13:16:25 GMT -5
Not many places to hunt east and southeast is getting crowded. Like greg said you are driving through a world class state next door. I would hunt public in Ohio before most private ground here. We still have enormous firearms pressure dont be fooled by a few giants you see in magazines from managed private ground.
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Post by medic22 on Jul 7, 2019 13:56:21 GMT -5
We’re planning on trying to hunt the eastern or south eastern side of the state. We aren’t planning on sticking it out for only a trophy but we both follow correct deer management and would pass on something we felt was too young. Also we were planning on doing archery/and or muzzle loader. "correct deer management" is very subjective, just understand that our average deer is likely to be 35# heavier than what youre used to. |
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Post by nfalls116 on Jul 7, 2019 14:37:34 GMT -5
From what I understand Southern part is where you will find most of the public ground that there is enough to not get over crowded quick heck I think they’ve been illegally carving the trees up down there for years creating numerous shooting lanes to more easily shoot your deer. Luckily with one buck rule we all get a good chance at great deer.
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Post by swetz on Jul 7, 2019 18:51:05 GMT -5
So I grew up in Pennsylvania and have been in Indiana for about 15 years now so I've got some experience hunting both states. I don't know how comparable it will be to your experience since both states vary a lot depending on what part you're in.
Compared to where I grew up in PA, Indiana is freaking flat. Even much of the southern part of Indiana is hilly at best so a lot fewer high points to setup on for a vantage point. I also went from hunting farms with a lot more open area to forest which was a big change for me.
I'm not sure what really you are looking for from an Indiana hunt. The deer are generally bigger than what I grew up seeing in PA, but I believe they introduced antler restrictions in PA a few years after I left so that may be more comparable now than way back when I was there.
Just going off what information you've given so far, you're almost certainly not going to just show up from out of state a day early, go door to door, and get permission to hunt private ground, particularly with no contacts or connections. So I would forget about that and plan on hunting public ground. If you're not doing firearms season, depending on the location, it may not be very crowded.
You also need to work out all the logistics of where you would stay and what would you do with any deer you would harvest. It's a long drive back to Pennsylvania and it can be pretty warm during the fall here as others have indicated. You need to familiarize yourself with the regulations here and look into any carcass transport requirements or restrictions for any state you will be travelling through.
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Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Jul 8, 2019 10:27:12 GMT -5
I've been in the Tar Hollow SF, Hocking Hills region, and Wayne NF area of Ohio the last several days. Real pretty area, been seeing deer, kinda makes me want to make a trip over here come November.
As far as Indiana, I wouldn't count on finding any private access. Even with cash in hand, that would be tough to find during season.
You can have a fun hunt on public land during archery season here, if you're happy with a 120-130" type buck. You can camp for free on HNF. Come for as long as as possible, scout and hunt smaller out of the way tracts. I'd hunt the first 2 weeks of November. I might even stay for opening firearms weekend, never know what might get pushed past you.
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Post by tynimiller on Jul 8, 2019 11:58:29 GMT -5
If you're a bow hunter the vast public lands in IN offer a lot of low hunter density hunting in October and especially then late season.
I'd never expect to show up in any state, at any point and bet on finding private property.
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Post by jbird on Jul 8, 2019 12:19:25 GMT -5
Indiana is 95% privately owned. Access to private land for hunting purposes is VERY difficult and getting more and more difficult with the increasing presence of leasing (many landowners are learning that they can use this access as an income source). Without having connections (family or very close friends) to someone with private land suitable for hunting your odds are very long in my opinion for gaining access. I can't speak much to the public land opportunities. Indiana (like many other states) has gone thru a big change over the past decade or so. Breakouts of EHD and liberal antlerless harvests have led to a significant decline in deer numbers across the state. Also be aware that the laws (specifically what firearms you can use) are very different for public and private land here. Also be aware of a TBD (bovine TB) issue recently in the Franklin/Fayette county area.....
I don't mean to discourage you....but you better have access figured out before you get here. Most of the folks here will help provide answers to your questions and the like, but access to deer hunting ground is generally a closely guarded possession. I would suggest if you choose to go public ground that you spend a day getting to know the place...and help yourself by hunting weekdays if you can. Good luck!
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Post by jbird on Jul 8, 2019 19:24:12 GMT -5
A helpful link if you have not found it already: www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2344.htmAlso look thru the harvest reports as they will tell you which counties kill the most deer and may help point you to areas with higher deer numbers and thus increasing your odds. You will typically see the same counties in a general area repeat year after year....it's not an accident. Something else to consider is that IF you decide to hunt our firearms opener....that weekend typically is pretty crazy. Retail store shelves tend to be picked clean, meat processors fill up fast and that time tends to NOT be the time if your in need of something specific as your choices of what is left may be pretty limited or non-existent. Meat processors fill up fast as well, so be prepared to have to skin and quarter your deer and keep it on ice. I have seen it more than once when lockers are full and turn people away. Some areas have few options and others simply get quickly over-run....so be prepared for plan B if you don't intend on doing it yourself anyway. |
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Post by greghopper on Jul 9, 2019 7:30:39 GMT -5
Indiana is 95% privately owned. Access to private land for hunting purposes is VERY difficult and getting more and more difficult with the increasing presence of leasing (many landowners are learning that they can use this access as an income source). Without having connections (family or very close friends) to someone with private land suitable for hunting your odds are very long in my opinion for gaining access. I can't speak much to the public land opportunities. Indiana (like many other states) has gone thru a big change over the past decade or so. Breakouts of EHD and liberal antlerless harvests have led to a significant decline in deer numbers across the state. Also be aware that the laws (specifically what firearms you can use) are very different for public and private land here. Also be aware of a TBD (bovine TB) issue recently in the Franklin/Fayette county area..... I don't mean to discourage you....but you better have access figured out before you get here. Most of the folks here will help provide answers to your questions and the like, but access to deer hunting ground is generally a closely guarded possession. I would suggest if you choose to go public ground that you spend a day getting to know the place...and help yourself by hunting weekdays if you can. Good luck! Yes, most of indiana land is privately owned but the real question is how much (DEER)Huntable land is in the state. There are over 670,000 acres of public land that is managed for wildlife and accessible to the general public for hunting. Currently, Indiana has nearly 4.9 million acres of forest land. Managed Lands Map (2019) maps.indiana.edu/previewMaps/Environment/Managed_Lands_IDNR.htmlForest Of Indiana 2014 www.fs.fed.us/nrs/pubs/ru/ru_fs51.pdf |
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Post by steiny on Jul 9, 2019 9:10:55 GMT -5
It will cost you a little, but I would consider trying to find a lease through someplace like Basecamp Leasing or the Hunting Lease Network. Get some private ground all to yourself. A couple buddies and I have been doing this in a neighboring state for years.
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