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Post by Pinoc on Nov 29, 2016 21:20:33 GMT -5
I saw and shot one doe today in Blue zone at Versailles. Very little shooting.
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Post by Woody Williams on Nov 29, 2016 21:25:29 GMT -5
I look at the State Park hunts as a get away from my every day hunting spots and like this year it added two more days to my gun season. I've had a good run going at Prophetstown 5 of the past 7 years and put a bunch of meat in the freezer. I met Woody and his son there my first year, 2010. He told me there was a rowdy bunch of guys on a web site I needed to check out (Hunting Indiana), LOL. There has been a big change in the numbers at P-town and I think the park needs a rest or very few hunters drawn the next several years. It has been great having a park hunt so close to home and it's time for me to do some traveling and check out some other parks in the state. Seems like only yesterday when we said Howdy. I agree .. Sounds like they should let the park rest awhile..
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Post by raymar on Nov 29, 2016 21:39:49 GMT -5
The park hunts to me in Brown county is nothing more than a publicity hunt to garner attention to some of the other parks that may need reduction a time or two every few years. Yes when I was young we went to the park every fall and fed the deer apples and I remember well the devastation the deer did as our science class worked with Dnr experiments they were doing, but go there now and try to see a deer just in the summer and it is rare. I can walk a ridge in yellowood and see twice the sign and the occasional deer. I can't tell you the last time I actually saw a deer there and my family and I probably go there 2x a month all year round as I live 5 minutes away. I hunted one time just because a friend begged me and that was enough. Perfect weather and 2 shots heard. To each there own but they need to rethink reduction versus attempted extinction at some of these parks.
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Post by boonechaser on Nov 29, 2016 21:58:20 GMT -5
Seems to me IDNR over does whatever they try to do. Parks have very few deer And I see no logical reason why they hunt majority every year?? Same with county quota limits and late antlerless season Over kill. It's like once they start doing something they can't back off once they accomplish goal.
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Nov 29, 2016 22:14:49 GMT -5
I must say that it was an adventure, and good experience for me. I will apply for it again, but will camp in the park next time. I'm beat! Me and Trey slept in the truck Friday night before our Big Oaks hunt, and I got a lot more sleep than I would have otherwise. I drove around, and really didn't see another area that I could easily hunt. At least where I was at, I had a chance of getting it out by myself. I figured it was going to be a very slow day when it took 30 minutes to hear the first shot. At least I wasn't sitting in the rain. Dennis, I think the north end of the park could be good for you. A lot of flat ground around the pool and tennis courts towards the golf course. I was wondering if we were allowed to hunt there.
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Post by ukwil on Nov 30, 2016 4:24:15 GMT -5
I hunted late hunt at Charlestown. I only saw ONE deer and didn't get a shot. I left at 1230 yesterday and they'd checked in 6 deer...at 2 oclock today they'd checked in ONE! Very little shooting heard there. My first time hunting there without killing. No complaints from me My main reason for posting though is kind of as a PSA and a rant of mine combined. State park hunts are not for optimum deer hunting experiences. Just because a park is being hunted, doesn't mean that there is a deer behind every tree. I like SP hunts for many reasons and am Ok with not killing. Lastly, it's a public land hunt. You may have put your stand up in the park weeks ago. Good for you but if someone beats you to the area of your stand...don't hunt there anyway! Beat feet to your backup spots(you better have a few) I can't understand this mindset. I carry my climber in expecting to be shined. If I get to my selected tree and haven't been shined, up the tree I go. Why would you want to hunt within a hundred yards from someone you don't know? We look at the parks as another opportunity. My dad gets a big kick out of the "adventure" of it. It's more of a tradition now for us. We've had pretty good success. I think I've taken at least one deer out of a park each year since 2009. I don't go expecting to get something, but hopefully I can help the park do what they are asking of me. I think by taking that approach is what has helped me be successful. Mkfrench is right too when he says to be flexible. The first day of the first hunt this year I was beaten to my primary spot, but seeing I use a climber I just moved on to another and it worked out. I shot 3 and the guy in the other spot shot 2. On the second hunt I was working more towards getting my buddy his first deer and gave him the more likely killing spot. He fortunately was able to take a dandy 9 point for his first ever deer.
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Post by onebentarrow on Nov 30, 2016 7:04:26 GMT -5
Hunted Cain o lakes and the info I received at the gate said 10 deer monday and only 13 tuesay. 0 for the three of us.
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Post by dead-eye on Nov 30, 2016 10:17:14 GMT -5
I look at the State Park hunts as a get away from my every day hunting spots and like this year it added two more days to my gun season. I've had a good run going at Prophetstown 5 of the past 7 years and put a bunch of meat in the freezer. I met Woody and his son there my first year, 2010. He told me there was a rowdy bunch of guys on a web site I needed to check out (Hunting Indiana), LOL. There has been a big change in the numbers at P-town and I think the park needs a rest or very few hunters drawn the next several years. It has been great having a park hunt so close to home and it's time for me to do some traveling and check out some other parks in the state. I hunted the early hunt at ptown last year and didn't see a deer. That's when I decided to change it up. So this year I did Tippecanoe river s.p. and once again i didnt see a deer. I think going foreword I'm going to put in for parks that didnt have a hunt the previous year.
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Post by dbd870 on Nov 30, 2016 10:57:09 GMT -5
I wasn't seeing as many and the numbers checked were down in the last couple of years I did a Park hunt so I quit applying. I too wonder if they are hunting them more often than is really needed now?
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Post by Woody Williams on Nov 30, 2016 11:43:38 GMT -5
I wasn't seeing as many and the numbers checked were down in the last couple of years I did a Park hunt so I quit applying. I too wonder if they are hunting them more often than is really needed now? It is much easier to manage a small herd than a large herd...
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Nov 30, 2016 12:06:12 GMT -5
I hunted late hunt at Charlestown. I only saw ONE deer and didn't get a shot. I left at 1230 yesterday and they'd checked in 6 deer...at 2 oclock today they'd checked in ONE! Very little shooting heard there. My first time hunting there without killing. No complaints from me My main reason for posting though is kind of as a PSA and a rant of mine combined. State park hunts are not for optimum deer hunting experiences. Just because a park is being hunted, doesn't mean that there is a deer behind every tree. I like SP hunts for many reasons and am Ok with not killing. Lastly, it's a public land hunt. You may have put your stand up in the park weeks ago. Good for you but if someone beats you to the area of your stand...don't hunt there anyway! Beat feet to your backup spots(you better have a few) I can't understand this mindset. I carry my climber in expecting to be shined. If I get to my selected tree and haven't been shined, up the tree I go. Why would you want to hunt within a hundred yards from someone you don't know? We look at the parks as another opportunity. My dad gets a big kick out of the "adventure" of it. It's more of a tradition now for us. We've had pretty good success. I think I've taken at least one deer out of a park each year since 2009. I don't go expecting to get something, but hopefully I can help the park do what they are asking of me. I think by taking that approach is what has helped me be successful. Mkfrench is right too when he says to be flexible. The first day of the first hunt this year I was beaten to my primary spot, but seeing I use a climber I just moved on to another and it worked out. I shot 3 and the guy in the other spot shot 2. On the second hunt I was working more towards getting my buddy his first deer and gave him the more likely killing spot. He fortunately was able to take a dandy 9 point for his first ever deer. From the information that you've shared with me, you sure do know your parks.
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Post by imnatree on Dec 1, 2016 10:27:26 GMT -5
Results from ouabache state park in Bluffton, IN
Early hunt harvested 33 deer
Late hunt harvested 7 deer(5 on Monday in the rain; 2 Tuesday)
41 hunters showed up on Monday. Forgot to ask that question Tuesday when we checked out. We didn't see any deer Monday or Tuesday. Hunting ended at 4pm each day which didn't allow for evening hunting.
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Post by jimstc on Dec 1, 2016 13:29:16 GMT -5
I am also drawn for Deer Creek, 12/6-7. Never been there. Guess I need to make a road trip soon. Anyone hunted there? Any advice?
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Dec 1, 2016 13:35:14 GMT -5
I am also drawn for Deer Creek, 12/6-7. Never been there. Guess I need to make a road trip soon. Anyone hunted there? Any advice? I just got a call from the guy who runs the Crane handicap hunt. He said there's a handicap hunt there this Saturday. He put me on the list to be called for any cancellations. I sure hope they call me. Apparently, they will drive the handicapped hunter to a blind and retrieve the deer for the person. This sounds like something I can do!
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Post by antiwheeze on Dec 1, 2016 16:18:51 GMT -5
I am also drawn for Deer Creek, 12/6-7. Never been there. Guess I need to make a road trip soon. Anyone hunted there? Any advice? I can tell you where there were deer last archery season.
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Post by jimstc on Dec 2, 2016 6:38:32 GMT -5
I am also drawn for Deer Creek, 12/6-7. Never been there. Guess I need to make a road trip soon. Anyone hunted there? Any advice? I can tell you where there were deer last archery season. I would appreciate the insight. Would you please PM me
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Post by jimstc on Dec 2, 2016 13:38:40 GMT -5
I called the office at Deer Creek FWA and learned that Reserved/Draw hunts are very different from Reduction hunts. For Deer Creek they only draw 10 hunters who can each bring one person. So maximum hunters is 20. The lady I spoke with said that they have never had 20 hunters. The most she could recall was 10 hunters. 2100 acres and 10-20 hunters. Heading over Sunday to scout. Wow!
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Post by greghopper on Dec 2, 2016 14:08:47 GMT -5
I called the office at Deer Creek FWA and learned that Reserved/Draw hunts are very different from Reduction hunts. For Deer Creek they only draw 10 hunters who can each bring one person. So maximum hunters is 20. The lady I spoke with said that they have never had 20 hunters. The most she could recall was 10 hunters. 2100 acres and 10-20 hunters. Heading over Sunday to scout. Wow! Yeah.... That hunt not a extra deer tag hunt... All state limits apply there!! Did they say how many deer was shot there last year?? Bet the folks around the place hunt it hard!
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Post by antiwheeze on Dec 2, 2016 15:06:02 GMT -5
I called the office at Deer Creek FWA and learned that Reserved/Draw hunts are very different from Reduction hunts. For Deer Creek they only draw 10 hunters who can each bring one person. So maximum hunters is 20. The lady I spoke with said that they have never had 20 hunters. The most she could recall was 10 hunters. 2100 acres and 10-20 hunters. Heading over Sunday to scout. Wow! Yeah.... That hunt not a extra deer tag hunt... All state limits apply there!! Did they say how many deer was shot there last year?? Bet the folks around the place hunt it hard! I have hunted there several times. Deer population is similar to most area Fish and Wildlife areas. I hunt there because its fairly close but I wouldn't drive across the state for it. Sarah the property manager is the most helpful person working for the DNR Ive met.
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Post by jimstc on Dec 2, 2016 15:42:43 GMT -5
I see it as an opportunity to hunt new ground. My buck tag is punched so I am looking for does to add to the 80 lbs that I just put in the freezer. I am not a "trophy hunter". I am a freezer hunter. I am looking forward to the challenge and opportunity. Just a 1.5 hour drive for me. Easy trip. And yes, Sarah was very kind and helpful. I have never had a bad experience with DNR people but she was definitely above average.
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