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Post by themoose on Sept 13, 2012 20:30:28 GMT -5
Hi Folks,
I just found out I was drawn for Big Oaks firearms hunt and also found this forum... Although a Hoosier by birth and most of my life by choice, I now live in Pennsylvania... I'm a Lifetime License holder and hunt Indiana each year... never buck hunted in Pa in the 16 years here... always back home... anyway.. can anyone help me on info on Big Oaks... will I be given a designated area or do I put in a request? What areas are good? and anyone's personal experience there in the last couple of years would be greatly appreciated...
Thanks so much,
TheMoose
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Post by 45shooter on Sept 13, 2012 22:40:14 GMT -5
You will be given a date at which you can begin to call in to request an area to hunt. START CALLING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ON THAT DATE. I think it normally starts at 8:00am Eastern time. But you should check your packet. If you get a busy signal, keep punching redial until someone answers. Have at least 3 areas picked out before you call. Chances are slim that you will get your 1st pick.
My personal recommendation -
Pick an area as close to the headquarters as possible. Big Oaks is pretty big and you can waste a lot of time driving if you pick a spot on the north or east areas.
You have to attend a safety briefing each year. You can also save some time if you can attend the safety briefing before your hunt date. I normally try to do the briefing on the weekend of drawn archery hunt. They never fill all of the archery spots and will draw on that morning until all of the spots are filled or they run out of hunters. So, you can do the briefing and put in for one of the "No Show" archery spots. You can sometimes get into and scout the area you will be hunting during the firearm season in this method.
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Post by themoose on Sept 14, 2012 6:05:02 GMT -5
Thanks 45Shooter... I appreciate your help...
TheMoose
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Post by ukwil on Sept 14, 2012 6:30:02 GMT -5
Moose, go to their website and look at the harvest numbers and other statistics. Generally speaking the farther north You go tends to be the more mature forest where as the farther south tends to be more secondary growth. Lots of good areas.
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Post by charmerbaits on Sept 20, 2012 13:37:23 GMT -5
I got a draw for Big Oaks as well. Is it worth the drive up from the Evansville area to hunt it? I've never even seen the place.
Thanks,
Charlie
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Post by 45shooter on Sept 20, 2012 22:56:51 GMT -5
Charlie,
Good to see you on this board. I sent almost same info as above to your work email.
Shawn
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Post by bville on Sept 22, 2012 10:08:17 GMT -5
It's a joke i wouldn't go if i lived next to the place.
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Post by M4Madness on Sept 22, 2012 20:07:39 GMT -5
It's a joke i wouldn't go if i lived next to the place. Care to elaborate? |
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Post by fullrut on Sept 22, 2012 20:58:26 GMT -5
 This is a buck that was killed in Big Oaks a few years back. Big Oaks is what you make of it. If you don't do your homework and go in there with a negative mindset and like to get down as soon as you get chilled you probably are going to have negative results. If you do your homework, are willing to set up accordingingly and don't mind sitting in your stand rather that sightseeing these kind of bucks are POSSIBLE. If you don't like the possibilities bville then please stay home. I'll take your spot anytime...Guys...the big bucks are there...you just gotta figure out how to hunt them... |
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Post by ukwil on Sept 23, 2012 9:31:17 GMT -5
I agree with fullrut 100%.
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Post by M4Madness on Sept 23, 2012 15:44:49 GMT -5
 Someone found this buck dead a couple of years ago at Big Oaks and took it to my taxidermist for mounting. |
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Post by mkfrench on Sept 23, 2012 17:46:29 GMT -5
This is a buck that was killed in Big Oaks a few years back. Big Oaks is what you make of it. If you don't do your homework and go in there with a negative mindset and like to get down as soon as you get chilled you probably are going to have negative results. If you do your homework, are willing to set up accordingingly and don't mind sitting in your stand rather that sightseeing these kind of bucks are POSSIBLE. If you don't like the possibilities bville then please stay home. I'll take your spot anytime...Guys...the big bucks are there...you just gotta figure out how to hunt them... Well put sir! I was thinking the same, just wouldn't have said it so nicely. It's a public land hunt with controlled pressure on the deer. Not A deer behind every tree but extra buck if your lucky! |
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Post by kevinhunter on Sept 24, 2012 16:14:54 GMT -5
Fullrut is spot on! And his comments are very educational for any special drawn reduction hunt-military, reserve and/or state park hunts in Indiana. I have had the pleasure of doing them all and at a great deal of all the locations available now and then in the past 25 years through out Indiana and they are what you make them. FUN and a bonus BUCK for me! But I do love the fact that most people at these hunts can't sit still or get cold or have to go talk to someone mid-day and it’s like clock work that they get up and start moving around at about 10am to 2pm on all of these hunts! Guaranteed it will happen, it always does!  They stir it up for us all day standers and I have killed some of my best deer (Bucks) at these times on these special draw hunts by the fantastic help of these same people that think it’s just a waste of time and start walking and wandering around my pre-scouted exit and entrance deer areas! Plus the nice thing like Fullrut also said that if these drawn hunters don't want to go or see it as a waste of time? It just opens the door for the dedicated and positive minded stand- by hunters in most cases not all (ex. State Park hunts)-a big bonus for them! |
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bdc80
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Post by bdc80 on Sept 25, 2012 21:02:57 GMT -5
I got drawn for Big Oaks 11/20 and 11/21. I'll be there for sure although I have never seen a deer while on stand at that place. It's size definately presents some challenges trying to locate deer but it also is another opportunity for people. I have both gun and bow hunted with no luck there but I'm not deterred..lol
Anyone with some experience there care to offer a little insight I'll gladly listen! I've hunted area 52, 35, and 5 with no luck.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2012 21:57:29 GMT -5
Back when I lived in Indiana I hunted in Big Oaks a lot. My family had sponsorship through the military back when Big Oaks NWR was Jefferson Proving Ground. I hunted areas 5, 9, 16, 17, 18, 3, 21, 26, 27, 28, 30, 32, 35, 36, 40, 37, 48, 54, 65, and 58. We took a lot of nice Bucks, and several Turkeys. Big Oaks is an easy place to hunt, there are tons of fence rows and places where deer feed and travel. Just find a hardwoods that borders a thicket. Good Luck on your hunts.  |
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Post by M4Madness on Sept 26, 2012 16:22:36 GMT -5
Someone found this buck dead a couple of years ago at Big Oaks and took it to my taxidermist for mounting. What area was that Buck found in ? I have no idea. I saw the rack at the shop when I was either dropping off a buck for mounting or picking up a finished mount. |
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Post by fullrut on Sept 26, 2012 18:44:51 GMT -5
I would say up North.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2012 18:58:19 GMT -5
themoose,
In case you didn't know it, fullrut, is one of the most accomplished deer hunters I know of in Indiana. He has put some absolute studs on the ground in recent years, some of which came out of Big Oaks. If he gave me advice on that place, I would certainly take it.
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Post by themoose on Sept 26, 2012 20:03:17 GMT -5
Thanks to all who have shared information...it is much appreciated. I've been going over harvest stats(they seem pretty gloomy on the outside).. I was trying to approach it from a more or less statistical aspect. I divided up the success rates for the last 5 years(not the 10 provided) by the numbers of hunters in each area to try to compare apples to apples. I divided into three groups(2-4, 6-10 and 12-14) then stacked ranked them against each other... not sure what I learned, but did see some areas with very low numbers... of course what I don't know is how many hours were spent by the hunters...
Anyway... I'm trying to get my picks together to make the phone call on the day of reckoning...
For those who have hunted there, is there any chance of a lone hunter to get in on standby for any of the hunts(being able to partner up there with another lone hunter?)... I'm planning on to get back to Indiana early Nov or maybe even late Oct.. my hunting partner for our days is coming from Texas and will be on a shorter timetable not allowing us to show up together for any other hunts.
Being a Hoosier by birth and choice for most of my life, I have enjoyed the opportunity to hunt Versailles State Park, Muscatatuck, and Atterbury and enjoyed success on all of them... I don't leave until I have to... The only special hunt that I didn't have success on was Crane, years ago on a bow hunt and I had no chance to scout and the day was hot! I only saw one deer and had no shot..
Thanks again to all... If anyone needs a hunter to accompany them... I most likely would be available... I will be staying near Versailles, only about a half hour from the gate.
TheMoose
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Post by fullrut on Sept 26, 2012 20:57:59 GMT -5
Its possible you could show up at Big Oaks and find a partner but very unlikely. You would be much better off if you found one before your hunt.
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They stir it up for us all day standers and I have killed some of my best deer (Bucks) at these times on these special draw hunts by the fantastic help of these same people that think it’s just a waste of time and start walking and wandering around my pre-scouted exit and entrance deer areas! 